Turn An Old Tool Box Shelf Into A Clever Mini Garden Planter

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When you're out thrifting, you may come across items that don't immediately provide you with any inspiration as to what they could be repurposed into. Sometimes, these things just look like junk, and it can be difficult to see beyond their rusty, worn appearance. This would probably be the case if you spotted an old tool box shelf — you know, that receptacle that you can just lift out of the top of a metal tool box. It's quite shallow but has a long handle right across the top. While there are plenty of creative ways to repurpose an old tool box around your home, a sturdy metal tool box shelf may look a little rough, but could easily be turned into the cutest mini garden planter, just like YouTube creator, My Corner Online, did.

With a little paint and some decoupage, this is one of those thrift store items you shouldn't overlook because it can easily be transformed into a pretty planter ready to grow some succulents in. If you've found a similar item last time you were thrifting, or you're now inspired to go and see if you can find one, all you'll need to pretty it up is some paint, a napkin with an attractive design, and a bit of Mod Podge. You'll also want a drill to make some drainage holes in the base of the tray, especially if you're going to be growing succulents in the planter.

The first thing you'll want to do is give the tool box shelf a good clean to remove any grime or surface rust before painting it. You could use some Rust-Oleum in a semi-gloss white or try this Anirun all-in-one touch-up paint, which is water-based and easy to apply. Of course, you don't have to stick to white paint because you can use any color that you like.

If you want to decoupage your repurposed tool box shelf, grab a napkin with a pretty design, like these wildflower ones from the NatNarr store. Separate the two layers so that you just have the printed one. Apply portions of this to your shelf using the Mod Podge. You can use individual pieces for each of the four sides and even a small section for the handle. On the other hand, if you're a bit artsy, you could just use some paints to freehand flowers, birds, butterflies, and bees onto the painted surfaces of the shelf. Or, you could grab a stencil that you have in your craft room and use that to embellish the planter tray with colored paints. Just make sure that any paints that you use are suitable for outdoors, if that's where you're going to display your planter.

Once your new planter is suitably decorated, grab your drill and a metal drill bit to make a few drainage holes in the base. Fill the tray with the potting mix of your choice. Which one you select for this will depend entirely on what you plan to grow in your new planter. If you're going to plant succulents, use a loose mix that contains lots of mineral grit, like sand or perlite, as this will facilitate good drainage – something that succulents really need. If you're in the habit of overwatering your succulents, use something like Bonsai Jack succulent and cactus mix, as it's extremely fast-draining and will help prevent root rot. And if you love how your succulent display looks, there are plenty of other ways you can turn thrift store items into cute succulent planters to add additional whimsy to your garden.

Of course, you don't have to stick to just growing succulents in your new planter. It would also lend itself particularly well to growing gorgeous flowering annuals, like petunias, pansies, and marigolds, to add pops of color around your yard. For these, you can just use normal potting mix and change the display with the seasons, depending on what transplants are available at your local garden center. Just remember that the planter tray is fairly shallow, so you'll want to stick to either annuals or succulent species that have a similarly shallow root system. Alternatively, you could grow shallow-rooted ground covers like native violets or creeping thyme.