29 DIY Plant Stand Ideas for Your Porch, Patio, and Garden
Get your plants off the ground with these DIY plant stand ideas, from simple single-pot stands to tiered shelves, ladders, and tall corner units.
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You bought another plant, didn’t you?
Now you’re staring at it, wondering where it will go. The porch steps are packed, the deck is maxed out, and you’re tripping over the pots along the pathway.
A plant stand lifts your greenery off the ground, puts it where you can actually see it, and turns a hodgepodge of pots into a display that looks like you planned it.
I rounded up 29 of my favorite DIY plant stands, from single-pot stands to tiered shelves, leaning ladders, tall corner units, and even a critter-proof cabinet. Even better, most are afternoon builds, and many can be made with lumber you already have in your scrap pile.
Simple Stands for a Single Plant
Got a favorite plant you want to show off? These simple stands give a single pot a place to shine, whether it’s on the patio, by the door, or tucked into a sunny corner. Most are easy afternoon builds, too.
1
tylynnm.com
Simple Plant Stand with Crossed Sides
Tylynn put this little stand together during nap time, so you know it's quick. It features an X across the front and back, giving a plain pine stand some real character. She sealed hers with exterior poly so it can live outside on the deck.
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shanty-2-chic.com
Tall Porch Plant Stand
Whitney wanted a simple way to lift her pots where she could see them on the porch, so she built this from inexpensive cedar fence rail. An X-shaped cradle in the middle holds the pot at whatever height you like, and the tall legs do the lifting. She left the cedar natural and filled hers with fall mums.
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3
h2obungalow.com
Mid-Century Plant Stand with Tapered Legs
Wendi built this for her front porch to add a little personality to the entryway. The mid-century tapered legs are the star, and the round top cradles a terra cotta pot. She made hers from leftover wood and painted it a cheery teal.
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4
bybrittanygoldwyn.com
Small Plant Stand Topped with a Concrete Paver
Brittany whipped this up one weekend from scrap wood, topped with a cheap concrete paver. The paver’s weight holds everything steady and it hides the pocket holes, so there's nothing to fill.
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5
ana-white.com
Plant Stand That Doubles as a Drink Bucket Holder
Ana built this one for a party on the lawn, and it pulls double duty. Drop a galvanized tub in the top, and it's an ice bucket for drinks, or fill it with a planter, and it's a plant stand.
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6
100things2do.ca
West Elm-Inspired Plant Stand
Shelly liked a West Elm plant stand but not its $109 price, so she built her own for about $10. It's a simple mid-century frame sized for a 10-inch pot. The fun part is the legs. She dipped the bottoms in leftover blue paint, and the unstirred can left behind a happy accident of striations.
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bybrittanygoldwyn.com
Plywood Plant Stand on Hairpin Legs
Brittany built this box-style stand from plywood scraps to give her prized monstera a little lift. She raised the whole thing on hairpin legs she'd saved from an earlier project, giving it a clean mid-century look.
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8
ana-white.com
Little Outdoor Stool That Works as a Plant Stand
Ana designed this little stool to pull triple duty as a stool, a side table, or a plant stand. The splayed legs give it a sturdy, stable stance, and the joinery is hidden so the outside stays clean and simple.
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Tiered Stands for Showing Off a Collection
Plant collection getting out of hand? These tiered stands step your pots at different heights, whether it's a row of herbs, a cluster of succulents, or a mix of summer blooms.
9
Two-Tier Plant Stand Made from Old Fence Pickets
I grabbed a few broken-down fence sections from the side of the road, and turned them into this two-tier plant stand, perfect for the porch, patio, or next to the front door.
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10
handmadeweekly.com
Two-Tier Plant Stand for Herbs
Hannah picked up a batch of ceramic pots for her herb garden and didn't want them sitting on the deck, so she built this two-tier stand to lift them off the floor. The two levels give her herbs room to spread out, where she can reach them to snip.
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11
housefulofhandmade.com
Nesting Plant Stands in Two Heights
Kati wanted her houseplants off the floor and grouped into a vignette, so she built this pair from scrap wood. The smaller stand tucks under the larger one, so you can pull it out as far as you need or nest it away to save space.
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12
pneumaticaddict.com
Outdoor Tiered Display for Plants (or Pumpkins)
Elisha built this tiered display so her family's carved pumpkins would get some face time instead of getting lost by the front door. The stair-stepped shelves let everything sit at its own height, where you can see it, and she notes it looks just as good filled with potted plants. Better yet, it comes apart for easy off-season storage.
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13
woodshopdiaries.com
Two-Board Plant Shelf
When Shara wanted a quick plant shelf without a big lumber run, she came up with this one that uses just two boards and a few basic tools. It's about as simple as a plant shelf gets, but it still gives a little cluster of pots a tidy home. It's a great first build if you're just getting comfortable with tools.
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14
thehandymansdaughter.com
Outdoor Shelves for Plants or Supplies
Vineta's gardening hobby kept multiplying, so she built these compact shelves to corral the supplies. The open-slatted shelves work just as well as a plant display on a balcony or patio. She pulled it together from scraps in her bin, so it cost her nothing.
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15
ana-white.com
A-Frame Farmers’ Market Plant Stand
Stefanie built this farmers’ market stand to hold her garden in a tight city spot, and it drew so many fans that Ana White drew up the plans. It's an A-frame with stepped trays, so a whole collection of pots stairs up in front of you. The charming market look is the real draw, and it folds flat when the season's over.
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bybrittanygoldwyn.com
Tiered Plant Stand with a Hanging Rod
Brittany dreamed this one up when she needed to bring her plants indoors for the winter and ran out of room. Three slatted shelves sit at different heights, but the standout is the top. She added a dowel rod for hanging plants and worked grow lights right into the stand, so even the plants on the lower shelves stay happy.
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Ladder Planters and Plant Shelves
Running out of floor space? These ladders and shelves go vertical, whether you lean one against the wall, stand it in a corner, or set it out on the patio.
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shanty-2-chic.com
Leaning Ladder Plant Stand
Whitney wanted a fun planter for an empty corner of the back patio, and this leaning ladder filled the spot. The ladder shape steps your pots for a layered look against the wall.
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18
ana-white.com
Fence Picket Ladder Planter
Ana White's ladder planter is perfect for a balcony, patio, or tiny city backyard. Tiered planter boxes climb up the frame, so you get several growing spaces stacked in one small footprint. It uses inexpensive cedar fence pickets, keeping it budget-friendly.
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19
thecarpentersdaughter.co.uk
Freestanding Ladder Shelf Built from Offcuts
Vikkie's husband had been asking for a tiered plant ladder for ages, so she built one without spending a penny, using up the offcut pile that kept tripping her up in the shop. Unlike most ladder shelves, this one is freestanding, so it doesn’t need something to lean on, so you can move it anywhere in the garden. Once it's full, it doubles as a privacy screen.
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20
100things2do.ca
Angled Freestanding Plant Shelf
Shelly built this as a knock-off of a pricey store version. The shelves are angled, so every tier catches its sunlight, and no plant sits in the shade of the one above it. The slats let water and light pass right through, too.
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21
simplyalignedhome.com
Cedar Plant Shelf for the Patio
Fresh off a move, Nicole was itching to build something, so she made this cedar plant shelf for her patio. It holds a row of potted herbs across open shelves at a convenient height.
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22
woodshopdiaries.com
Renter-Friendly Plant Ladder Shelf
Shara wanted an easy-to-water home for her plant collection without giving up much floor space. So she designed this leaning ladder shelf as a renter-friendly indoor garden. It stacks a surprising amount of plants in a small footprint, and she points out you only need three tools to build it. It leans against the wall, so there's nothing to anchor or damage to the drywall.
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23
girljustdiy.com
Tall Plant Stand Tower
Toni built this tall plant tower for a challenge with her DIY group, using nothing but cheap construction lumber. Stacked shelves climb the narrow frame, allowing the plant collection to spread out without eating up floor space.
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Tall, Vertical, and Corner Stands
Short on floor space but long on plants? These stands reach up instead of out, giving your pots a home without taking over the patio. Tuck one into an awkward corner, or let a tall, narrow stand make a statement by the door.
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Enclosed Plant Stand That Keeps Critters Out
I built this one for my friend Linda after a woodchuck kept treating her deck flowers like a salad bar. It's a tall enclosed stand inspired by an old pie safe, but I swapped the tin panels for chicken wire so you can still see the plants while keeping the critters out. Three shelves inside each hold a big pot or a cluster of smaller ones, and the door swings open for easy watering.
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25
housefulofhandmade.com
Six-Tier Corner Plant Stand
Kati built this to squeeze a whole plant collection into an unused corner. Six tiers climb the stand, with an outer section that hugs the wall and a center section for smaller or shade-loving plants. Tucked by a window, it turns a dead corner into a sunny home for loads of pots.
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26
angelamariemade.com
Tall Vertical Plant Stand for a Privacy Gap
Angela's townhome backyard had a gap between a fence panel and some trees, so she built this tall vertical stand to fill it with flowers and add some privacy.
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27
thehandymansdaughter.com
Tall Plant Stand with Planter Boxes and an Arbor
Vineta built this tall plant stand to make the most of a sunny corner of her deck. A planter box anchors each end with an arbor across the top, giving her a spot to hang flower baskets at eye level. Shelves between the boxes hold smaller pots, and she tucked grow bags inside for tomatoes.
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Hanging Plant Stands
Love hanging baskets, but have nowhere to hang them? These stands give a trailing planter its own spot, so you can set it anywhere on the porch and still reach it easily when it’s time to water.
28
itsalwaysautumn.com
Freestanding Stand for a Hanging Basket
Autumn wanted to dress up her front porch without drilling a hook into the ceiling, so she built this freestanding stand instead. An arm reaches up and over to suspend the basket right where she wanted it, and the whole thing comes together from a couple of common boards. It's a beginner-friendly build and an easy Mother's Day gift.
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29
rachelteodoro.com
Painted Hanging Stand with a Chalkboard
Rachel kept losing her hanging baskets because they hung high and out of sight, where she'd forget to water them and miss half the blooms anyway. Her fix was this stand that brings the basket down to eye level. She painted hers and added a chalkboard panel.
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Final Thoughts
Whether you went for a simple single-pot stand, a tiered display, or a tall corner unit to hold the whole collection, there’s something here for just about any space and any skill level.
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Hi there – I’m Scott, a woodworking enthusiast and creator of Saws on Skates, a site I started in 2015 to share easy-to-follow tutorials, space-saving shop tips, and project inspiration for DIYers at any skill level. Learn more about my woodworking journey here.