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Create A Modern Plant Stand From A Surprising Everyday Product

By  Carrie Waller
Black ribbed plant stand holding philodendron plant next to midcentury dresser Carrie Waller

Who's ready for another easy and inexpensive DIY hack? This one combines a $20 trash can with cut dowel rods to make a cool, contemporary plant stand that elevates your houseplants — figuratively and literally.

This DIY plant stand makes a statement in any modern space.Carrie Waller

Things Needed

Here are all of the supplies you'll need to turn your trash can into a mod plant stand.Carrie Waller

Step 1

For this project, you'll need to cut roughly 140 dowels to size to cover the trash can. This count allows for extras that you can choose from if some dowels are a little warped. Measure and mark the dowel rods with a pencil so that they'll each be 1/4-inch taller than the sides of your trash can. You'll get two cut dowels out of each singular rod in this pack of 36-inch rods.

Measure and mark the dowel rods to size.Carrie Waller

Step 2

Cut the dowels to size using a miter saw. You can opt to use a manual miter box if you don't have access to that kind of power tool, just note that it will take longer! You can cut several dowel rods at once to save time.

Cut the dowels down with a saw where you marked them.Carrie Waller

Step 3

Sand the cut ends of the dowels smooth using a sanding sponge.

Sand the ends of the dowels so that they're smooth.Carrie Waller

Step 4

Flip the trash can over so that it's upside down, and place it on a piece of scrap cardboard to protect your surface underneath. Squeeze a 2- to 3-inch wide squiggle line of construction adhesive down the side of the trash can using a caulking gun. Press cut dowel rods straight up and down into the construction adhesive one by one, holding them in place for 30 seconds before moving on to the next. The 1/4-inch overhang you added to the rod length in step one should be oriented at the top so that it exceeds the height of the can.

Step 5

After you've covered an 8-to-10-inch-wide section of the trash can, tie a piece of string tightly around the rods and the trash can, and let the adhesive set for about 15 minutes. Then, remove the string and do another 8-to-10-inch section. Continue attaching the rods to the trash can in this fashion until you cover the entire can. We suggest listening to a good podcast during this step!

Glue the cut dowels to the sides of the trash can.Carrie Waller

NOTE: When you get to the end, chances are good that you'll be left with a slightly uneven section that your rods won't fit into. Don't stress! DIYs are never totally perfect. Just fill in as much as you can, and rest assured that, once you paint the gap black like the rest of the can in a later step, you'll hardly notice. We just turned that spot back toward the wall so no one ever sees it.

Step 6

To fill in and cover the top of the trash can, hold your extra rods up where they'll go, mark where they need to be cut with a pencil, and cut them using a manual miter box. Glue each one in place with more construction adhesive. Again, the gaps will be less noticeable once painted.

Cut dowel rods to cover the top of the trash canCarrie Waller
Mark the dowels to size with a pencilCarrie Waller

Step 7

Allow the dowel rods to cure overnight on the trash can, and then use a paint brush to coat the top and sides with flat black paint. We did two coats of paint (with a 30-minute dry time in between) to get an even finish.

Paint the newly constructed plant stand matte black.Carrie Waller

Set your newly constructed mod plant stand in place, and top it with potted greenery for a cool accent in any space!

This modern matte black plant stand is the perfect accent in any space.Carrie Waller
Try styling this contemporary plant stand on its own or alongside a cluster of other planters.Carrie Waller

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