How to Make a Simple DIY Plant Hanging Rod
Recently I updated my living room and wanted to take advantage of the light coming in through the window, by giving a place for me to hang my plants. So I built a very simple setup out of a closet rod and brackets. Below are the materials needed, links to the products I used, and a step-by-step process.
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Tools and materials needed
Oak closet rod or dowel (I purchased mine locally at Lowes, but found the equivalent online)
Closet bracket that matches the size of your rod
Construction screws (for joists) or Drywall anchors
Drill and proper drill bit for screws
Step Ladder
Optional accessories
Right-angled ruler (carpenter’s square) if you want things perfectly straight
Drill bit exendter to make it easier to drill the bracket in.
Process
1. Measure out the length of the space you have. Most big windows and sliding doors span just over 72”. I bought a closet rod that was 72”, perfect for my space. If you need it shorter, you can always cut it down with a handsaw or miter saw.
2. Check your ceiling for joists using a stud finder. Joists are horizontal wooden beams inside your ceiling for structure and support (Similar to the studs in your drywall). Ideally, you’ll be drilling right into your joists, to support the most weight. In this case, you can use construction screws. If you are going into drywall, make sure you use appropriate anchors.
3. Screw in your brackets. I installed my brackets roughly 10” away from the window, to allow for enough space for large hanging plants in the future. I drilled in one screw for each bracket at first, then slid in my closet rod. Once I ensured alignment between the two bracket holes, I then fastened the second screw into each bracket and used a right-angled ruler to make sure it was straight.
4. Hang your plants. You can use a set of S-hooks and hanging planters to host your plants. If you really want to maximize the space, you can use long and short hooks and planters to stack your plants at different heights and lengths.
That’s pretty much it. The rod might be a little loose sitting in the bracket; If that bothers you, you can secure it with an additional screw or adhesive. It doesn’t bother me, because of gravity and the weight load, the rod hardly moves when taking things on and off.
If you enjoyed this tutorial, you might like watching the entire living room makeover process below.