Turn Your Old Chandelier Into A Chic Garden Planter With This Clever DIY

From discarded toilets and bathtubs to old work boots, there seems to be no end to the items that gardeners will turn into charming recycled planters if given the chance. The latest craze, it appears, is transforming outdated chandeliers into hanging planters that can read as chic or whimsical as you like, depending on your individual style. If you once replaced the dusty old chandelier that came with your house — and have kept it in the basement or attic ever since — this is the perfect gardening DIY for you.

No old chandelier lying around your home? Don't worry; they're incredibly common items at secondhand stores, garage sales, and online marketplaces. Typically, buying a chandelier secondhand will set you back less than $20. Don't be fooled by a dated, tarnished, or even damaged appearance — it's all part of the charm. Plus, you can paint and decorate it any way you like. 

Creating your own chandelier planter can be a super quick and easy craft or it can go a little more in-depth, depending on how much you'd like to personalize your planter. First, of course, you'll need to find the right chandelier. If you'd like to keep the project simple, make sure that each light fixture has enough space to hold a small plant and an adequate quantity of soil. If you don't mind a little extra work, you can also remove the light fixtures and use their bases to attach small pots for more soil space.

The rest depends on how creative you want to get. If you want to change the appearance of your chandelier, you'll need a can or two of spray paint. Once the paint is dry, it's time to insert one plant in each light fixture — after removing any remaining light bulbs — or attached pot. Then, your planter is yours to decorate. You can add suncatcher beads, windchimes, glitter, a hanging sign, or whatever your heart desires. 

Not every plant will thrive in the small space offered by a chandelier. Plants that grow rapidly and require frequent up-potting could end up root-bound quickly in the limited space a chandelier planter has to offer. Be sure to select flowers or herbs that thrive in small pots, like pilea, echeveria, mini-aloe, or African violets. If you're growing a mixture of different types of greenery, it may be best to use different potting soils in each pot to help your variety of plants thrive.

Be sure to consider whether you'll be hanging your new planter indoors or outdoors, and select your plants accordingly. It may also be an option to hang the planter outside during the season most suitable for your flowers, and then move it indoors when it becomes too hot or too cold outside for them to thrive. Always ensure that your pots have proper drainage, and your chandelier plants will be thriving in no time.