I love my Victorian brick-walled garden it looks charming and is full of character, however, the brickwork can be a bit dark. That’s why a made a painted wood pallet planter for my garden to brighten up and add colour.
I’m really into Moroccan tiling at the moment and decided that I wanted to recreate the effect with paint. Also, I just love the color blue, last week I even did some indigo Shibori dyeing on my outdoor sofa.
Moroccan Style Painted Wood Pallet Planter
To recreate that Moroccan tiled look I stenciled a wooden pallet with a Moroccan style stencil. I then added plant pots to create a bright summery walled planter. My new walled garden definitely makes the garden feel more summery.
It’s hard to remember it’s summer here in the UK sometimes. We are having a typical unpredictable British summer at the moment. One minute is scorching hot the next is raining and cold again. Mind you if the weather was predictable we Brits would have to think of something else to talk about.
The whole painted wood pallet was a really affordable way to brighten up the garden it took me only a couple of hours to do. The pallet was free, I already had the pots and I used left over paint.
Being made of sturdy pallet wood the planter should hopefully last a good few years too.
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What You need to make a Moroccan painted pallet garden
- Pallet – I just pick mine up from skips(dumpsters).
- Moroccan Tile Stencil – This was a large 12″ by 12″ stencil which made the stenciling quick.
- Paint – I just used paint leftover from decorating. White emulsion (latex) for the background and two different shades of blue paint for the stencil one was latex paint and the other was chalkboard paint. You could also use acrylic paints with the stencils.
- Masking/painters tape
- Jubilee clips /hose clamps – large enough for the plant pots you use.
- Wood screws
- Terracotta pots – I used five 17cm pots.
- A sealant for the paint, varnish or clear furniture wax.
- Paint brushes and stencil brushes.
How to make a painted wood pallet garden
Stenciling the Wooden Pallet
1. The first thing I did was paint the pallet white. This was to be the background of my garden. I used white emulsion (latex) paint as I had some left over from decorating the house. Any white or pale colour will do.
2. Once the white paint was dry I began my stenciling. The first thing to do is to tape down the Moroccan tile stencil at the edges in the corner of the pallet. This is to stop it moving when stenciling.
3. The stencil is divided into 9 Moroccan tiles. I painted the tiles in 2 different blue paints one light and one dark. Alternating each tile to create a checkerboard effect.
Good tips when stenciling is not to have too much paint on your brush and to paint with a stippling motion. This will stop the paint from smudging and spreading under the stencil.
4. Whilst the stenciled pallet wood was drying. I painted the terracotta plant pots in the same colours as I used for the Moroccan tile stenciling.
Attaching your plant pots to the painted pallet wood
1. You will need to drill a screw hole in each of the jubilee clips to be able to attach them to the pallet.
2. As I had quite large pots I only used 5 for my planter. If you have smaller pots you may want to use more. Each clip was screwed to the pallet wood in a 5 dot dice pattern.
I closed the jubilee clips. As the plant pots are tapered they simply just slot into the jubilee clips. This makes them very easy to change and remove when needed.
I’m really pleased with how this painted wood pallet has turned out. It looks awesome in my garden and I love the Moroccan feel that the stencil gives to the planter wall.
I love making upcycled planters to brighten up my garden often I use tin cans to make planters. One of my favorites is the beautiful colorful Marimekko decorative tin can planters that sit in the corner. Next to my second favorite garden upcycle my unique Marimekko bench.
Since making this painted wood pallet planter I have been inspired to paint my shed with color and pattern. Which has brightened up my garden more, even on the dullest of winter days.
Update & FAQ’s
Three years on and I still have this painted planter in my garden. Both the paint and the pallet have held up well to all the British weather that’s been thrown at it over the years. Though I have changed the potted flowers a couple of times.
I’ve used the same stencil again this time on fabric to make a cool DIY denim table runner.
Can I Make This On Other Wood ?
Only if the wood has been treated for outside use. That is the great thing about pallet wood it has been treated so that it lasts outside, just like garden shed wood.
Why Not Just Use Real Moroccan Tiles?
The pallet was quite heavy as it was, tiling instead of painting would have made it even more heavier. At the moment it is quiet easy for me to move the pallet around the garden if it was tiled that would have been difficult.
Tiling would have been more expensive and it would have been difficult to attach the jubilee clips.
Lauren
Two things: 1) is there any need to sand the pallet smooth to paint it? And 2) what type of wax did you use to seal it after – you mentioned this in a reply.
Claire Armstrong
No, I didn’t sand the pallet before painting. However, if you want a smoother finish you might want to do this. I just used clear wood wax.
Maria
This is so beautiful ?
Claire Armstrong
Aww, thank you that is lovely of you to say so.
Anita Holland
This looks great well done.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much
Susan
This is adorable! I love the tiled look you gave the pallet with the small stencils! Beautiful job!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, pallets are fun to paint and it doesn’t matter if you mess it up.
Kathy A
Absolutely beautiful. I have wanted a pallet planter using the slots for the plants to come through with landscaping cloth stapled to the back, but this is gorgeous. I’d paint 4 more and make a little patio with a bistro table and 2 chairs!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, and I love your patio idea ?
Chloe Crabtree
How creative! At first glance I was thinking you painted each of those square individually and was thinking how much time that would take, but using a stencil! Brilliant! What a great addition to your outdoor decor! Thanks so much for sharing at Celebrate Your Story!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Chloe. The big stencil certainly speeded things up.
Debrashoppeno5
This looks fabulous. I love the colors you used and the stencil.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much!
Amberjane
I love this so much Claire I clicked through to by the stencil but it doesn’t ship to Ireland – darn it Amazon. I have a pallet that desperately needs updating too – still love yours though 🙂
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Amberjane. Have you tried eBay you might find one there that will ship to Ireland.
Julie
This is stunning Claire, such a lovely way to use a pallet.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much Julie.
Julie
Hi Claire, I just stopped by again to let you know your Lovely planter is one of the features at this weeks #HandmadeMonday 🙂
Claire Armstrong
That’s awesome, thank you.
Leanna
Your wall turned out beautifully. It will absolutely add brightness and warmth to your yard. Great work.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, it certainly brightens the garden up.
Ginny
What a great idea. I thought it was tiles at first.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, that was the idea they are supposed to resemble Moroccan tiles.
Hoir Canry
LOVE that! I need to do this for my living room that need a new look!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, and good luck with it.
Angie ~ Ambient Wares
I don’t think this could be anymore beautiful! It just catches my eye and I want to look at it all day. Wonderful job, Claire! Thank you so much for sharing this with us at Funtastic Friday. Pinned & sharing!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much, Angie and thanks for the shares. It really does brighten up my garden especially on a wet and rainy British summers day like today!
Lea
Wow! How pretty and creative. I also like how you painted the planters to coordinate with the tiles.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Lea, I thought it would look better with matching planters.
Janice
This looks fantastic Claire! I love that I wouldn’t need to take apart the pallet. I hate doing that! 🙂
Claire Armstrong
Thank you! Yes take pallets apart is a pain.
Carolann
What a beautiful idea! I love the stenciling and the colors are wonderful!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Carolann!
Jelica
Love how this project turned out. You really created something far more creative than your typical vertical planter with this Moroccan theme. Absolutely gorgeous!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much Jesica. I do like the Moroccan trend at the moment.
Jan
Hello Claire!
Just saw this at the Vintage Charm Link Party and I LOVE it!! The blues are beautiful! Good job! Thanks so much for sharing!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Jan! I do like my blues.
Victoria @DazzleWhileFrazzled
At first, I totally thought you had put down individual tiles. Great stencil job! Very pretty vertical planter.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Victoria!
Elise Cohen Ho
This is a lovely planter. Would the colors get ruined if one overwaters the plants?
Claire Armstrong
Thank you! ? I did seal it with wax and it hasn’t happened so far, it’s even been through a couple of thunderstorms so it should be ok.
KalamondinDesign
Very nice pattern, I love the colours, great idea and work! Greethings!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you ? I do like the Moroccan style stencil.
Shirley
Claire ,You did a great job. They look like tiles. I painted a pallet with a white washed effect to give a beachy effect & used plant pots with hangers on.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Shirley. I’m sure your beach pallet looks lovely.
MEDINA GRILLO
That stencil is beautiful…love the whole look!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Medina.
Carol ("Mimi")
This is a fabulous vertical planter! I’ve seen photos of lots of pallet planters with the wood left natural. But, this one really goes above and beyond. I love the Moroccan tile look. So creative!
Carol (“Mimi”) from Home with Mimi
Carol
Oh my Claire, that is absolutely gorgeous! I want it in my back yard.