Add instant style to your home’s exterior with these simple DIY cedar window boxes! Let me show you how to make easy window boxes for under $15 and in just a few hours.
It’s time for another DIY challenge with some of my favorite DIY bloggers! This month’s challenge? An outdoor DIY project!
A bunch of us have teamed up to share with you some fun, DIY projects to make for your outdoor spaces. Be sure to scroll to the bottom to check out everyone else’s tutorials!
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For my project in this outdoor DIY challenge, I’m going to teach you how to make cedar window boxes.
We recently added a cedar window box to the front of our she-shed and I’m seriously in love with it. It’s amazing what a bit of greenery and flowers can do for a space!
Not only are these easy window boxes a super simple woodworking project, but they are the perfect way to increase your home’s curb appeal for cheap!
Our box only cost about $15 (for a 42″ window) and I was really impressed with how much prettier the front of the shed looked after adding a such a basic cedar window planter box to it!
Well, let’s get to it, shall we?
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DIY Cedar Window Boxes Tutorial
For a printable copy of the materials and instructions, scroll down.
MATERIALS:
Cedar Fence Boards
Construction Screws
Clear Plastic Sheeting
Gravel
Potting Soil
Flowers/Greenery
TOOLS:
Chop Saw
Table Saw
Nail Gun & Nails
Drill
Scissors
Trowel
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How to Make Window Boxes
Begin by measuring the width of your window.
We chose to install ours underneath the bottom window trim, so we made the box as wide as that piece of trim.
Next, use your cop saw to cut three of your cedar fence boards to that length.
Then, use your table saw to rip one of those boards down by 1″ for the bottom.
After the front, bottom and back pieces are cut, it’s time to cut your two side pieces and middle support.
Begin by measuring and marking a piece that is the width of your board at the top and that width minus 1″ on the bottom. This will give the the front of the box a slight taper.
Then, while keeping your board flat against the guide on your chop saw, rotate your saw’s blade until the straight edge of the hole lines up with your cut mark.
Cut the first piece, then keep the angle the same and use it as a template for the other two in terms of length.
Two of those pieces are your sides, the other is your middle support.
For the middle support, cut .5″ off the bottom (narrower end) to account for the bottom of your box and then 2″ off the top (wider end) to keep it underneath the top of the dirt.
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Now that you have all your pieces cut, it’s time to assemble!
Begin by gluing and nailing your sides into the back (with the back covering the end of the side.)
Then install the front the same way.
Once the main box is built, push your bottom piece in from the top and nail it in on all four sides with about 4″ between nails all the way around.
Next, install the middle support. Place it in the middle of the box and nail it in from the front, back and bottom.
The last part of the assembly is building and installing the top trim.
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Begin by using your table saw to rip down one cedar board into two 1.5″ side strips.
Then, measure the width of and depth of the box you built.
Cut 2 pieces out of those 1.5″ strips at the width plus .5″ and 2 strips at the length plus .5″ (both with mitered ends and the dimension as your LONG side.)
Work your way around the box installing the mitered pieces as a frame on the top with 1/4″ overhang.
Be sure to nail them into the box from the top and into each other from the sides.
Now it’s time to install the box on your house!
Using a drill and construction screws, screw the box into the siding where there is a stud (typically along the edge and center of the window.)
For water drainage, use a drill with a 1/4″ drill bit to drill holes along the bottom.
Now it’s time to fill the box!
Begin by lining the box with plastic. We just used a plastic drop cloth from the painting section. This keeps the wood from getting soggy and damaged by the soil and water.
Don’t forget to punch holes in the plastic in line with the holes in your box.
Then, line the bottom with a bit of gravel (to prevent the water holes from filling up) and fill the box half-way with potting soil.
Line your flowers up underneath the window to get a feel for how it will look and once you’re happy, plant them in the box!
And that’s it! Now you have a lovely DIY window box!
I love how ours looks on the front of the she-shed. 🙂
I wonder what Chris would say if I told him I wanted cedar window planters on the house too? 😉
In case you’re curious about the flowers we chose, we planted Big Falls White Bacopa, Yellow Violas, White Impatiens, and Vinca Vine. The front of our shed is almost full shade, so we chose some annuals and some perennials, all of which enjoy shade.
I hope this simple tutorial for building a DIY cedar window planter box helps you add some fixer upper window boxes to your home!
Here are the printable instructions:
DIY Cedar Window Flower Boxes
How to build a simple window box out of cedar fence boards to boost curb appeal.
Materials
- Cedar Fence Boards
- Construction Screws
- Clear Plastic Sheeting
- Gravel
- Potting Soil
- Flowers/Greenery
Instructions
- Cut 3 cedar boards to the width of your window.
- Rip 1" off of one of those boards for the bottom.
- Measure and mark another cedar board end for your side piece with the width of your board at the top and the width minus 1" at the bottom
Cut 3 of those. - Trim one of those into the support by cutting 1" off the bottom (narrow side) and 2" off the top (wider side.)
- Glue and nail the back into the sides and then the front into the sides.
- Push the bottom into the box and nail in from all sides with nails spaced at 4" all the way around.
- Glue and nail in the middle support.
- Rip another cedar board into two strips each 1.5" wide.
- Use those strips to build a mitered frame for the top with 1/4" overhang and install one piece at a time nailing into the box and into each other.
- Screw the box into the house's siding and studs under the window trim with construction screws.
- Drill holes along the bottom for water drainage.
- Line with plastic, add gravel and potting soil, and plant your flowers!
Also, don’t forget to check out all these other fantastic DIY outdoor projects from my blogging buddies:
Addicted 2 DIY – DIY Pool Towel Rack
RemodelaCasa – DIY Outdoor Coffee Table
Jaime Costiglio – DIY Outdoor Planters
Anika’s DIY Life – DIY Outdoor Dining Table
The Inspired Workshop – DIY Window Shutters
The Awesome Orange – DIY Deck Box Cooler
DIY Huntress – DIY Planter with Hose Storage
My Love 2 Create – DIY Porch Planters
Ugly Duckling House – DIY Outdoor Corner Table
House Becoming Home – DIY Chippendale Planter
My Repurposed Life – DIY Gas Meter Cover
The Created Home – DIY Outdoor Chandelier
Let me know if you have any questions!
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS
DIY CEDAR WINDOW BOXES TUTORIAL,
YOU WILL ALSO LOVE…
Absolutely fantastic! Thanks for covering up the facts with us.
I left mine raw! You could easily seal it with a clear coat or stain if you prefer – but not necessary!
i really love your article tnx for posting
Love the cedar window box…I don’t see anything about a sealer or stain or anything used to protect the wood? Or can you just leave cedar outside raw??
I really enjoyed your blog Thanks for sharing such an informative post.
Ours ended up being 42″ wide (because that was the width of our window) and about 6″ deep! I tried to keep the instructions usable for any window width and board size. 🙂
Hi! Hoping to find out the measurements of the width and depth of the box, can’t seem to find it! Beautiful!
Thanks Mariah! Glad you’re feeling inspired!
All these with just 15 dollar ?!!!. This is just great. I was planning to keep small plants on the roof of my house, now I have this idea. This looks so beautiful and I would even be able to see it from my window. Thanks a lot for this idea.
So cute! And you’re right–it is so amazing what a some flowers and greenery can do to a space! 🙂
Love the cedar window boxes. They add so much charm!
Love window boxes and I am going to try to make some too.
I would love to have you join myself and couple other bloggers on a garden tour next month. I would love to have this post on the tour.
Please say you will join us.
Happy spring,
Kippi #kippiathome
I have absolutely zero need for a she-shed, but you’re totally making me want one right now so I can have pretty flower boxes as well! I love how they look under the window! I bet they’d look amazing on your house as well;)
ohhh, how I love your she shed! The addition of the cedar window boxes are perfect! Thanks for all the great directions on how to make these come together so easily.
pinning!
gail