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The Dream is Free, The Hustle Sold Separately

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Wall Sconce DIY Planter! Using repurposed wooden bowls

April 24, 2017 by Bethany Sy

Ever since I made this Vertical Garden DIY Planter thing out of wooden bowls, I’ve had two half-bowls lying around waiting to be repurposed. I knew what I wanted to do with them, it was just a matter of GETTING TO IT. You know?

Living wall planter made from wooden bowls! {Reality Daydream}

Well I’m so glad I finally ‘got to it’ because they turned out amazing! Here’s where I started with my wooden half bowls. You can get wooden bowls at yard sales, thrift stores, IKEA, Target… really just about anywhere. And they’re cheap!

Use thrifted wooden bowls to make this unique and fun DIY planter sconces! {Reality Daydream}*this post contains affiliate links*

Wall Sconce DIY Planters made from Wooden Bowls

Supply List:

  • Wooden Bowl(s) – find them second-hand, or check out the variety you can get on Amazon for fairly cheap!
  • Slab of wood with a thickness of approx 1”, and wide enough to accommodate your bowl’s diameter
  • Waterproof wood glue (we use this stuff)
  • Saw (we used a band saw, but you could use a table saw or reciprocating saw)
  • Drill
  • Scroll Saw (we use this one, but if you’re more in the market for a ‘beginner’ scroll saw, try this one!)
  • Spray paint of your choice!

Using the same techniques I used here, the wooden bowls were sliced in half on the band saw. If you’re fancy and/or a perfectionist, you can use your table saw to get a perfect straight cut.

Then I laid one bowl-half out on paper (full disclosure, this is the back side of wrapping paper because that’s what I had) and draw out a teardrop shape around your wooden bowl. It doesn’t have to be perfect, you’re just laying out a general guideline. Take the bowl off and fold the paper in half, and if you’re like me, the peak of your teardrop WON’T be right on the fold. But that’s ok! Just take your scissors and cut along the line and bring the peak right to the fold. This will be your template!

wooden bowl hanging planterPaper template for this teardrop-shaped Wall Sconce Planter using a thrifted wooden bowl! {Reality Daydream}

I found a board that was as wide as my bowl, and about 1” thick (ish), and placed my teardrop-shaped template onto it, and traced with a pencil.

wooden bowl hanging planter1

Time to cut this sucka out on your scroll saw!

Cut out your wooden Bowl Sconce Planter with your scroll saw {Reality Daydream}

Teardrop-shaped wall sconce PLANTER using wooden bowl from the thrift store! {Reality Daydream}

Set out your bowl on the teardrop shape, and draw a straight line from  one lip of the bowl to the other. Then draw a line all the way around the top half of the teardrop trying to keep it the same distance from the edge all the way around (I did about an inch, getting thicker toward the peak). I used a couple pieces of scrap wood to keep my pencil the same distance from the edge while I was tracing around.

wooden bowl hanging planter sconce

Drill a hole on the inside piece for a place to feed your scroll saw blade, and then cut out the inside ‘panel’! I did one straight, and the other a scalloped pattern (using the lid of a can of spray paint as a template).

wooden bowl hanging planter2-001

Use a roundover bit to round off the edges, or just sand them down real good so it’s not such a sharp 45* angle. Finally,squeeze a line of glue onto the raw edge of your bowl-half, and press it into place on the teardrop!

wooden bowl hanging planter2-002

I totally forgot to take a pic of it after the bowl was glued on and before it was painted, so you’ll just have to imagine it! I primed these with Kilz and painted them this pretty oil-rubbed bronze!

These Wall Sconce Planters are made from thrifted wooden bowls! {Reality Daydream}Repurposed wooden bowls into these teardrop-shaped Wall Sconce Planters! {Reality Daydream}

We popped these two beauties up on the wall (by simply hanging them over a nail in the top crevice of the sconce) and loaded them up with plants! Since there are no drainage holes, I put some stones on the bottom and lined the inside of the bowl with foil so that I can easily remove the plant and clear out any standing water every couple weeks. I talk about drainage holes in-depth in this post, and I talk about keeping houseplants alive in general in this post!

Wall sconce planters made from recycled wooden bowls {Reality Daydream}

I used a couple different shades from my Pothos plant collection and love the variation of greens!

Make this Wooden Wall Sconce Planter out of secondhand wooden bowls! {Reality Daydream}

I feel like these DIY planters add a bit of personality to the room, and are also channeling some serious mid-century modern vibes! You know I love a good combo of modern, vintage, thrifted, and sentimental …speaking of sentimental, that framed needlepoint was made by my Grandmother that passed away recently. Cue the tears!

Here are the sources from everything pictured above:

  • Secretary Desk: secondhand and I added a DIY Whitewashing Treatment
  • Large Basket Planters: thrifted
  • Blue Patterned planter: Hobby Lobby on clearance for TWO DOLLARS!
  • White doily-esque planter: IKEA
  • Hanging lights: Target (a few years ago)

UPDATE! I painted one of these Planter Sconces with a Gradient Spray Paint Technique, and it turned out AMAZING!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Be sure to check out all the other DIY Planter-related projects I’ve done to help get your green-thumb-juices a’flowing!!

Learn-how-to-make-a-cute-mug-or-just-about-ANYTHING-into-a-planter-pot-by-drilling-drainage-hole-1Cinder-Block-Corner-Planter-with-each-block-stenciled-a-different-shade-Reality-Daydream-5Make-this-Living-Wall-Vertical-Planter-our-of-wooden-bowls...-CUT-IN-HALF-Click-through-for-the-Make-a-unique-vertical-hanging-planter-using-gutters-and-rope-Reality-Daydream

Lots-of-tips-for-curing-your-black-thumb-and-keeping-houseplants-alive-101-Reality-Daydream (1)]Darling-Teacher-Appreciation-Gift-Idea-Homemade-little-Succulent-Pots-that-say-thanks-for-helpStep-by-Step-tutorial-for-these-darling-Cross-Base-Terrariums...-with-faux-succulents-or-real-if.Make-this-rustic-centerpieces-with-Birch-Logs-and-Succulents-Reality-Daydream-313x1024 (1).Buy-plain-empty-quart-paint-cans-and-dip-them-in-paint-for-fun-planters-or-cute-storage-Sawdust-3

Thanks for pinning!

Repurposed wooden bowls made into these teardrop-shaped Wall Sconce PLANTERS! {Reality Daydream}

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About Bethany Sy

Nick and Bethany Sy are the creative free-spirits behind DIY/Lifestyle blog, Reality Daydream. They recently purchased a historic mansion and have been documenting the ups and downs of renovation and making this home their own... all while sharing tips and tutorials along the way! When they found themselves in the trenches of infertility, they started a journey that would prove to be their most important DIY project ever, and have 3 beautiful girls to show for it. <3

« Baby Doll Crib Rescue–fixing the wobbly joints!
Wooden Modern Headboard with Unique Texture Effect »

Comments

  1. 8

    Tiziana says

    September 2, 2017 at 3:44 pm

    bel lavoro di recupero!
    bella idea come sempre;-)

    Reply
  2. 9

    dana says

    April 26, 2017 at 1:49 pm

    SO COOL!!!! EXCELLENT JOB!

    Reply
  3. 10

    Ann says

    April 24, 2017 at 6:07 pm

    I really like all of your planters, but am in love with the sconce planters. This is something I have to try. Although it may take a little longer as I do not yet have a scroll saw. It is the next thing on the agenda to save up some money to buy. I do fairly well with a jigsaw. As always this is beautiful. Now if I can put a plant in it I cannot kill. :). Thanks for the wonderful post.

    Reply
    • 11

      Bethany Sy says

      April 24, 2017 at 6:51 pm

      Yayyyyyyy! You’ll LOVE playing with your scroll saw once you get one. SO FUN! But if it helps, you could totally use your jigsaw for this project too. GO FOR IT! And send me pics when you’re done!

      Reply
  4. 12

    Courtney says

    April 24, 2017 at 4:46 pm

    That needlepoint is beautiful! And I love that it’s sentimental. The planters are great too 😉

    Reply
    • 13

      Bethany Sy says

      April 24, 2017 at 6:51 pm

      Thanks you Courtney <3 My Grandma was amazing, and I miss her!

      Reply
  5. 14

    Renee' says

    April 24, 2017 at 4:06 pm

    Those are really cute! I can’t figure out how you keep everything alive! I would have everything dead in a week!

    Reply
    • 15

      Bethany Sy says

      April 24, 2017 at 6:52 pm

      Renee! You must rea my post on keeping plants alive! I used to have a black thumb too 😉
      https://realitydaydream.com/a-beginners-guide-to-a-green-thumb-keeping-plants-alive/

      Reply

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We are Nick and Bethany! Welcome to our blog, Reality Daydream where we share our DIY adventures!
Click here for lots of art projects using only wood stain on furniture!!
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Attention: Almost any do-it-yourself project involves risk of some sort. Your tools, materials, and skills will vary, as will the conditions at your project site. Reality Daydream has made every effort to be complete and accurate in the instructions of the plans on this website. Reality Daydream will not assume any responsibility or liability for damages or losses sustained or incurred in the course of your project or in the use of the item you create. Always follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions in the use of tools, check and follow your local building codes, and observe all commonly accepted safety precautions.

 

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