Forget Seashells: This Material Gives A Cement Planter DIY The Same Beachy Charm

You may not be able to go to the beach every day, but you can bring the beach to you with some whimsical decor. Edgy concrete planters are a great place to start, as they're simple to DIY on a budget and can be customized to embody that seaside vibe. All you need is an old cardboard box and a little concrete mix to make a beautiful cement flower pot, which can then be decorated with earthy touches to bring some beachy charm to your home or patio.

However, while it may be tempting to use salvaged seashells to decorate your planters, this isn't an eco-friendly solution. Hunting for beautiful shells on the beach is a fun hobby for many, but it can actually impact ecosystems in a negative way as these shells are meant to serve as food and protection for various animals. What's more, their presence works to keep sand in place, ensuring entire beaches remain intact.

Using artificial shells is one alternative, but these can look cheap and tacky. A better option is to coat your DIY cement planters with rugged stones and pebbles that evoke the shapes of shells and the essence of the beach. As one DIYer showed off on YouTube, small white stones can be used to create flower patterns reminiscent of sand dollars, while tiny pebbles in earthy hues help replicate the feeling of the seashore and its wave-washed stones.

Pebbles are a great way to add depth and texture to any DIY, including cement planters. While there are many ways to turn water and concrete into a beautiful flower pot, the creator behind YouTube's 'DIY – Cement Ideas Tips' channel chose to start by creating cardboard molds for the pot's four sides. After threading two pieces of metal wire across each and making sure to leave the ends exposed, they poured in the cement mix, evening it out with a trowel before getting creative with their stone and pebble motifs. Once dry, the walls are secured together by entwining the exposed pieces of metal wire; next, the seams are coated with cement and, finally, a base is added.

While the results are pretty, this is a time-consuming project. For a quicker option, you can forget the cardboard and use a plastic planter as a premade mold. Fill it with tightly compacted wet sand, flip it, and lift it off, as if you were building a sand castle. Gently pour cement on top of this sandy shape and, after smoothing it out with a trowel, coat it with stone patterns or concentric pebble rings. Another whimsical alternative is to create a classic cement planter, but scoop out a shallow shell-shaped trough on one of the sides. Once cured, coat it with a thin layer of fresh cement and fill it in with pebbles. Once fully dry, scoop out the sand from inside and get planting, opting for beachy plants like broadleaf lady palm or Kentia palm.