DIY Guide to Making Window Boxes

Transforming your home's exterior with charming window boxes is a rewarding DIY project that can instantly elevate curb appeal. Follow these step-by-step instructions to create beautiful window boxes that accentuate your windows and enhance the overall aesthetic of your home.

• Measure the widths of your windows and purchase simple wood window boxes that are similar in length. In some cases, you may need to hang two window boxes side by side to achieve the desired length.
• Purchase cedar 1x2 material to trim out your boxes.

• Start with the end side of one of your window boxes and measure the height.

• Cut two lengths of cedar to this measurement and attach them along each vertical edge of the box using glue and pin nails.
• Measure the space along the top and bottom of the end side of the box between the attached vertical trim boards.
• Cut two cedar boards to this length and attach them to the top and bottom edges of the end side of the box.
• Repeat this process on the opposite end of the box.
• Cut two more cedar trim boards to the height of the box and attach them vertically on each end of the front face of the box.
• Measure the distance between these two vertical trim boards and cut two trim boards to this length.
• Attach one of these boards along the front bottom edge of the box and the other along the front top edge.
• Repeat this process to trim out all your boxes.

• Lightly sand the boxes before priming and painting.

• Cut a 2x6 board a couple of inches shorter than the length of your box.
• Rip a 45-degree angle down the center of the length of the board to create a cleat.

• Clamp half of the cleat to the back of your box so that the short side of the 45-degree cut angle is butted up against the box.
• Screw from the inside of the box into the cleat in about four places along the length.

• On the back of the box at the bottom right, screw on a 2x2 piece of wood that will act as a spacer. This helps the box sit level since the cleat protrudes. Repeat this step on the bottom left of the box.
• Measure down from the underside of the window trim six inches and mark it.

• Draw a horizontal line at this mark using a level.
• Line up the bottom of the other half of the cleat board along and above this line with the short side of the 45-degree cut angle against the house.

• If screwing into brick mortar, use a concrete bit to drill holes that are slightly smaller than the Tapcon screws you’ll be using. Tapcon screws are meant to be used in concrete and mortar. Use wood screws and a stud finder to screw into wood or siding.

• Slide the window box cleat over the cleat on the house to securely attach the box in place.

• Fill the window box with potting soil and plant your plants according to your preference. In these photos, we used plants such as sweet potato vine, coleus, vinca vine, black-eyed Susan, bush violet, petite licorice plant, choco chili and creeping jenny. We chose to put a taller coleus plant in the center with short plants around it and various trailing plants on the ends and in the middle.
• Consider your window's operation type when placing plants to avoid obstruction. For example, you wouldn’t want a tall plant in front of a casement window that cranks open outward.

• If you have small, newly planted bushes and grasses in front of your home, consider nestling large planters within your landscaping to fill in until your shrubs are more mature.

Have fun experimenting with different plant arrangements from year to year. You can even replant your window boxes on a seasonal basis or as a festive holiday decoration. By following these steps, you can create gorgeous DIY window boxes that enhance the charm and curb appeal of your home's exterior.