DIY: Removable Window Shelf for Plants

Even in the dead of winter, I am buying new plants. My family thinks I’m crazy — yep, crazy plant lady! — but they support my love for greenery. They often add to my collection, which has created a need for more indoor space to contain them. I also needed a place high enough that the dog wouldn’t be able to nibble them.

The simple solution was to build a removable shelf in a sunny window.

I had a few small plants sitting on the existing sill already. Given the terrific sunlight, they were growing like gangbusters. It was only natural to take advantage of the spot by extending the ledge.

Here’s what I did:

I bought a 1″ x 8″ x 6′ pine board and cut it to length with a miter saw. I then cut out the back two corners (marked below with an “X”) so the shelf would rest against the window.

To account for the caulk along the windowsill, I routed a beveled edge along the shelf’s bottom.

It’s not a necessary step, but the clearance lets the shelf sit tight against the window.

Then Sam got really fancy and routed a lovely edge along the front of the shelf.

He used this ogee bit, which he had on-hand from building our daughter’s dresser.

A couple of passes through the router and my simple shelf concept was vastly enhanced.

After a light sanding, the shelf was ready for paint. I wonder now if I shouldn’t have stained it instead, giving it a farmhouse charm… but it got two coats of white paint.

While that dried, I cleaned and fixed the caulk around the window.

Every so often I’ll host a party and slide the sofa in front of the window to make more room, but otherwise there’s nothing blocking the window.

Nevertheless, I wanted the option to remove the shelf without too much work or damage, and so Sam came up with these guys.

He cut two blocks out of the scrap (from when the board was cut to length), then sanded and painted the exposed edges.

To avoid the chance of the wood splitting during installation, he drilled pilot holes and added countersinks so the drywall screws would drive flush.

He then installed them in the corners right above the shelf.

Now you can slide the shelf in and out, and the little boxes keep it from tipping forward.

A quick touch-up with white paint to the screw heads and the little boxes are virtually invisible.

A seriously easy fix that makes me, my plants and my dog seriously happy.

Thanks to this removable window shelf, I can easily bring plants indoors over winter and start new ones before spring has officially sprung.

What are some of your favorite house plants?
Please share in the comments below.
Thanks so much for reading! — v.