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Window Ledge Plant Shelf

Budget: $$, D.I.Y. Project, Home Decor, Indoor Plants, Kitchen, Organization, Wood working
By Josh Rhodes

6U8A6239If you have a window ledge just itching for more plants than it can carry, building some little shelves is an easy way to multiply space. It also gives you a good excuse to go buy more plants!

6U8A6240Supplies:
-wood ripped to 5/8" x 1 3/8" (you can modify the dimensions; I had those pieces lying around from another project. Sometimes it's good to keep wood scraps from other projects; you never know when you can use them for something else!)
-1/2" dowel rod
-wood glue

Tools:
-miter saw (or hand saw; these small pieces would be easy to cut)
-drill
-paddle bit
-sandpaper
-clamps
-paint or stain

Step One: Cut all of your pieces:
-ten pieces of the 5/8" x 1 1/2", 38" long (shelf pieces)
-eight 1 1/2" square pieces (spacers)
-four 13" long pieces (the legs)
-four 5 3/4" long dowels (I cut them a bit longer than needed so I could sand them down to smooth surface)

Kitchenwindowshelf_abeautifulmess

6U8A1580Step Two: Measurin' & drillin' time. This is the most crucial step. If you don't want any headaches, make sure you measure everything exact so the dowel will go through all the pieces smoothly. Refer to the diagram for hole placement. Go ahead and drill all holes, and sand.

6U8A15846U8A1584Step Three: Lay out the top pieces upside down. You can refer to the diagram for the order. Don't glue anything yet; make sure the dowel goes through all the pieces on both sides. Repeat for the other shelf (make sure they're upside down)! Once you're good to go, take off the end pieces and put glue in the hole and around the end of the dowel. Put the pieces back on, making sure the shelf is straight and square before the glue dries.

6U8A16016U8A16016U8A16016U8A16486U8A1651Step Four: Sand everything nice and smooth. I used scrap wood, so all the pieces weren't uniform, but I think it turned out fine. All you have left now is to paint/stain it your favorite color(s). You can just leave the wood raw too; do whatever you think will result in the best look in your space. Remember that the measurements can be modified to fit your space.

6U8A1644Building this table was fun, but the super fun part is going to your local nursery and picking out cool plants to put on it!

6U8A62436U8A6266Happy building! -Josh

Credits // Author: Josh Rhodes. Photos: Sarah Rhodes. Photos edited with Stella from the Signature Collection

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