• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Cottage at the Crossroads

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Gardening
  • Recipes
  • Canning
  • DIY
  • Holidays
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Gardening
    • Recipes
    • Canning
    • DIY
    • Holidays
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » DIY » Outdoor Projects

    Outdoor Potting Bench Skirt

    By: Jane · Updated: 27 Apr, '15 · This post may contain affiliate links · 25 Comments

    Sharing is caring!

    I'm excited to tell you about a project I've been working on for a few weeks. It's our potting bench redo which now has a cute, flirty skirt! If you remember, we had this outdoor potting bench built a couple of years ago because I wanted a sink in the garden. Well, it has certainly been handy, but it had become a little unsightly because all the things that we store on the shelf were visible. So as part of our "prettying up the garden" plan, I decided that the bench needed a skirt.

    Outdoor potting bench skirt | cottage at the crossroads

    It was about the same time that I was contacted by the Online Fabric Store asking if I might have an outdoor fabric project. DID I? Why, yes, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I was so lucky to be able to work with the Online Fabric Store and Premier Prints for this project because they provided the fabric!  Isn't it pretty?  If you aren't familiar with Premier Prints and their fabulous selection of  fabrics, you need to check them out at Online Fabric Store.  Many of the fabrics are on sale right now including this Premier Prints Outdoor Cadence Greenage fabric that I selected for my project.

    Outdoor potting bench skirt | cottage at the crossroads

    I chose this fabric because it's almost the same shade of green of most of the herbs in my little herb bed beside the bench.

    Olympic solid stain-cape cod gray

    So before the fabric arrived. Leo pressure washed the bench but I wasn't liking it's uneven natural color. I picked out a solid stain in Cape Cod Gray and stained the bench. I was going for that silvery gray color that treated wood eventually weathers to, but I didn't want to wait years for that to happen.

    After the fabric arrived, I delivered it to my friend Brenda and asked her to cut it into 6 panels with a little rod pocket and hem. (I don't have a sewing machine, but I have good friends! Hehe!)

    Meanwhile I ordered some curtain rods from Ikea. They are powder coated steel rods that are inexpensive and have a corner connecting piece so that we could make it one continuous rod around the bench. (We installed these rods on our front porch last year and they do not have one bit of rust on them from being outside. )

    Painted plastic pots in the garden | cottage at the crossroads

    While waiting on the skirt to be made and the curtain rods to arrive, I got busy spray painting some pots and accessories to use on the bench. Earlier this spring, we had freshened up these painted plastic pots by repainting them in shades of blue and green so I had plenty of spray paint in these colors.

    Potting bench skirt | cottage at the crossroads

    Here is a little blue orb and some small pots painted in those colors.

    Potting bench skirt | cottage at the crossroads

    Leo added these two shelves so that I'd have a place to store my trowels and other tools decorative items.

    Potting bench skirt | cottage at the crossroads

    Here you can see how we placed the end brackets to hold the curtain rod when the skirt was ready.

    Potting bench skirt | cottage at the crossroads

    Other brackets hold the rod securely in place while a corner connecting piece bends around the corner.

    Potting bench skirt | cottage at the crossroads

    The panels meet at each place where there is a bracket.

    Potting bench skirt | cottage at the crossroads

    The openings allow for easy access to pots and supplies that are stored on the shelf underneath the bench.

    Potting bench skirt | cottage at the crossroads

    The skirt is not touching any soil. There are landscaping timbers all around the bottom along with landscaping fabric covered with straw. There is some soil in front of the sink, but we have sprigged some centipede grass in that area which should cover the soil soon.

    Potting bench skirt | cottage at the crossroads

    Isn't it pretty? You can see a few things that I've put on the wooden fence panels that we added to this corner a few months ago. And the vintage watering can got an impromptu floral arrangement of onion and arugula flowers growing in the garden.

    Onion flower | cottage at the crossroads

    Have I mentioned how pretty I think the onion flowers are?

    Potting bench skirt | cottage at the crossroads

    See the little tote that says "Garden?" We're going to start selling those in our shop soon.

    Potting bench skirt | cottage at the crossroads

    I have more plans for turning this corner into an outdoor eating area so that we can enjoy the garden fully. But right now, I'm just amazed at what the potting bench skirt has done for this area.

    Outdoor potting bench | cottage at the crossroads

    I'd like to thank the Online Fabric Store and Premier Fabrics for sending me this gorgeous fabric. (I had a little bit left over, so check back soon to see how I'm using a little more of it.)

    More Outdoor Projects

    • Lattice panel above faux fireplace 2
      Upcycled Wood Lattice Wall Panel for Fall Decor
    • Red and white enamelware fountain square
      Enamelware Chair Fountain
    • Summer topsy turvy planter square2
      Summer Topsy Turvy Planter
    • Galvanized tub fountain and planter square
      Galvanized Tub Fountain and Planter

    Sharing is caring!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Rhonda Smith

      December 25, 2016 at 11:16 am

      Just joined your page. Could you share what type of fabric please? Is it outdoor fabric?

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        December 28, 2016 at 10:33 am

        Yes, it was outdoor fabric made by Premier Fabrics. I have been so pleased with how it has held up in the weather for the past two years!

        Reply
    2. Melanie

      June 04, 2014 at 9:07 am

      Oh Jane, I love it! Love the color of the fabric, it is so fresh looking. You make everything look so wonderful, even a work space!

      Reply
    3. Kim

      June 02, 2014 at 3:20 pm

      Wow...love that fabric. The color is stunning and I really love your creative project!

      Reply
    4. Jenna

      June 02, 2014 at 9:04 am

      That is soooo cute Jane! and you can hide all sorts of stuff under it!

      Reply
    5. Sherry

      June 01, 2014 at 6:54 pm

      Oh I love it. And you even have a sink. I love how you painted the pots to match.
      Thanks for sharing. I am following you now.
      Have a good week,
      Sherry

      Reply
    6. Laura @ Inspiration for Moms

      June 01, 2014 at 1:04 pm

      So cute!! I love your fabric choice!!

      Reply
    7. Pat Peele

      May 30, 2014 at 8:33 pm

      This is lovely! It adds a finished look to that corner of your garden. Is it coated? Has it been rained on?

      Reply
    8. Laurie @ Vin'yet Etc.

      May 30, 2014 at 1:56 pm

      What a difference a skirt makes!!! Wow the whole space looks so bright and cheery! It's such a welcoming space! Since Leo won't give me Lucy, I may have to come visit you two for gardening tips. 😉

      Reply
    9. Diane @ The Checkered Apple

      May 30, 2014 at 10:09 am

      Jane,
      Your new skirt totally makes the area come alive, and the green and white printed fabric was a perfect choice!

      Reply
    10. [email protected] Designs

      May 30, 2014 at 9:35 am

      Beautiful, beautiful Jane....I have a skirt on mine; however, it is very sad looking as it has been in the elements for over a year...so you have inspired me to change mine out....I so love the entire potting bench area and the colors are amazing!!!....Great job!!!...it is such a happy place to be!!

      Reply
    11. Pat @ LifeAtLydiasHouse

      May 29, 2014 at 10:15 pm

      That is too cute! It's way too cute to be in a garden!! ' ) ' )

      Reply
    12. Sharon

      May 29, 2014 at 10:01 pm

      I love your potting bench! The skirt really adds a fun touch..love that color green and the pattern is perfect for outdoor gardening.

      Reply
    13. laurie

      May 29, 2014 at 9:55 pm

      I just took a look at their fabrics. I don't know how you made a decision. So many beautiful choices. laurie

      Reply
    14. laurie

      May 29, 2014 at 9:50 pm

      Jane, that looks great! The fabric is so pretty, and all of the mess can hide behind it. laurie

      Reply
    15. Cynthia

      May 29, 2014 at 2:55 pm

      Wow what a huge potting bench. Now that is super cool and would love to have something that large!! I just saw this same fabric at Christy's blog. Love the freshness of this fabric and the color reminds me of fresh cut grass, without the sneezing, LOL.

      Cynthia

      Reply
    16. Debbie

      May 29, 2014 at 10:06 am

      I wish I had a potting bench! Love the fabric, it's beautiful!
      Debbie

      Reply
    17. [email protected]

      May 29, 2014 at 9:08 am

      That project is done and looks great. Now maybe I'll play some golf next week.

      Reply
    18. Jean

      May 29, 2014 at 8:38 am

      Thank you Jane and Leo for the most beautiful view from our kitchen window.

      Reply
    19. [email protected]

      May 29, 2014 at 8:34 am

      That's so cute Jane!!

      Reply
    20. Dawn

      May 29, 2014 at 8:32 am

      How cute Jane, it looks perfect and it's the perfect hiding space. Pinning!

      Reply
    21. Robyn

      May 29, 2014 at 8:28 am

      That looks awesome!! Hubby is building me a potting shed and I want a potting bench inside with a skirt!! You have given me inspiration!

      Reply
    22. SheilaG @ Plum Doodles

      May 29, 2014 at 6:55 am

      The potting bench skirt looks wonderful, Jane. I love the color and the print, perfect for your outdoor space. I keep eyeing those orbs, too- I like the color you chose for yours.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads

    We're Jane and Leo!

    Thanks for stopping by! We're renovating and preserving our family's 100 year old home place where we garden, complete a few DIY projects, and do some cooking. Please leave us a comment so that we'll know that you were here.

    about →

    Reader Favorites

    • Setting up a gardening journal
      How to Set Up a Garden Journal
    • Wooden garden obelisks
      DIY Wooden Garden Obelisk
    • Sweet cucumber relish featured
      Sweet Cucumber Relish
    • Cucumbers in raised beds
      Growing Cucumbers in Raised Beds

    Gardening How-tos

    • Best way to remove weeds from large area
      Best Ways To Remove Weeds From a Large Area
    • Potting mix vs. Potting soil
      Potting Mix vs. Potting Soil
    • How to dry and store fresh garden herbs
      How To Dry Herbs
    • 1
      Instant Pot Canning Basics

    Growing Vegetables

    • Fall decor 063
      Our Fall Vegetable Garden
    • Garden and yard may 2013 132
      Evolution of a Garden
    • Celebrity tomatoes in cages
      How to Grow Your Own Tomatoes
    • Growing lettuce in containers 030
      Growing Lettuce in Containers

    Footer

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    © 2021 Cottage at the Crossroads · All Rights Reserved

    Contact Us · Privacy

    495 shares