How to make a ten minute farmhouse centerpiece

I have such a simple project to share today.  This galvanized flower box is the perfect farmhouse centerpiece for any season and it only takes ten minutes to make.  You really can’t beat that.

Several years ago, I found a really cool galvanized metal seed trough at a country yard sale.  I held onto it for awhile but then ended up selling it at my own yard sale in a burst of decluttering spirit back in 2012.  Now I don’t usually hold onto things tightly – generally I have no problem letting things go to a new home if I haven’t found a purpose for them.  But for some reason, I have regretted selling that seed trough ever since.  I still think about it every now and then – and of course now I have tons of ideas of how to use it.

So when I was picking through a relative’s garage looking for treasures a few months ago, I snapped up a pair of these galvanized metal boxes right away.  They aren’t exactly like my seed box that got away, but there were definite similarities and I knew I could do something fun with them for sure.

Honestly, I’m not even 100% sure what these are.  I think they may be metal liners for window boxes, based on the shape and screw holes.  But then again, they could be something else entirely.  What I know for sure is they are basic boxes made of galvanized metal.  If you don’t happen to have one of these lying around, don’t worry.  Galvanized metal is still super hot right now so you can find all kinds of galvanized containers at just about any craft or decor store, including Walmart.  I’ll link up a few good options below as well.

After tossing around a few different ideas, I decided to keep it simple and turn one into a farmhouse table centerpiece.

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Materials to make Farmhouse Centerpiece

galvanized container  Here are a few picks from Amazon that look great for this project:

• Galvanized Toolbox
• Medium Rustic Galvanized Box
• Oval Washtub Planter

Certified Farm Fresh Stencil

white craft paint

repositionable spray adhesive

makeup wedge sponge (for applying paint)

white hydrangeas or other flowers

How To Make a Stenciled Farmhouse Centerpiece

This is one of those projects that is so simple I almost feel silly writing up a tutorial!  Especially because I’ve already shared all of my stencil tricks right here.

If you are using an old container like mine, the first step is to give it a good cleaning with your favorite cleaner.  I typically use Dawn dish soap and warm water to clean anything I am planning to paint.  I know it will clean away any grease and not leave a residue.  Plus it’s cheap and I always have it on hand.  If you are using a new container, you may be able to skip the cleaning, but then again, it can’t hurt.

Spray the back of your stencil with repositionable adhesive spray and center it exactly where you want it on your container. I used this ‘Certified Farm Fresh’ stencil and I think it is perfect for this project.

Use a makeup sponge (or sponge brush if you prefer) to lightly dab paint onto your stencil.  (If you don’t feel very confident in your stenciling skills, definitely check out this post for more tips.)

Let the paint dry for a couple of minutes and then add a second coat.

Remove your stencil and add flowers.

I used faux flowers in my centerpiece so all I had to do was stick them in the box and fluff them a bit.  I know some people hate fake flowers, but I’m all for them as long as they are high quality ones.  I love that faux flowers last forever and are pretty affordable if you use sales and coupons.  And best of all, they are zero maintenance.  I have three little boys to keep alive over here and have no energy left to mess with plants and flowers!

If you prefer real flowers though, it is definitely doable.  If your container isn’t water-tight, I think the easiest thing would be to put a row of mason jars filled with flowers in the box.  Or you could add a plastic liner and fill that with flowers.

The perfect farmhouse centerpiece.  I absolutely love how simple this is.

Don’t forget to pin me to Pinterest!

Here are a few more simple DIYs that I know you will love:

• From Target Dollar Spot to Farmhouse Perfection with one simple paint trick
• How to Make This Easy Home Sweet Home Sign
• How to Make an Easy Wood Banner