After many requests, we’re sharing how we made our planter-turned-side table, DIY dog food & water station, and puppy-friendly floor pillows when we refreshed our porch for Better Homes & Gardens’ 48-Hour Challenge using only items from Home Depot.
One rule of the challenge was to use materials available at Home Depot. They don’t sell green ceramic side tables or pet bowls as a set, but with a tube of construction adhesive, a plank of wood, and four inexpensive moulding pieces repurposed as legs, we created a charming feeding station for our tiny, always-thirsty chihuahua.
This was a tool-free build—no screws, nails, or hammer needed. A few coats of exterior semi-gloss paint made it porch-ready. We had Glidden’s Safari Green color matched into a small Behr test pot for an affordable, durable finish.
The bowls we used were items we already had—small accessories that were allowed to finish the look. The yellow-green dishes complement the painted pedestal nicely, and we even ran them by Burger’s vet before putting them into use. That’s the story of Burger’s $10 feeding station. Now on to the floor pillows.
We picked up a $25 patio lounge chair cushion at Home Depot and cut it in half to make two floor pillows perfect for a small dog to perch on.
Two plush floor pillows for about $12.50 each is a great value. We cut and hand-stitched each pillow along one side, which took roughly 15 minutes apiece. Needless to say, Burger enjoys the upgrade every day.
For the planter-turned-side table, we spent about $40 on a large green ceramic planter, a terra cotta saucer, and Thompson’s Water Seal spray to protect the saucer. After sealing the underside, we painted the top and the saucer’s sides with leftover porch and floor paint from a recent deck project, finishing the saucer in a neutral cream. Sealing the underside before painting helps prevent humidity and freezing temperatures from damaging the paint.
The finished piece adds a cheerful pop of color to the porch and serves as a handy spot for a book, a drink, or a small plate of food.
Those are three simple, budget-friendly projects: a side table made from a planter and saucer, two floor pillows from a patio cushion, and a pet feeding station built from basic materials—no hammer or screwdriver required. We also recently shared a tutorial for turning bulb covers into hanging candle holders and a guide to painting a striped porch deck, which inspired parts of this refresh.
With a little creativity and a few affordable supplies, your porch can look just as refreshed. Happy summer sprucing—and happy puppy pandering!