DIY Key Holder with Plant Shelf

Both beautiful and functional, this DIY Key Holder with Plant Shelf is a perfect afternoon project. Never lose your keys again!

I was pretty thrilled when my super talented friend Stacy from Not Just a Housewife invited me to participate in her new series called Styled x3. Basically three bloggers take one home decor accessory, and put their own take on it. How fun is that?

For this challenge, each of us was given a little concrete planter. When I got mine, I tossed a few ideas around, but finally decided to make something I really needed, rather than just something pretty. We are always misplacing our keys, and I’ve been meaning to make a place for them for months. I knew it was time to fix the problem, so I used my little cement planter in this Key Holder with Plant Shelf. I’d seen similar ones with mason jars, but though this planter would work just as well. It did!

I love how it turned out, and I am so excited that we now have a place to hang our keys!

Need a place for your keys?

You can make your own Key Holder with Plant Shelf!

Supplies:
-Piece of scrap lumber (Mine was a pine board 5 1/2″ wide by 11″ long.)
-Chop saw  (Or have the guys at the hardware store cut your wood for you)
-Scroll saw or jigsaw
-Paint and paintbrushes
–Sandpaper and palm sander if you have one
–Metal hooks (I got mine at Walmart, but Amazon carries a wide variety as well)
–Drill, drill bit, and screws
–Wood glue
-Stencil or vinyl for words (optional)
–Cement planter or other pot that is about 4 1/2″ across the top
-Gravel, soil, and plants (I used succulents)
*You can make your key holder any size, just adjust your cuts and the hole in your board to accommodate your pot.

Instructions:
Cut one end of your board so that you have a square piece. Since my board was 5 1/2″ across, I cut off a piece 5 1/2″ long. Then you need to cut a hole in the square that is about 1/2″ smaller than the diameter of the top of your pot. I drilled a pilot hole with my drill, and was planning to cut the circle with my scroll saw. But it was malfunctioning, and I had to use the jigsaw. I have never cut a curved line with the jigsaw before, and I was terrible at it! You can’t really tell from the photo, but my circle is totally uneven and wonky. But it doesn’t matter that much, so don’t worry if yours is too. It can be our little secret.
Sand your wood, wipe it off really well, then paint it. I like to distress the edges with sandpaper, but that’s up to you.
Now it’s time to attach the shelf. Place it where you want it on the board, and make sure it’s level. Make pencil marks on the side showing where the shelf lines up. Then drill two small holes in the line where the shelf will be. (Hope that makes sense.) Then drill the two screws in from the back, till the tips are barely poking through.
Place the back end of your shelf centered over the screw tips. Make sure it’s level, and that the screws are in the middle of the board. Press down firmly, and the screw tips will make tiny holes in the wood. Add a bit of wood glue, then place the shelf onto your board, lining up the holes with the tips of the screws. Press down and the screws will grip the shelf.
Now you can flip your board over without the shelf sliding all over the place! Flip it shelf side down and finish drilling in the screws from the back.
Then attach the hooks across the bottom.
At this point I stenciled on “hello”, but you can use a different word, or skip this step all together.
Almost finished! All you have to do now is add your plant pot! This is the concrete planter I was given.
And here it is after I painted it and filled it with succulents. Since I didn’t want to add a drainage hole, I filled the bottom inch of my planter with gravel so the water can drain. You have to do that or your plants will get root rot and die. I know that from sad experience. I am an expert plant killer. 😉
Now all you have to do is hang your key holder on the wall, and add your potted plant. So cute, right?

I know I’m dying to see how Stacy from Not Just a Housewife and Taryn from Design, Dining, and Diapers used there concrete planters. Aren’t you? I love both those cute talented ladies, and I’m sure they came up with something fabulous!!
This was such a fun challenge- thanks for the opportunity Stacy!!

Here are a few more easy DIY projects:

Easy Farmhouse Shutters
Paint Stick Wood Sign
How to Make a Pallet Sign without a Pallet