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Jazz up a Plant Stand From a Flea Market

All it takes is a little paint and a sunny morning to create a plant stand you can use anywhere.

We set out one Saturday morning to find a plant stand. The secrets to success: Take your time, ramble and roam, and size things up. Don't be hasty in discounting an item. We found this great three-step stool and turned it into a colorful addition to the garden.

Paint and Plants
Here's how you can do the same with your own flea market find in three easy steps.

Step 1: Choose a color: Bright colors stand out, while dark shades blend into the surroundings. Spray paint is quick, but using a brush allows you time to relax and think about other ways to use the piece.

Step 2: Spray your pots with color. Containers in a different shade add pizzazz to the display.

Step 3: Choose a few flowering plants and some with pretty foliage for a nice mix. Plant them in your painted pots. Use moist potting soil, and top it with a handful of mulch or decorative stone.

A Bonus
There's always more than one way to enjoy a found item. Use the plant stand in your garden until fall. Then move it indoors, where the ladder might double as a bookshelf. Or clear it off, and place votive candles on each of the steps. Change the color to suit your indoor decor, and tuck it beside a chair as a side table.

Healthy Benefits

Simple success: Creating a personal piece of art lifts spirits and provides a sense of achievement.

Play with color: Nothing makes you feel better than a great new shade--whether it's a new lipstick or a painted gem in the garden.

Enjoy the satisfaction of finding the perfect item. We all love a bargain.

Dig in for Fun

Explore every inch of the flea market. Sometimes the best treasures are hidden. You may see an everyday item in a new light.

"Flea Market Finds" is from the June 2006 issue of Southern Living.

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