I don’t know about you, but we spend a lot of time in our backyard during the warmer months. The outdoor space was one of the reasons we bought this particular house almost two years ago (it was my husband’s #1 house wish-list item). Since we spend so much time out there, I’m always trying to think of new ideas or projects that will make it cozier and more welcoming. Of course, I can never get enough plants in the space, so I thought it would be fun to come up with a way to make a living plant chandelier over one of our seating areas. Here’s what I came up with:
Supplies:
-1/2″ plywood sheet
-exterior paint (I chose Pantone Primrose Yellow)
-jig saw
-five 6″ plastic pots
(plastic makes the overall weight a lot lighter)
-medium sandpaper
-three 1/2″ x 2″ eye bolts with washers and nuts
-one 5/16″ x 4″ screw eye
-6 small 3/16″ quick links
-1 large 5/16″ quick link
–double loop chain
First you’ll need to draw your circle on your plywood board. My circle was 36″ across, so I put a nail in the center of my board, tied a string to the nail, and tied a marker to the string 18″ away from the nail. Keep the marker vertical, and pull the marker away from the nail until the string is tight. Place the marker tip on the wood, and keeping the string tight, go all the way around the nail until you have a big circle drawn. Use a jig saw to cut out your circle. (I put the board up off the ground on some wood planks first to give the jig saw blade enough room below.)
Once your circle is cut, repeat the process by making another circle in the middle of your big circle. We want to make the second circle 14″ wide, so tie your marker 7″ away from the middle nail and trace your second circle.
To get the jig saw into the middle of the circle without cutting from the outside edge, I used a drill to make a hole right inside my marker line that was big enough to get my jig saw blade into (you can also drill two holes right next to each other if you don’t have a drill bit big enough).
Starting from the hole you drilled, cut out the smaller inside circle of wood.
Use scrap paper to make five circle templates that are 6″ wide, and spread them out evenly on your wooden ring (these mark where your planters will sit). Use a marker to trace around each circle.
On each circle, use the drill to make a starter hole for your smaller circles, and cut out each circle with the jig saw. If you don’t have someone to help you, hold the wood in place while you use the saw; you can clamp the wood to the edge of a table (just make sure the part you are cutting is hanging off the table).
Once your smaller holes are cut, give your edges a light sanding with a medium sandpaper, and you can begin to paint your wood with an exterior paint.
Once your paint is dry, mark three spots that are 3″ from the middle circle edge to hang your chain from. You’ll want these three points to make a triangle with each other, so try and make them as equal distance from each other as you can. Drill a hole that is 3/16″ in each spot.
Put your 1/4″ eye bolt screw through the hole. Put the washer first and then the nut on the other side of the wood to keep the eye bolt in place. Unscrew your 3/16″ quick link and attach it to the eye bolt. Repeat with the other two holes.
Drill a 5/16″ hole on one of your top pergola beams, and screw your 5/16″ screw eye into the hole. Depending on how high your pergola is, use your bolt cutter to cut three chains to your desired length (my chains are 13″ long).
Attach three small quick links to the top of your three chains. Attach the bottom of each chain to the quick links already on your wooden ring, and attach the three top quick links to the larger 5/16″ quick link. Open the large quick link, and attach it to the screw eye hanging from your pergola beam. Screw the large quick link closed. Place your plants into your pots, and then place them into the holes in your wooden planter ring.
I chose pots that have built-in drain trays instead of open holes at the bottom of the pots so I can water them without water dripping below onto the couch or coffee table. I’m excited to try different kinds of draping plants and flowers in the pots, but I think it would be cute to fill them with succulents as well.
So far, I love having the hanging plants in the space, and it definitely makes the area feel more lush when sitting on the couch underneath them. Hope you get to try this fun way to add a little more green to your outdoor space! xo. Laura
Credits // Author: Laura Gummerman. Photography: Laura Gummerman and Sarah Rhodes. Photos edited with Stella from the Signature Collection.
25 Comments
Wow! This came out so amazing! I simply don’t know how you do it 🙂 You make it look so easy and seamless, Sarah.
Love and Luck,
Laurali Star
http://www.thesecretsurprisinista.com
And Laura! I forgot to mention Laura. Yikes! Anyways, fabulous job girls 🙂 As always..xoxo
Love and luck,
Laurali Star
Laura, you are amazing !
Looks Awesome Laura!!! How do you protect the space from the elements?
Wow…this is so great. never seen anything like this before. Absolutely great for backyards. Great work.
xo
http://agoldentulip.blogspot.com/
I’ll learn to use power tools… One day!!
Xo.
http://dropsofjupiterBLOG.com
It’s all outdoor furniture and outdoor fabric (or sprayed with waterproofing spray). Other than that, that’s about it!
Laura
LOVE IT!
where did you find the pots with built in drain trays?
I was wondering about the drainage until I saw you used special pots. That’s a really handy trick! Looks great! I could see this with fuschia flowers, or maybe succulents.
http://theflyingarmchair.me/
Gummer Gal is such a babe. Beauty, brains and power-tool-know-how!! Keep up the good work. 🙂
You are so creative Laura!! 🙂
This turned out awesome!
-Josh
You can always water with ice cubes if you want to use pots with drain holes. Just drop an ice cube in each one and it show waters as it melts so it’s never drippy. I do that with all my indoor hanging plants to avoid taking them down every time
They are linked in the supply list 🙂
Laura
Great project but my suggestion has nothing to do with it, lol. I think that Laura should do outfit posts on the blog! Love her style.
Wow Laura this looks so amazing!
I just love seeing women rock the power tools. I love DIY sites, but often you see the woman drawing a picture, sewing the fabric and painting the projects while the men do all the work with the power tools. It’s refreshing and inspiring to see a woman do the entire project!!! I love your outdoor space, that’s inspiring too!!!
Laura,
All of your posts are wonderful! You are just so cute and crafty. I’m majorly inspired to go and buy a jigsaw now…
Great idea! I’m loving your rug…where did you find that gem?
Laura you are amazing !!!
I LOVE your posts and check you out rocking the power tools !! Love it x
Great suggestion!
Laura 🙂
It was from Urban Outfitters 🙂
Laura
What a beautiful idea, the perfect way to add some greenery to a space without causing any inconvenience!
Intarya | Home:Life:Luxe
wow! that looks so awesome!