Home DIY: Vertical Gardens with Reclaimed Furniture

Do it yourself! Learn the skills and secrets of Home DIY with this workshop, as part of our Woodwork courses in Sydney!

This one-day, hands-on workshop will guide participants through the creative process of transforming unwanted or broken furniture into stunning and functional vertical gardens. Perfect for balconies, courtyards, or compact urban spaces, this class offers an inspiring blend of sustainable design, basic carpentry techniques, and green living principles. You'll learn how to repurpose everyday items into vibrant plant displays, gain practical skills in using tools and materials, and walk away with a unique garden feature that’s both eco-friendly and space-saving. No prior experience needed just a willingness to get creative and green up your space!

Learning outcomes

By the en of this Home DIY course, you should be able to: 

• Identify the principles of vertical gardening and strategies for greening small spaces
• Assess and adapt discarded furniture for new, functional uses
• Use basic hand and power tools with confidence and safety
• Perform fundamental carpentry tasks such as cutting, planing, drilling, sanding, and joining timber
• Construct a personalised vertical garden suitable for herbs, flowers, or trailing plants
• Apply sustainable construction techniques using reclaimed and recycled materials
   

Course content

What will be covered in this home DIY course?

Module 1: Welcome, Safety & Sustainability

• Workshop layout, safety briefing, and tool orientation
• The environmental impact of landfill and value of reuse
• Benefits of vertical gardens for small spaces and urban cooling

Module 2: Selecting & Planning Your Vertical Garden

• Tour of available discarded furniture and recycled timber
• How to assess structural integrity, select useful components, and identify reusable materials
• Planning your project: sketching a concept and taking measurements
• Design options: bookshelf planter, drawer herb wall, ladder shelf, pallet garden

Module 3: Deconstruction, Machining & Preparation

• Safe dismantling of furniture and salvaging usable timber
• Introduction to timber machining: using table saws, drop saws, planers, and sanders
• Measuring, marking, cutting, and planing salvaged timber to fit
• Reinforcing joints and framing structures for stability

Module 4: Assembly & Transformation

• Using drills, clamps, and brackets for assembly
• Creating mounting points and adapting furniture for vertical use
• Installing backing boards, hanging supports, and repurposed containers
• Final sanding and optional finishing for durability
   

Intended audience

Who is this home DIY course for?

This workshop is perfect for apartment dwellers, home gardeners, upcyclers, and DIY enthusiasts who want to reduce waste and create beautiful, functional green spaces. No carpentry or gardening experience is required.

Course venue

• Summer Hill: 7 Prospect Road, Summer Hill NSW 2131
• Redfern: 107 Redfern St, Redfern NSW 2016
• The entrance to the Bower workshop is at the rear of 107 Redfern Street and is opposite no. 23 Turner Street. You will see a hand-painted sign "The Bower Woodworks". If the door is locked, please press the doorbell on the left-hand side of the garage door. Please note, the doors for the venue at the rear will be open and not the front. If you have trouble locating the entrance or encounter any emergencies, please contact the workshop manager at 0422 840 471.
• Public transport is the best way to get to the workshop space. The space is located close to Redfern Train Station, a local transport hub.
• Most nearby parking is 2-hour-timed (including some paid parking on Redfern St) though it is untimed after 8 pm. Untimed parking is available on Pitt St between Phillip and Wellington St.
   

Additional information

Please note the following:

• Wear old clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
• Preferably wear a hat or cap
• If you have long hair, please tie it back
• Closed-in shoes are required—no sandals or heels
• Please do not wear necklaces or bracelets