Turn A Basic Planter Into A Stylish Patio Side Table With Hidden Storage
Fall is the perfect time to fall back in love with your patio. It's not too hot and it's not too cold. The mosquitoes have started to retreat. And the idea of enjoying a pumpkin spice latte while reading a book in the fresh air (and more importantly — well-hidden from your children) sounds marvelous. The one flaw in the plan is that there's nowhere to put down the latte or the book. And when there are major, expensive holidays right around the corner, the autumn season may not be the best time to buy outdoor furniture.
What you need is a DIY side table. This patio side table hack from @allthingshome_by_ro has gone viral on TikTok. All you need is a planter or storage bin, a pizza pan, and a can of spray paint to make a lovely side table at a very affordable price. This side table is stylish, outdoor-friendly, and even has hidden storage so that you can keep blankets and a pile of gossip mags safe from the outdoor elements.
How to make an end table from a planter
Creating this outdoor storage couldn't be easier, but finding the perfect planter could prove difficult. The planter used in the video is Better Homes and Gardens Ellan white resin planter which is sold at Walmart for $29.95. However, because this hack is so popular, it may be out of stock. But as long as your planter and pizza tray have the same width, it should work — both the planter and pizza tray in the video are 16 inches wide. You may want to purchase both in person from the same retailer so you can test the fit of the tray on the top of the planter.
The final thing you need is a can of spray paint, and you can choose any color that matches your outdoor furniture. You can spray paint both the planter and the tray to look like one solid piece, and one can should fully cover both items. Since this end table is meant for outside use, we recommend using a spray paint designed to combat rust, such as Rustoleum. Once the spray paint is dry, simply stick it on top of the planter and you're done! To use the planter as storage, take off the pizza pan lid and store your items inside — just remember that the side table won't be fully weatherproof, so don't store anything there that you wouldn't want exposed to the elements.