Not Toilet Paper Tubes: The Unexpected Bathroom Staple You Can Turn Into A Planter

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If you're a fan of vertical or container gardening, you know how amazing it is to be able to instantly transform bare walls or fences into stunning living features in your yard. But besides the aesthetics, vertical garden ideas are the perfect solution to a limited outdoor space. To create these vertical gardens, you'll need to think outside the box when sourcing planters, and a DIY option is an excellent choice. It's an opportunity to transform unwanted items into treasures while also exercising your creative muscles. One of our latest favorites is an idea by YouTube creator, Birdz of a Feather, who used a vintage bathroom light fixture to make a unique wall flower planter.

The best thing about this bathroom light DIY is how you end up with multiple planters from using just one item. Depending on how many bulb sockets the wall sconce has, you can create three, four, or even five planters. And all you have to do is gut the electrical wires then remove the light bulbs and replace them with tiny pots for holding the plants. While that may read like a significant change, the DIY hardly alters the original structure of the wall sconce lighting and is a pretty straightforward process.

To DIY this vertical garden idea, first find an unwanted light fixture. The multi-light wall sconce design works best as it has multiple sockets you can turn into pot holders. For an easy transformation, get one with wire frames cupping each light bulb (like this Farmhouse Bathroom Vanity Light on Amazon) so it'll hold the flower pots. You can find these at garage sales, thrift shops, or the flea market. To create a waterproof cap over the sockets, use old film canisters, small PVC pipe end caps, or even old medicine bottles.

You'll also need two types of sealants. First, a moldable epoxy putty stick like J-B Weld WaterWeld, then a caulk to provide a smooth finish. Tools necessary include a utility knife, wire cutter, two stainless steel screws, a screwdriver, and disposable gloves. The other items you'll need are for housing the soil and actual plants, i.e., planting pots that fit your fixture and mesh screening to place at the bottom of the pots. Finally, if you'd like to customize the planter, choose a weather-resistant spray paint in a color that complements your outdoor space. Or simply repurpose leftover paint instead of it rotting in the garage, applying it with either a sprayer or a paintbrush.

Now that you're ready for this trash-into-treasure DIY project, you want to first remove the fixture's glass shades. Then, open up the back plate and using the wire cutter, take out the wiring. Spray paint the entire fixture, and reattach the back plate. Then, uncap the old film canisters and place them upside down over each socket's opening. This will cover the metal socket and prevent water pooling in there. Seal the canister in place using a rolled-up bit of the epoxy. Leave it to dry then layer the seam with caulk for a smooth finish.

Next, mount the bathroom light fixture-turned-planter to your fence. To do this, drill in two screws on the fence then hang the light fixture on the screws via the keyholes at the back. After that, cut the mesh screening to fit the bottom of each planter pot to keep soil from washing out through the drainage holes. Finish off by adding plants that will work in a vertical garden like Petunias, Sedums or small herbs like oregano or thyme into the pots. Place each pot on each socket. That's it.

Water your plants and enjoy your decorative DIY fence display. You can also place little decor like small bird or butterfly ornaments on the light fixture to enhance its look. Hanging crystals or prisms from the lower loops will look particularly beautiful in the sun. And a more subtle but stunning upgrade is to tuck small solar fairy lights behind the plants for night time magic.