Craft a Stunning Leather Hanging Plant Stand: DIY Guide

Learn how to create a chic and functional leather hanging plant stand with this step-by-step guide. Elevate your indoor greenery and add a touch of style to your home decor.

Why Hanging Plant Stands?

When it comes to plant styling, creating various levels in a space using greenery can significantly enhance the overall effect. Having plants at different heights—above, at, and below eye level—mimics what you’d find in nature. This approach seamlessly blurs the line between indoor and outdoor environments.

Hanging planters are an excellent way to achieve this look. They make rooms feel more lush and draw the eye around the space, creating a dynamic and engaging environment. However, caring for hanging plants can be a bit of a hassle, especially when it comes to watering.

The Challenge with Hanging Planters

Most hanging planters come with drainage holes, which means you can’t water them while they’re hanging. To properly care for them, you need to let them drain, which can be messy without a tray to catch the runoff water. This often involves taking the plants down, watering them in a sink or tub, letting them drain, and then returning them to their spots—a time-consuming process.

The more hanging plants you have, the more work it takes to water them. I often find that this process eats up most of my time on plant care days. I thought, “If only these hanging planters could have a wide base tray under them, allowing you to water the plants where they hang and catch the runoff water without detracting from the beauty of the planter and the plant.”

Designing the Perfect Hanging Plant Stand

I’ve seen many hanging planters that can hold a base tray under the pot, but they often wrap around the pot, tray, and plant, not allowing them to breathe and show off their beauty. I wanted something that would prop the plant and planter up high in my home while still allowing them to be visible and stylish.

I sketched out some ideas and sent them to my friend Sara Tomko, who works in leather design. I asked if she could help me create something beautiful to display my hanging plants. I made it clear that I wanted to be able to place various-sized base trays inside it. Sara loved the idea, and a few days later, she had created the prototype. It turned out so great that I’m sharing it here so you can make one yourself.

Materials and Tools

Here’s what you’ll need to create your own leather hanging plant stand:

Materials

3 leather straps, each 120cm long, 2cm wide, and 1.6-2mm thick (available online or at hobby stores)
2 x O-rings, 38mm
4 x D-rings, 25mm
14 x small double-cap rivets with a cap and post size of 6mm

Note: If using leather heavier and thicker than 1.6-2mm, size up the rivets to a post size of 8mm or larger, with a post size of 13mm, depending on thickness.

Tools

Scissors
Tape measure
Ruler
Soft pencil
Hole punch
Rivet setter
Rivet anvil
Hammer
Sponge
Bowl of water
Cutting board

Note: The measurements and materials listed above are for the example shown in the photos, but this project is very customizable. You can use vegan leathers, upcycle belts, or even dye or paint the leather. Be creative and make it your own.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Cut the Leather Straps

Cut one of the 120cm leather straps into four 30cm lengths. These will be the straps that hold the base tray.

Step 2: Soak the Leather Straps

With the sponge, soak up some water and wipe down each 30cm strap. Wetting the leather makes it soft and durable. Be sure to wet the entire strap to avoid uneven discoloration. Sponge the leather until it cannot hold any more water. It’s now ready to mark and hole-punch.

Step 3: Mark the Straps

With the soft pencil and ruler, mark one end of each 30cm strap with two points, at 5mm and 5cm in, in the center of the strap. This is the end that will connect to the O-ring at the bottom.

At the other end of each of the 30cm straps, mark two points in the center of the straps, 5mm and 4.5cm from the end. This is the end that will connect to the D-rings. Now sponge down the remaining two 120cm leather straps.

Step 4: Mark the Long Straps

With the tape measure, make a mark at the 60cm halfway mark. With your ruler, make a mark 2.5cm from each side of the 60cm halfway mark in the center of the strap. Now mark the ends of the 120cm straps with two points at 5mm and 4.5cm from the ends, in the center of the strap. These ends will also connect to the D-rings.

Step 5: Punch the Holes

Grab the cutting board, hammer, and hole punch. Place one 30cm leather strap on the cutting board and use the hole punch and hammer to punch all four holes you marked. The wet leather will make it much easier to punch the holes. If your leather has dried a little, you can re-wet it with the sponge. Repeat this step with the three remaining 30cm straps. Now punch all six marked holes in the two 120cm straps.

Step 6: Attach the Straps to the O-Ring

Grab the 30cm straps and one O-ring. Line up the straps so the ends marked at 5mm and 5cm from the end are at the bottom. This is the end that will connect to the O-ring. Place the O-ring on the cutting board. Take one 30cm leather strap, suede side facing up, and place the O-ring marked end under the O-ring. Wrap the strap around the O-ring so the two newly formed holes meet. The long end of the strap should face away from the O-ring.

Step 7: Rivet the Straps

You will need the rivets, rivet setter, and hammer. Double-cap rivets have two parts—post side and cap side. Insert the post side from the bottom through the two holes. Place the cap end of the rivet on the other side. Squeeze the rivets together to snap them shut. Using the rivet setter, rivet anvil, and hammer, position the rivet on the anvil so the bottom cap lays inside the dip on the circular portion of the anvil. Place the concave portion of the rivet setter on top and give it a good tap with the hammer. Repeat steps 6 and 7 with the three remaining straps around the O-ring. Check that you are connecting the right end to the O-ring.

Step 8: Attach the D-Rings

Using the D-rings, repeat the riveting process for the opposite ends of the straps. Now the straps that will hold your base tray are complete.

Step 9: Attach the Long Straps to the O-Ring

Feed one 120cm strap through the remaining O-ring. Rivet the two holes you made at the halfway point to secure the straps to the O-ring. Repeat this step with the other 120cm strap.

Step 10: Connect the Long Straps to the Short Straps

Now connect the long straps to the short straps. Rivet the ends of the 120cm straps to the D-rings of the 30cm straps. Make sure to match the leather grains as you attach, as it can be easy to attach them backward—you want the suede side facing inward.

And there you have it! Your very own leather hanging plant stand. This functional and stylish piece will elevate your indoor plants and add a touch of elegance to your home decor.