DIY Footed Bucket Planter

I created a DIY footed bucket planter by reusing a galvanized bucket from my daughter’s wedding and modern metal legs removed from an old sofa.

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With Spring finally here, I was inspired to finally complete a project that I have considered for some time. The project and timing are perfect for posting about it for the March ‘Do It Over’ Designers challenge. Every other month, a group of bloggers joins together to share inspiring upcycle, recycle, and DIY projects. 

My project this time around is a one-of-a-kind footed galvanized bucket planter made from items I already had in my home.

I bought a mid-century inspired modern sofa about 16 years ago. 

It was from the La-Z-Boy Todd Oldham Dexter Collection, and I loved the clean lines of the sofa and the modern shiny tapered metal legs.  I had saved up a year for new furniture and loved that sofa and the matching style chair so much!

So did my dogs, as you can see in the photo below, an ancient photo of two rooms that have since been updated.

Only one of these sweet dogs is still with me.

Note: Todd Oldham’s furniture is no longer available at La-Z-Boy, but you can find similar furniture by him at toddoldhamstudio.com. This is just for those who want to know. 

Fast-forward many years, and the brown cotton fabric has become stained and dirty from the dogs and many teenagers using this sofa. The matching chair has also been slowly destroyed by two puppies chewing apart the arms.

No matter how much I tried to clean the fabric, the stains and the dog smell just clung to the sofa.  So we saved up, bought new furniture for our living room, and got rid of my favorite modern sofa.

As my husband and future son-in-law were hauling it out of the house, I impulsively stopped them and took the legs off the sofa.  I was already blogging by then, and everything was a source of inspiration for a new project.  Those shiny, tapered legs have been in a box for about 5 years.

I almost made so many projects with these metal legs, but never did for one reason or another.

Until now.

Combined with a 7-gallon galvanized bucket we used as an ice bucket for my daughter’s wedding last year, I made a one-of-a-kind footed planter for my soon-to-be-finished sunroom. (I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the room is completed by summer!)

This project was so easy. Even if you don’t have old sofa legs, you can recreate a similar look with wood legs or hairpin legs and a galvanized bucket of any size.

To start the project, I removed the original screws from the tapered legs.  My husband looked through his stash of hardware in the garage and found screws, washers and nuts that would fit and better hold the legs in place on the bottom of the bucket.

We also removed the top plate on one of the legs to use as a template for placing the legs on the bottom of the bucket and as a guide to where to drill the holes (my husband’s idea).

Using a Sharpie marker, I traced the outline of the metal plate and the locations of the screw holes on the bucket’s bottom.

Then, I drilled four holes in the bottom and used a metal file to remove the sharp, bent edges of the bucket’s galvanized metal.

I made sure to wear gloves and safety goggles for this part!

Before we continued the project, I discussed with my husband the possibility of making this bucket and sofa leg project a footstool instead.

However, we both agreed that a planter was the best idea because galvanized metal isn’t that strong, and the legs were heavy. 

Before inserting the screws and attaching the legs, we applied a layer of silicone to each drill hole to seal the opening and secure the screws in place.  This should also help to keep the planter from leaking and rusting out the screws and legs. 

With the four legs attached, the galvanized bucket looked very different. 

Of course, it needed a little bit more personality.

I considered adding some chalk paint to the outside of the bucket, but a friend suggested burlap, and I thought it would be a good look.  

Going back to my craft stash, I pulled out a roll of burlap ribbon with lace edges and hot-glued it around the outside of the bucket.

After attaching the lacy burlap ribbon trimmed with hot glue, I decided to add jute twine to the mix. I wrapped the jute twine around the outside of the bucket several times and secured it with hot glue. 

Eventually, I think a large fern will call this planter home, but since those are hard to find this early in the Spring season, I just filled the bucket with a few pots of vines for these pictures.

Be sure to check out all of the other talented bloggers who participated in the ‘Do It Over Designer” Challenge this month below:

The Apple Street Cottage

Birdz of a Feather

Exquisitely Unremarkable

Little Vintage Cottage

Modern on Monticello

Purple Hues & Me

Unique Creations by Anita

Hugs,

Jeremiah 17:7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”

More posts to read and enjoy:

Inspirational Galvanized Bucket Decor

DIY Modern House Number Sign With Planter