Disclosure: this submit might include affiliate hyperlinks, which implies I could make a fee if you happen to determine to make a purchase order via one in every of my hyperlinks, for free of charge to you.
This submit might include affiliate hyperlinks. This received’t change your value, however might share some fee. Read my full disclosure here.
Where’s the excellent place for a plant shelf? Near the pure mild that houseplants must thrive, proper? So, I set off to show my giant workplace window into a spot for all of my favourite houseplants. New video and tutorial beneath!

Note: initially, I deliberate on posting this earlier than announcing the big house selling news, however some issues don’t go in keeping with plan! So I hope you’ll take pleasure in one thing a bit of out of order and let’s faux I nonetheless stay there for a second ☺️. It provides you with a glimpse in how briskly our expectations modified after we realized we needed to maneuver!
As you guys might need seen from this earlier post, I needed to transfer my workplace from an upstairs spare bed room down into the eating room. Our little one wanted a nursery and the guest room already had twin performance as Kyle’s workplace (we each largely work at home as of late), so my workplace was the most evident room to transform.

The eating room was not often used, so it too was an apparent selection for the place rooms might transfer. That additionally meant a possibility to decide on a brand new design scheme — which you realize I’d by no means say no to!

I began off by doing a colour block remedy on the partitions (see the how-to here), however one other customized function I needed so as to add was a spot for tons of houseplants. Numerous you guys on my social media (particularly Instagram tales, the place I share a lot of sneak peeks) have been asking for these plans! The wait is lastly over as a result of I’ve them obtainable on the market over on Spruc’d!

The neatest thing about the eating room was the enormous window that faces the again yard, and I needed to create a enjoyable construct that introduced the open air in. My timeline for this venture additionally occurred to fall simply earlier than WorkbenchCon 2022, so it was a unbelievable second as a result of I received to have a DIY bestie right here to assist me make it a actuality: Anika from Anika’s DIY Life!

Anika and I took two days to color the partitions and construct this wall-slash-window function utilizing plans that Kyle and I created. When the construct itself was completed, I nonetheless needed to end portray the remainder of the partitions after the convention, in order that’s why you may see some unfinished partitions in the background of a few of these photographs. But, relaxation assured: partitions painted, construct accomplished, together with including crown! I like to provide myself a tough time for by no means ending something, however this time I most positively DID. This is a primary of (I hope) many collaboration-style tasks I’d love to do in the future, so I hope you want the video; there’s a shortened model beneath whereas the longer model is on YouTube. Anika shares some nice recommendations on utilizing a Kreg Jig whereas I’ve a couple of of my very own tidbits to share as we accomplished this collectively. With any luck, I’ll be flying to California in 2023 to go assist her with a DIY makeover of her personal.
Check out the video beneath:
assist me attain 25okay!
DIY Window Plant Shelves

The full lower listing is accessible on the paid plans, and hold in thoughts that this was a customized constructed venture as properly; this will likely not match each window precisely and changes must be made to widths and lengths to accommodate different window dimensions. You can buy plans by tapping on the button beneath! For added comfort, I’ve additionally added a QR code to the plans with hyperlinks to all the supplies and instruments I used. You can see an identical model of hyperlinks in the buying widget beneath (I’m attempting it out as a result of it has nifty options like a fast hyperlink to all of the gadgets, plus you may add what you want straight to cart with out leaving the weblog).
Time wanted: 2 days.
I’m placing two days in right here as a result of that’s how lengthy it took us, however there’s no motive it wouldn’t take you much less time! These plant cabinets are designed to customized match within the window body, so that you’ll want to switch my plans to suit your personal window dimensions.
- Remove present window trim
Because I began with plans, I had a bit of bit simpler of a time reducing issues to the actual measurements. I needed to account for the new “trim” that might match the cabinets and shelf helps, so I eliminated the prime and sides of my present window trim and used a multi-tool with a wooden reducing blade to chop a small quantity of the chair rail on both sides of the window. I left the window sill in place as a result of our plans have been designed to construct round it.
- Cut and assemble shelf helps
The shelf helps use 2 facet items and Four center items every; these function the helps for the lengthy cabinets that lay on prime. Anika hooked up items collectively utilizing Kreg Jig pocket holes and clamps and strategically positioned the holes the place we in the end wouldn’t see (since the shelf will lay over the prime of the center items, we put pocket holes on the prime of every center piece as a substitute of underneath). I truly made a mistake on mine, the place I lower the center items too shallow for the mixed depth of my window sills + shelf widths. As a consequence, I had to make use of L-brackets to offer extra stability to the center help. I corrected the plans to mirror a deeper help building in order that the L-brackets wouldn’t be obligatory, however simply needed to notice that in case you assume you see one thing completely different in the video than what the plans present (trial and error of doing this venture for the first time and studying as we go!). By the manner, Anika has a great course on learning to use the Kreg Jig if you happen to’re !
- Cut and insert the inside window wrap
The building of the cabinets depend on the insert that wraps within the window. The match for this needs to be actually comfortable, so you should definitely measure the inside dimensions of your window a number of instances earlier than making cuts! Tip: Cut the items barely lengthy than you realize you’ll want, and make blade-width cuts on one finish till it matches. Attach the insert with screws to the wooden studs surrounding the window. To disguise the visibility of the screw heads, place screws the place you realize you’ll be inserting one in every of the shelf helps assembled from step 2.
- Add outer window trim
I selected to maintain the backside sill intact, however I eliminated the left, proper, and prime trim. I then added extra wooden round the fringe of the window in its place trim to match the new venture and make it look extra built-in. You’ll wish to spend additional time at the retailer selecting out good, straight items for this so there aren’t gaps from wooden bowing or twisting. To reduce floor marks, I used small brad nails.
- Insert shelf helps
With Anika’s assist, I put in the two shelf helps to the nook/sides of the window wrap after which centered the center one (it was simpler to measure and ensure I’ve hit the center this fashion and lined all of them up). Secure every bracket with lengthy screws to the window body and do a “wiggle” check to ensure they’re good and tightly put in. If you expertise wiggle, insert extra screws, tighten them a bit of extra, or add L-brackets.
- Insert cabinets and crops
This is the enjoyable half that makes all of it look full! I lower my cabinets lengthy as a result of I needed them to increase previous the window on either side, however if you happen to don’t have loads of room on both facet, you’ll have to chop them shorter to have the ability to insert them (alternatively, you may set up the cabinets as you put in the helps in step 4, or screw the items collectively as a unit earlier than inserting it into the window, however you’ll most likely want an additional set of palms to maintain all the things regular till you’ve screwed it in place). I selected to not safe the cabinets to the helps themselves, simply in case I needed to flip the wooden because it’s uncovered to the solar (sunning on one facet may trigger the cabinets to dry out on one facet and trigger cupping, so I believe flipping them sometimes will assist them).
I’m so, so pleased with this venture and the way it turned out. They even look nice from the yard wanting into the home!

Plans hyperlink is once more beneath if you wish to seize them for your self (digital plan gross sales go on to prices of sustaining this web site in addition to new tasks, so thanks on your help!) Sadly, I didn’t get to take pleasure in them for very lengthy before we decided to sell the house and move. But they seemed wonderful throughout staging and I hope the new owners are glad to have them.

I could should make them once more in our new home sometime (YES, we discovered our new home!!! More particulars on that coming quickly, together with a novel story of how we discovered it off-market!). Thank you guys SO MUCH on your endurance in getting this venture completed to share the video, plans, and weblog submit!
Don’t overlook to pin it!
