Trash to Treasure: Pendant Light Planter

Now that spring is here, most of us are heading outdoors to enjoy the sunshine and knock out a few home improvement projects. I love a good DIY project almost as much as I love a bargain, so for this project, I was thrilled to combine the two. I also love finding thrift store "trash" and giving it a new life by turning it into "treasure," and that's exactly what I did. I created a hanging planter from an old brass thrift store light fixture. 

What I used for this project: An old pendant light fixture (mine cost under $5.00 at a thrift store); spray primer; chrome spray paint; jute gardening twine; drawer pull/knob; planting soil; plastic planter liner; and flowers. 

Before

{These instructions can be modified depending on what type of light fixture is used.}

First, I disassembled the light fixture, removing and discarding the old cord and components that I didn't need.

Here it is disassembled.

Then, I gave it a good cleaning and removed the glass panels while I prepped the metal part for paint. (If the glass on your fixture cannot be removed, simply tape over it. If you want to paint the glass too, rough it up with sandpaper and paint it. Or, you can skip painting altogether.) Next, I sprayed it with some primer and then gave it a coat of chrome spray paint.

Remove glass and spray paint the metal parts. Yes, I use a diaper box for my spray paint projects!

After the paint dried, I reinserted the glass panels. Next, I used two long strands of twine (approximately 5-6 ft. long), doubled them, and tied them around the drawer pull which I used to "plug" the hole at the bottom of the fixture. Then, I threaded the twine through the hole and tied them around the screws on the fixture for added stability.

Close-Up of Bottom. Twine is tied around a small drawer pull, then threaded through the hole in the fixture.

I planted my flowers inside the plastic planter liner, and then inserted it into the light fixture. In order to hang my planter, I tied a knot toward the top end of my twine creating a loop.

After

This entire project cost under $15, and now I have a unique, custom-made hanging planter to hold my flowers. Not only is it pretty, but it was fun to make!

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