Not Just For Kitchen Clutter: The IKEA Rail That Doubles As A Chic Planter

For plant lovers who are eager to bring more greenery to their homes, indoor planters are an excellent option. If you choose the right one, it can be compact in size while still adding significant appeal to the space. One way to display your plants involves an unconventional use of the IKEA HULTARP rail. Often showcased as a storage solution for kitchen applications, this horizontal rail can easily become a hanging planter that can liven up your home.

If you're feeling the inspiration to bring more living plants to your space, you can easily convert IKEA's HULTARP. All you have to do is mount it to a wall in your home (remember that different plants have varying light needs, but indoor plants will require a source of natural light for photosynthesis to occur), then fill the containers with a variety of plants. Succulents can be kept in their nursery pots and then nestled in the black HULTARP hanging containers for a color scheme that is modern and appealing. You could also keep freshly-cut flowers in a small glass jar of water for a splash of color.

The HULTARP rail itself is available in a few finishes — nickel, brass, and black —depending on your preferences, while the HULTARP containers are available in white, black, and blue. It's a beloved product, with customers praising its appearance and quality. As with all wall-mounted IKEA products, however, hardware is not included; remember to adequately mount your HULTARP to drywall or use long enough screws to affix it to studs for a solid grip.

Using the HULTARP for an indoor planter is a cute way to add a splash of life to any corner of the home. You could install one in a bathroom, selecting for plants that do well in a humid environment, or use one in the kitchen as a fresh herb wall (but first, it helps to know what herbs will grow best in your kitchen). Placing small trailing plants in the containers is another great way to add dimension to your space and create a focal point on an empty wall.

While you may feel tempted to pot the plants directly in the HULTARP containers, exposing these metal hanging cups to water could result in damage over time (IKEA's care instructions specifically mention using a damp cloth to clean the containers and wiping them dry). That being said, you can absolutely use the HULTARP system for an attractive live plant wall display, just avoid making a mess while watering your houseplants; remove them from the HULTARP containers on watering day and ensure they've fully drained before returning them. 

Another variation of this idea is to mount the HULTARP to the ceiling. Once it is securely hung, just use compatible S-hooks to suspend twine plant hangers from it, effectively side-stepping the aforementioned concern about exposing the HULTARP's containers to water. This approach also allows you to play around with the hanging height of each plant, making for a more visually interesting plant display.