Upcycle Simple Amazon Planters Into Stunning And Functional Wall Shelves

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Elevating your home's aesthetic doesn't always require a contractor or a massive budget. Sometimes, the most striking designs come from looking at everyday items through a new lens. One such DIY transformation, seen in a recent post from Instagram user @kevinconcepts, features a rectangular metal planter from Amazon flipped sideways and turned into a sleek floating wall shelf. It makes for a clever upcycling project for both DIY lovers and anyone needing more space around their house.

Planters are designed as a stylish way to house multiple plants, but there's a wider appeal in their clean lines and heavy-duty construction. This particular style of planter is perfect for anyone who loves minimalist or industrial vibes. And by mounting one (or three) to your wall, you'll get clean-looking storage that can hold a variety of items. It's the blend of form and function that trendy industrial decor fans crave.

Like so many other common household items, you can easily repurpose these planters to make them more useful around your house. In the kitchen, you can use them to store your spices or coffee supplies. In bathrooms, the metal finish can keep your toiletries organized while standing up to humidity. They would even work as a sophisticated drop zone near entryways to hold keys, glasses, gloves, or your mail. The hack shows a plain stainless steel planter like this Buhbo Modern Trough Rectangular Planter from Amazon, and the retailer carries both 16-inch and 32-inch sizes, along with black and white painted steel options. That makes it easy to match your home's aesthetic. Regardless of which planter you choose, its clean profile creates a weightless look that makes things feel open and airy, not cluttered.

Repurposing a planter into a functional shelf is a straightforward project, but success is all in the details. @kevinconcepts drilled four holes, one in each corner of the planters, to mount them on the wall. If your chosen Amazon planter is made of stainless steel like in the original hack, you'll need a cobalt drill bit, steady pressure, and a slow drilling speed to keep the metal from overheating or hardening. For alloy steel planters, a standard high-speed steel bit works fine since the metal is softer. In both cases, make sure you either screw directly into a wall stud or use a heavy-duty wall anchor, especially if you plan on storing heavy items like books. If you're putting the planter in high-moisture areas like bathrooms, stainless steel is preferred since it is naturally resistant to rust. However, with a powder-coated alloy version, dab a little sealant around the hole to protect the exposed raw steel from corrosion. 

Once mounted, you can get started with the real work: styling. These planters are great for creating a higher-end, layered look. For example, you could lean a small piece of art against the back wall and place a trailing plant like a pothos in front. The greenery spilling over the metal edge will create a lovely, warm, and organic contrast against the industrial steel. Alternatively, you could hang a planter right over your stove so your favorite cooking spices stay close at hand. Or for a bigger change of pace, mix and match the 16-inch and 32-inch versions in an offset pattern to fill a larger vertical space, making more of a statement piece. No matter how you style them, though, these planters can easily become a permanent style-meets-storage solution in your home.