Transform an old chair into a cheerful flower planter

02 Nov 2022

Have you got an old chair in your garage just waiting for the perfect upcycling project? Transform an old chair into a planter – perfect for planting flowers like pansies and petunias.

You will need:

• An old wooden chair
• Plastic plant pot
• Measuring tape
• Compass
• Electric drill
• Jig saw
• Sandpaper
• Resene Quick Dry
• Paintbrush
• Resene Smooth Surface Sealer
• Good quality potting mix
• Plants
• Resene Lustacryl paint in your choice of colour, Fleur used Resene Christalle

Step 1: Start by measuring the diameter of the plant pot using a compass to draw a circle on the seat of the chair that will be big enough to fit the plant pot (remember to make the hole a bit smaller so that the rim of the pot will sit over the edge of the circle). 

Step 2: Use a drill to make a hole in the circle and then use a jig saw to cut the hole out.

Step 3: Sand the chair with medium grit sandpaper. Use a soft cloth to wipe away the dust. Prime the chair with one coat of Resene Quick Dry.

Step 4: Once the primer is dry, paint on two coats of Resene Lustacryl, Fleur used Resene Christalle, allowing the first coat to dry before applying the second coat.

While the chair is drying, paint the plant pot. First give it a sand with a medium grit sandpaper and then prime it with one coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer to help the topcoats grip. Once this has dried, apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl. Fleur used Resene Christalle, allowing the first coat to dry before applying the second coat.

Step 5: Once all the paint has dried, place some stones in the bottom of the pot for drainage, add in some good quality potting mix and finish by planting in your favourite summer flowers.  Front door painted in Resene Clockwork Orange, weatherboards in Resene Double Masala and trim in Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream, deck in Resene Woodsman Tiri. 

project and images Fleur Thorpe.

Published: 02 Nov 2022