The IKEA VESKEN Shelf Hack That Makes Displaying Indoor Plants So Convenient

The benefits of cultivating an indoor garden far expand simple aesthetics — though the prettiness of plants is undeniably important. Research points to indoor foliage improving our mood, reducing stress, and even benefiting physiological health. For example, there are houseplants that can help clean mold from your home's air. You need, of course, to house the said plants somewhere in your home. Letting them take up residence on a bookshelf, windowsill, or the floor is risky — they may leak when you water them. Hanging plants requires driving hooks into walls, ceilings, or window frames, and that's not very renter friendly. And can you really trust a stick-on hook to keep your precious peace lily aloft? The answer is, thankfully, waiting at your nearest IKEA: the VESKEN shelf for a mere $12.

What makes this shelf so great for housing houseplants is its combination of wipeable polypropylene plastic (IKEA notes you can wipe it clean with a damp cloth and mild dish soap), high sides to ensure your plants won't go tumbling if your cat jumps up there, and drainage holes. After all, poor soil drainage is one of the leading causes of yellowing and falling leaves in houseplants. The shelf comes in white or black; if you're worried about stains, choose the dark-hued version. You could, of course, make your own indoor plant stand with these creative DIY ideas. But honestly, why bother when you can have a ready-made shelf delivered right to your home? For those green thumbed but decidedly less crafty, ready-to-go shelving is where it's at.

Once you have your VESKEN shelf home, you'll need to assemble it, which is simply a case of inserting the legs into the corners of each shelf. Just remember to clip in the four bottom legs first, then work your way up to the top shelf. Then, all that's left is to add your potted plants! If you have access to a 3D printer, Printables has free plans for planters with drainage holes specially designed to fit snugly into VESKEN shelves; otherwise, any planters will do.

If you want to plant directly into the shelves rather than keeping your houseplants in pots with saucers, note that water will drip out of the drainage holes in the bottom shelf. You'll need to either keep it on easy-clean flooring, line the shelf with plastic sheeting to block the holes, or move the entire cart to the bathtub or outside on your balcony or patio to water the plants. Luckily, it's lightweight! Succulents and cacti are ideal for this method, since they require far less water and a coarser planting medium than your average leafy houseplant. If you wish, elevate your plant shelf with smart styling touches, like color-coordinated planters (or plants), cute flower pot ornaments, or even a few artificial plants.