The Stylish Plant Holder DIY Using An IKEA Rug

Unique ways to decorate your home with plants include everything from making succulent terrariums and hanging flora-filled baskets from your ceiling to creating a living accent wall. But those are, arguably, kind of complicated. If you're a plant parent with all the passion in the world for the care and display of your plants, but not a lot of patience when it comes to DIY, this quick and easy leaf-filled decor project will appeal. Head to IKEA and buy a small rug in the pattern or hue of your choice — we list some recommendations below. Remove any sales tags, and fold it, origami style, into a bucket-like shape. Glue the folds in place and pop your plant inside. That's it!

Head to IKEA to pick up the unbleached SORTSÖ Rug for $4.99. (The store also has the same rug in a light blue hue if you prefer.) You'll need some heavy-duty fabric glue. FITTDYHE Washable Clear Fabric Glue is an Amazon best seller at almost $9 a tube. If you prefer a popular brand, Aleene's Fabric Fusion Permanent Fabric Adhesive for just over $6 a tube regularly passes tough strength and wash tests. A hot glue gun and glue sticks work, too. Depending on how big and tall you want your cover to be, a pair of fabric scissors may also come in handy. If you think you may want to attach the cover to the plant pot, get some Piutouyar 0.67 Inch Flat Head Bronze Upholstery Tacks — about $8 for 100 pieces.

Supplies gathered, you're ready to get started on this no-sew trick for adorable DIY flower pot covers. If you want a large cover, use the rug as is or cut the rug in half width-ways for something smaller. Keep or remove the tassels — you choose! Fold the long sides of the rug into the middle. Add glue to the hems and overlap them slightly to create a neat seam. With the seam facing up, fold one side of the rug over on itself to form a diamond shape. Add a dot of glue in the middle and fold the top and bottom flaps in to meet it. Add more glue as needed. Lift the bag and open it out, flattening the base on your work surface. Fold over the top a few times to create a cuff and pop in your plant in its plastic nursery pot.

You can also fold the base in a way similar to how you would interlock the flaps of a cardboard packing box when you're out of tape. On the reverse of the rug, measure and mark the height of the cover with a horizontal line using tailor's chalk. Divide the bottom of the rug into four even portions and mark them vertically; the length of the lines match the width you wish your base to be. Cut along these lines and interlock the flaps, gluing them in place where they overlap. If you need to, attach the rug to the internal pot using upholstery pins.

Currently channeling the interior design fabric trend that's a maximalist's dream? In other words, rejecting beige in favor of vibrant patterns. IKEA has some other more colorful rugs to explore this DIY idea with, namely TÅNUM for $7.99, VÄGSKYLT for $12.99, and MÄVINN for $24.99. You could also use a sturdy, open-weave, natural fiber entryway mat with the same folding technique to create more of a basket look.

If you want to get a bit more creative, grab a large wire basket, fold the rug neatly inside it, and pop in a few houseplants in plastic pots. We like the Spectrum Diversified Store Steel Wire Utility Basket in Black for about $21. Another way to reuse an old rug to DIY a gorgeous outdoor planter (or a new rug) is to wrap it around a basic plastic plant pot or trash can, similarly to how some gardeners do with hessian fabric. Secure the rug with a length of thick string, some rope, or an old belt. This works just as well with small indoor houseplant pots, so long as you're willing to cut the rug into smaller pieces.

Note that rugs made of natural fibers are susceptible to mold and rot if you don't keep them dry. Likewise, don't expect a cover made from a permeable material to contain drips and leaks from the pot placed inside it. Use the cover with a saucer or plant coaster, or place it on a waterproof floor surface like tile. Then take the plant out of the rug pot to water it.