The Bedroom Furniture That Belongs In Your Garden Or Shed

Potting, repotting, and taking care of plants can be quite the labor of love. If your work area tends to look like a soil explosion and you spend more time looking for the right tools and planters than actually tending to the plants themselves, it might be time to upgrade your potting station. A potting station is an outdoor feature that makes every gardener's life easier. Imagine having an organized area, with all your tools within reach, and a clear working space where you can actually sit down while caring for your sweet plants. You might think a set up like this costs a ton of money or maybe you don't even know where to begin. But with a little creativity, you can make a new potting station by repurposing a piece of furniture that might have once been in your bedroom — an old vanity.

Upcycling an old vanity into a potting station is a great DIY to keep all your gardening essentials organized and makes perfect sense when you consider what they have in common. Vanities typically have a nice flat tabletop, which you'll need to spread out all the supplies. Vanities also come with plenty of drawers or built-in shelves for storage, so all your tools can be organized and easily accessible. Plus, you'll have a place to sit down while you work (tell your feet we said you're welcome). As a bonus, you can find old vanities at thrift stores, yard sales, or even on the side of the road for free — if you're lucky. With a little elbow grease, you'll be potting and repotting with ease in no time.

To create a garden potting station, start by finding a good bedroom vanity to repurpose. Search your local thrift store, yard sale, or even Facebook Marketplace (or maybe you already have an old one stored away in the attic). If the vanity needs a little face lift, you can sand it down and re-paint it. Be sure to use a sealant or outdoor specific paint to protect it from the elements. Also replace any knobs or drawer handles that might be broken or missing. Find a comfortable chair or stool to go with it if yours didn't come with one, making sure the height of the seat matches the vanity.

Many vanities come with mirrors attached to the back. You can take that off and replace it with a pegboard. There are so many ways to use pegboards for all of your organizing needs in your garden potting station. Use S-hooks to hang small tools like pruning shears, trowels, and gloves. Any drawers or shelves located under the work surface of the vanity can be used to store items like potting soil, planters, and cleaning supplies such as small brushes and trash bags.

Once it's ready, select the best place to put your workstation. Consider placing it inside a garage, shed, or under an overhang in the garden to protect yourself from the elements while you work. You might also put it close to a water source that's needed to rinse tools, water plants, or moisten the soil. If you use compost often in your gardening, think about keeping it close by as well.