DIY Outdoor Gardening Station: Transform a Cabinet into a Potting Bench

Protective Paint

We turned a trashed Craigslist china cabinet into a powerhouse potting bench, starting with exterior primer and paint to protect it from the elements.

Hooked Up

Hooks screwed to interior supports and the door keep frequently used tools handy, while shelves hold pots, gloves, and supplies.

Wire Windows

Replacing glass with chicken wire gives an outdoor vibe. We swapped old hardware for fun decorative knobs.

Tiled Top

For a work-worthy surface, we replaced the cabinet top with exterior-grade plywood covered in tile. See the step-by-step below.

Handy Hose

Keep water close. Two vintage coat hooks drilled into an interior support board create a handy hose holder.

How to Create an Outdoor Gardening Station

What you'll need:

• Cabinet (materials/instructions vary by piece)
• Wood putty and putty knife
• 100-grit sandpaper
• 1 quart exterior primer
• 1–2 quarts exterior paint
• Hinges
• Chicken wire (for windows)
• Staple gun
• 1-inch wood trim
• Pin nails
• Cabinet knobs and pulls
• Exterior-grade plywood
• Screwdriver/drill and screws
• Wood glue
• Notched trowel
• Thinset adhesive
• Ceramic tile
• Grout mix
• Rubber float
• Sponge
• Grout sealer

Step 1

Remove doors, hardware, glass, and cabinet back (if possible). Separate top from base. Fill holes with wood putty; sand all surfaces.

Step 2

Apply exterior primer inside and out. When dry, paint entire cabinet, doors, and drawers. Apply second coat if needed.

Step 3

Once paint is dry, measure windows for chicken wire. Cut wire to fit plus ¼ inch extra each side. Staple wire to window backs, cover with wood trim secured by pin nails. Screw on new knobs/pulls. Reattach doors with new hinges.

Step 4

Cut plywood to fit cabinet top (future work surface). Screw plywood to base. Adhere border with wood glue.

Step 5

Apply thinset adhesive with notched trowel.

Place tile on adhesive.

Let dry 24 hours. Mix grout per package directions.

Spread grout with rubber float.

Once grout firms, wipe excess with damp sponge.

Let grout set 24 hours. Apply grout sealer per directions.

Step 6

Secure hutch to base. Reattach back. Add hooks for hose and tools. Place finished station on a covered patio or protected outdoor space.