Flea Market Basket Planter for Front Porch Decor

Learn how to turn a flea market basket into a beautiful DIY planter for your front porch. This simple upcycling project adds natural texture and cottage charm to outdoor spaces, plus you’ll find more paint and build-it inspiration for your home and garden.

I can’t believe it’s the final week of the Outdoor Extravaganza already! Have you been following along? Be sure to check out my DIY succulent centerpiece and ice cream float bar to get caught up on anything you’ve missed in this fun series.

This time, we’re sharing our outdoor PAINT & BUILD-IT projects…

The original plan for today was to reveal our totally freshened up front porch. However, a late start to spring, plus the air being filled with tree fuzz and petals at the moment meant we had to hold off on staining for now. It’s simply too much work to have it ruined.

Our chokecherry tree is one of the culprits. So beautiful in May, but when the wind picks up, those blooms cover EVERYTHING!

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A Flea Market Find for the Front Porch

In the meantime, I decided to go ahead with some potted plants and new outdoor decor for our front porch. I was getting antsy.

Our door is situated at the side, which makes decorating the space a little challenging. A tall planter works best, but it can’t be too wide or it blocks the doorway.

While shopping at a local flea market last weekend, I spotted this tall wicker basket and was pretty sure it would work as a planter. The colour was a little too orange for my liking, but a little spray paint fixed the problem in a hurry.

Tips for Using Wicker Baskets Outdoors

You might be wondering if any basket can be used as an outdoor planter. The short answer is yes, but with a few precautions.

Our front porch is covered, so this basket is protected from direct rain and heavy moisture. I still recommend keeping wicker as dry as possible, even if it has been painted or sealed for outdoor use. Natural materials will last much longer when they’re not exposed to constant moisture.

If you’re using a basket as a planter, it’s also a good idea to use a liner or insert pot so you can easily remove your plant when watering. This helps protect the basket and prevents water from sitting in the bottom.

For an easier, low-maintenance option, you can also look for all-weather basket planters that are designed specifically for outdoor use and can handle more exposure to the elements.

Choosing a Low-Maintenance Plant for Front Porch Planters

Speaking of the plant, I wanted something hardy and low-maintenance since this planter sits right by the front door where there’s a lot of traffic. Boxwood is a great choice for front porch planters because it holds its shape well, stays green through the season, and can last right into fall (or longer depending on your climate). I also love the pop of fresh greenery it adds to this corner of the porch. A bit of light trimming and occasional watering is really all it needs during the summer months. If you want an even easier option, faux boxwood works well too for a similar look with no upkeep.

To make this work in the basket, I kept the boxwood in its original nursery pot so I didn’t need to fully line the basket with plastic. For extra support, I placed an upside-down pot inside the bottom as filler to raise the plant up. A tall plastic planter insert would also work well. I’m planning to switch to one later, since a liner is the best way to protect wicker baskets for outdoor use.

I picked up the woven basket and white pots at HomeSense last spring. I like how they add a hit of freshness to the porch. The black also ties in well with the basket planter and outdoor mat.

Eventually, I’ll move the fern to the shaded side since it can’t handle much sun.

Like that blue textured plant pot? It was a HomeSense find, too. I confess, I’m a regular ;)

The aqua distressed bench was part of last year’s Outdoor Extravaganza. I’m currently painting the larger bench (that was yellow before) a similar pale blue-green colour and will switch them out once it’s done. (Kind of sad to see the yellow go, but it was time for a change.)

Once the conditions are better outside, we’ll be prepping the front porch wood and staining it the same colours as before. Look for those updates later this summer (subscribe to get post updates so you don’t miss a thing.)

I hope we’ve inspired you over the past few weeks to tackle your own outdoor space! Be sure to check out even more front porch planter ideas.

One other thing before you head off… If you’re looking for more useful and pretty ideas in your life, make sure you’re on the email list! You can subscribe here.