Learn how to hang window boxes with just a few tools.  

I used to live in center city Philadelphia and one of my favorite things to do was to stroll down the lovely cobblestone streets of Rittenhouse Square or Society Hill and gaze at all the fancy houses that lined the street.  

They were so grand, with enormous windows and wide entry steps leading to these ornate double doors.  I fell in love with the character. But one of the things I admired most about these townhomes?  The flower boxes.  They were nothing short of spectacular.  

A peach townhome with a window and a flower box with flowers
Charleston Flower Box via Unsplash

Now that I’m living down South, I get to see it all over again in places like Charleston.

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And now, I’m happy to say I have my very first flower box! I considered building my own cedar box for this project. But honestly with the price of lumbar right now – it’s cheaper to just buy it.  

a picture of a white flower box in front of window with white and purple flowers.  

We found this lovely flower box shop on Etsy and they even throw in the hanging brackets for you.  All I had to do was paint the box white, hang it and fill it with flowers.  Easy peasy. I thought I put together a little how-to on hanging these window boxes. And hopefully inspire you to get one up this summer.

a white flower box in front of window with white and purple flowers.  In post: How to Hang Window Boxes

These brackets make hanging the box a cinch. READ: this is your SIGN to go out and do this. 

things you’ll need

How to Hang Window Boxes

showing a white flower box in front of window with white and purple flowers.  

Step by Step instructions for how to hang a flower box under a window.

Total time: 1 hour

  1. Mark Placement of Brackets on Window and Drill Pilot Holes

    A drawing showing window box bracket placement

    First, we need to determine where we want our flower box brackets to be.  We used a tape measure and put two brackets on each end for support (4 inches in) and then measured between these two points and divided by 3.  That gave us the spacing for the other two brackets.  I made a little drawing that hope makes this point clear! I’m not a very good drawer.

    Use one of your brackets and a level to mark the placement of the screw hole for each bracket.   Then, drill a pilot hole at this mark.  

    NOTE:  Our window has a piece of white molding under the window.  This is where we attached the brackets.  Only one of the holes of the bracket would fit on this molding piece, so we decided to use the top screw hole only.  If you want to use both screw holes, you can always attach another piece of molding underneath.  We found that one was sufficient and sturdy enough for us (and made the process much easier).    

  2. Attach Brackets to Molding

    a window box sitting in black window box brackets

    Take the screws that came with the brackets (or use your own exterior screws) and drill the brackets into place at the pilot holes you made in Step 2.  

  3. Drill Pilot Holes on Flower Box for Brackets 

    pilot holes drilled into a white window box with drainage holes - in post, how to hang window boxes

    Place your window box on the brackets and mark the placement of each screw hole on the bottom of the box.  Then, remove the window box and drill pilot holes on these marks.  

  4. Secure Brackets to Window Box

    a picture of underneath the window box showing the black brackets screwed into the window box

    Now we will place our window box back on the brackets, line up the pilot holes with the screw holes, and drill them into place.  And that’s it!  You successfully hung your window box!

I recommend lining your flower box with a landscape liner.  The liner will allow water to escape, but it will also keep the dirt from escaping.  I cut my liner to fit the box and tucked it down out of the way so I wouldn’t see it.  

a close up view of a black landscape liner in a white window box

After you have your landscape liner in place, fill the box with potting mix, fertilizer and flowers.  I used a combination of sun-loving white petunias and purple calibrachoas – since our front window gets a ton of sun in the afternoon. 

a white flower box in front of window with white and purple flowers.  

I also want to add some deep purple sweet potate vine.  I just love the contrast and spillage look!  You can find inspiration for flower combinations online just about everywhere.  

a white flower box in front of window with white and purple flowers.  
Petunias and Calibrachoas

I’m also thinking of installing one of these automatic watering kits.  The keys to lush looking window boxes are choosing the right flowers and keeping them optimally watered.  These watering kits make it easy and work while you are away from home.  

Xo Karen

Karen Sloan

Karen Sloan is the founder, editor and syndicated content writer of www.decorhint.com. She offers hints of inspiration for everyday living, including home ideas, DIY projects and lifestyle content. Her work has appeared on Google News, MSN, Pioneer Woman, Apartment Therapy, and Bustle, among others.