DIY Chandelier Planter

I've done so many chandelier projects, but I've never made a true chandelier planter project yet. For this month's Thrift Store Decor Team project, I figured it was time to do another upcycled chandelier and make it a flower feature!

I already used a chandelier just like this one to make a Floor Lamp Solar Chandelier. However, like I said, it was time for me to make the upcycled chandelier planter with this one!

To begin, I start gutting the wiring of the original chandelier. There are a couple of things to consider when you're working on a project like this:

• Take plenty of pictures
• Do not throw anything away until you know just how your project will proceed.
• Be flexible about how you may want to reassemble your chandelier planter.

In the past, I just ripped things apart. This time, I examined everything very closely and decided to actually remove the screws on the sockets.

Continue to Dismantle Chandelier Planter

Now is the fun part. I get to switch out the orientation of the chandelier. Up will be down, and down will be UP!

That's because originally, this chandelier looked similar to this one. But I need the candle cups to be reversed as in the image below.

I left the little rim around the bottom, but it's your project and you can do it however you want.

Here, you can see that the ring is on the bottom (left). I simply took all the pieces and switched them out, so that the hanging ring is now on the top.

Because I will be spray painting this chandelier planter, I needed to clean up the finish a little bit. Spray paint is not very forgiving when you can see layers of paint underneath. I sanded the white, which may have been paint, but most likely it was some dried drywall mud.

You must clean your project before you attempt to paint it. This could have been in a kitchen where there may have been a lot of grease residue on the surface. I prefer Krud Kutter.

After wiping away the grime, a spray with the garden hose removes any Krud Kutter and remaining gunk.

After washing it, I allowed the chandelier to dry in the sun thoroughly. Another thing spray paint doesn't like is water!

What Color of Spray Paint is Best?

I have a clearance center near me where I get a great deal on spray paint. My thoughts were to prime the chandelier planter WHITE, and then decide what color I should paint it. However, the paint was a glossy white and I fell in love with it right after I started painting it.

The image above shows how I started painting the chandelier project. This allowed me to get all the nooks and crannies on the bottom.

Then, I turned it upright hanging from the old shepherd's hook to get the rest of the chandelier. The glossy paint is awesome on this metal project.

So, I went shopping to find some pots to fit. Yeah, that didn't work so well. Time was running out, so I had to go with a less than perfect option.

At this point, you could easily add candles to make it a candelabra, succulents, or even solar lights--I've done all of that. But I had my heart set on making it a chandelier planter.

I found plastic bowls at Dollar General, and pitiful flowers at Lowes. Am I late to the game? Should I have shopped for flowers weeks ago? You're probably wondering why I didn't go to The Home Depot (my favorite). I did, but because it was pouring down rain, they were about to close the garden shop.

What are the white pieces in the bowl? Styrofoam peanuts, to help with drainage.

I couldn't decide if I wanted just a cascading plant or a pop of color, so I got both. But with five arms on the chandelier, I quickly realized it might not work the way I wanted it to.

I really, really like the ground cover plant, but it ended up not showing up very well in the pictures. So, I hope that everything I'm sharing with you will help you make better decisions when you make your own DIY chandelier planter.

What Can You Use to Hold Plants?

I used these really cute ($1) plastic bowls. However I haven't figured out how to secure them yet. If I can drill small holes in the bottom of the bowls, I can secure screws to the original socket brackets that are still in tact.

What can you use to hold plants in a chandelier? Think about the items you may already have.

• Maybe the globes that were originally on your chandelier will work?
• Teacups
• Coffee Cups
• Terracotta Pots & Saucers
• Small Galvanized Pots

Instead of using real flowers, you could use silk flowers--no need to keep them watered!

It might be one of my favorite chandy projects yet, but it's tough to choose. Click here to see more ideas.

Now it's time to visit my friends to see their thrift store projects!

• Upcycled Garden Pots and Containers
• Herb Themed Rustic Garden Stepladder
• Mosaic Bowling Ball Yard Art
• Black Matte Spray Painted Lantern
• DIY Pressed Flower Art in a Picture Frame
• Old Crock Filled with Succulents
• Easy Thrift Store Makeover | Patriotic Serving Tray
• DIY Chandelier Planter (you are here)
• Upcycled DIY Bar Cabinet from the Top of a Hutch