You’ve mastered keeping your house plants alive – now what? Display your much-loved indoor plants like the proud plant parent you are!

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links and if you make a purchase, I will earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

Don’t let your beautiful houseplants languish in ugly mismatched planters! If your indoor plants need an upgrade and you want to display them in a more eye pleasing way I have some tips and inspiration for you – including AFFORDABLE options so you can get the look you want for your dream plant display on a budget.

If you’d like to decorate your living room, bedroom, bathroom or kitchen like a pro using houseplants, keep reading!

 

bathroom-with-plants

PHOTO: AIROWS.COM

Stick With A Color Palette

Limiting your planters to 1-3 colors or finishes will keep a large houseplant collection looking cohesive when displayed side by side.

PHOTO CREDIT: @CASADERAMI

WHITE-HERB-POTS

PHOTO: IKEA  |  SIMPLE WHITE PLANTERS

Early on, I decided to display my indoor plants in either white, black or grey containers. I chose monochrome planters for a few reasons. First, when I (inevitably) adopt a new plant, it’s easy to find a new matching planter. Second, neutral colors work with my other interior decor. Third, I am free to relocate my plants without concern for the color or style of the planter it’s in. Decorating freedom ftw! And by using neutral colors, it allows your plants to be the star of the show.

indoor-plants-terra-cotta

PHOTO: @TRIBEANDUS
On Instagram @tribeandus’ terra cotta cacti treasures shine against a backdrop of light blue.

light pink-terra-cotta-planters-cactus

PHOTO: NIKKI SEBASTIAN VIA DOMINO MAGAZINE  |  CACTI AND SUCCULENTS LOOK AT HOME IN PALE PINK TERRA COTTA

aged-terra-cotta

PHOTO: AFLORAL.COM  |  PRE-AGED TERRA COTTA POTS
grey-terra-cotta-planters
PHOTO: SOURCE UNKNOWN  |  AGED GREY TERRA COTTA

 

Find A Planter You Love – And Buy In Bulk 

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PHOTO: IMPROB
Stock up on inexpensive matching planters to build up a collection quickly.

TIP: Get 1 or 2 matching planters in sizes larger than you currently need. For example, your largest plant needs an 8 inch pot, order 2 additional 10 inch pots and a 12 inch pot. In case you have trouble finding the same style planter later, this forethought allows for repotting and planter upsizing in a year or two. Of course, you may also wish to get more indoor plants before then, in which case, these will also be wonderful to have on-hand.

 

three-white-empty-pots

WHITE MIDCENTURY PLANTERS WITH DRAINAGE TRAY!!!

The midcentury planters (above) have drainage and a sleek built-in saucer. The saucer, in this example, retains the integrity of the silhouette and the beautiful cylindrical shape. 

My pet peeve is a beautiful pot with no drainage. If I cannot pass it up, I treat it as a cache pot and slip in a plant that is still in it’s nursery pot. However, I still recommend an inexpensive plastic drainage tray inside the cache pot to make watering and clean up easier.

 

indoor-plants-window-sun

PHOTO: IKEA
IKEA took the typical flower pot style, scaled up in size and gave it a super MODERN update.

 

indoor-plant-decor

PHOTO: IKEA

 

dark-grey-decor-planters

SUBTLE CROSSHATCHING ADDS TEXTURE AND VISUAL INTEREST TO THESE MODERN PLANTERS

A collection of planters that match in color and style make any grouping of inexpensive indoor plants look very chic. The grey planters (above) are a STEAL on Amazon. The contrasting off-white interior is a thoughtful addition that is typically only included on high-end pottery. I’ll also say that if you’ve been wanting to gift a houseplant to a man in your life, THIS would be a stellar choice for a pot.

 

plants-in-black-pots

ThIS SET OF 5 PLANTERS are like a ‘Little Black Dress’ for your plants.

 

tall-plants-decor-gold-planters 

PHOTO: IKEA 
Gold and warm wood plant stands  |  GET THE LOOK

concrete-planter-decor-grouping

TOP PHOTO: AIROWS  |  BOTTOM PHOTO: UNKNOWN  |  GET THE LOOK

Concrete planters are modern but neutral and fit with any decor. I enjoy a grouping of concrete pots, like the ones featured above, because of the subtle differences in color and texture from one to another. They’ll get heavy, though, so don’t forget a plant dolly!

 

white-planters-various-sizes

PHOTO: AMAZON  |  GET THEM HERE

Start your fledgling indoor jungle with a few (or more) pots of the same simple style and color. Then, using my tip above, stick with your color palette when shopping for aditional planters later. You can slowly add more texture, unique shapes and materials as you collect planters over time.

 

Keep It Interesting With Texture

 

 

PHOTO: ANNA.FI

Mix neutral colored planters with baskets. Baskets can be used for a quick refresh of not-so-pretty pots (again, remember your plastic liners). They can also disguise planters that don’t fit with your new color scheme until it’s time to repot and upgrade.

 

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PHOTO: CB2

 

white-planter-decor-indoor

SET OF TWO PLANTERS | SET OF THREE PLANTERS

 

textured-planters

WEST ELM FLUTED DRUM PLANTERS  |  CRATE AND BARREL ‘ARGO’ PLANTERS

 

baskets-colorblock

PHOTO: cB2  |  GET THE LOOK

The baskets above from cB2 are beautiful and unique, but the large sizes get spendy (the largest retails for $129). My recommendation to get a similar look is on Amazon, thankfully. HomeGoods and World Market usually have a large selection of baskets at reasonable prices. Remember, whichever option you choose, always line your baskets with a plastic tray to protect them from water damage.

plants-in-large-pots

CB2 ‘ZEN’ PLANTERS  | BLACK  |  WHITE

 

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PHOTO: cB2  |  MINIMAL BATHROOMS NEED PLANTS, TOO

white-ceramic-textured-planters

The CERAMIC VESSELS above feature three designs which offer an instant ECLECTIC vibe FOR UNDER $20.

Display Houseplants At Varying Heights

Grouping plants together to display them makes a big impact in a small space. In order to see all your lovely plants, stagger their heights by using small plant stands or risers. You will get more out of your plants by raising them up off the ground (or off the table).

A tiered plant stand is the easiest way to display multiple plants in a small space. Some even have a bar for hanging plants! If you rent and can’t put in ceiling hooks, this is your solution to display hanging plant decor.

 

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PHOTOS: JACOB FOX  |  RAW EDGE WOOD RISERS ON BHG.COM

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AFLORAL.COM   |  WOOD SLICE RISER

Afloral.com is the best online floral supply store you’ve never heard of. It’s been my little secret for years because they have gorgeous party supplies, planters, fresh floral supplies and tons of faux florals you cannot find elsewhere. The wood slice riser (above) is a perfect example. I cannot think of a more multipurpose piece of decor. (I SWEAR by using risers when decorating, but that’s a topic for another post.)

These look at home in modern settings because of the midcentury-inspired hairpin feet. The raw edge wood is warm and blends with bohemian styles, farmhouse modern or cozy Scandinavian hygge decorations.

If you happen to have access to wood slices like the one above, you could make a whole collection of these in various heights. Hairpin legs are widely available online.

chair-with-plants

PHOTO: IKEA  |  ICONIC SATSUMAS TRIPLE PLANT STAND

A tiered plant stand like the one above is the easiest way to display multiple plants in a small space. The photo above features an IKEA Classic, the Satsumas plant stand. Here, the bamboo legs have been stained. You can stain or paint to match your decor. 

plants-on-wood-stool

PHOTO CREDIT  |  A STAINED WOOD STOOL MAKES A COZY PLANT PERCH

If the eclectic boho vibe is your taste, you can achieve the “collected over time” look by mixing various plant stands, small stools and other found/thrifted objects.

I never pass up a plant stand at the antique store. Even if the color isn’t great, spray paint is your friend! Ultimately your imagination and budget are your only limitations.

PHOTO: UNKNOWN  |  EVERY IKEA HACKER KNOWS ABOUT THE BEKVAM STOOL

ikea-bekvam-wood-stepstool

 PHOTO: TIDEWATERANDTULLE  |  IKEA’S BEKVAM STOOL PLANT STAND DIY 

Ikea’s Bekvam wood stepstool has become iconic in the DIY world. It’s endlessly useful, light enough to carry around the house and extremely sturdy. It also happens to be suuuuper hackable. Tidewater and Tulle made great use of faux leather and created a woven effect that really dials up the wow factor. The result is a $20 REAL WOOD multifunctional piece of furniture you’ll use as a plant stand, extra guest seating and more.

copper-midcentury-plant-stands

DIY COPPER PLANT STANDS BY SARAH SHERMAN SAMUEL

wire-leg-plant-stand-trio

MAKE THESE PLANT STANDS UNIQUE WITH A QUICK DIY 

These three matching metal plant stands look good as is, but they could be spray painted any color to match your decor. And using the DIY idea above, finish them off by wrapping in cotton cord or rope. Wrapping the top portion helps highlight the hairpin style legs and in doing so, makes these inexpensive Amazon finds look much more unique. Drive home the midcentury vibe and get a sleek cylindrical planter like these.

  SAVE OR SPLURGE? MIDCENTURY PLANTERS THAT DON’T COST A FORTUNE!?

I love the mid century planters that became a Pinterest mainstay a few years ago. What I don’t love is their high price. Initially, I couldn’t find one under $200! Thankfully their popularity doesn’t look to be on the decline soon. What does this mean for you? There are LOTS of lookalike mid century planters now and every season, they get cheaper, too! Beautiful planters don’t have to cost a fortune!

 

PHOTO: APARTMENT THERAPY
Black planters look stunning with green foliage | GET THE LOOK

Keep Large Plants Mobile with a Plant Dolly

If you are sizing up from a medium to a large pot, or if you’re investing in a large indoor tree that requires a planter 12-14″ or more, consider a plant dolly.

Before getting all your soil and plant into its new pot, put it on a rolling dolly to help you move it into its new location (and to move it later). Most large planters weigh a lot empty, so adding drainage rock, soil and a large plant or small indoor tree will easily take that weight to closer to 100 pounds or more. Unless you have an ACTUAL dolly, don’t skip this very critical and often overlooked plant necessity. Your back and knees will thank you later. You will eventually want to redecorate or rearrange your room and the ability to roll your tree out of the way is priceless.

PHOTO: @THEBALCONYGARDEN

Add a layer of decorative rock

Otherwise known as soil dressing, the small rocks work in a similar fashion as the wood bark mulch you see in outdoor planting beds everywhere. Plant professionals have used decorative rock soil coverings for ages, especially for plants that prefer an arid environment. What began as a way to retain moisture and protect soil from erosion has become my number 1 piece of advice for decorating with house plants.

My first choice is white ‘pearl’ rock. Bright white rock under the green leaves pops and makes a ‘meh’ houseplant look fancy. If white isn’t your taste, rock mulch comes in many colors, sizes and textures to match your unique style. Check out the inspiration below and let your imagination take the lead.

 

PHOTO: INSTRUCTIBLES  |  NO DENYING THE POWER OF CONTRAST

Typically seen with cacti and succulents, decorative, colorful soil dressings are useful for many varieties of indoor and outdoor plants. If you want to learn more about when and how to best utilize this effective and beautiful trick, visit Succulents Ireland.

 

succulents-rock-soil-dressing

BLACK AGATE SOIL COVER  |  PHOTO: SUCCULENTS IRELAND
PHOTO: SUCCULENTS IRELAND |  TUMBLED AQUAMARINE STONES
TUMBLED JADE SOIL DRESSING  |  PHOTO: SUCCULENTS IRELAND

 

Other soil dressing ideas to try:

  • Colored sand (try this with cacti or succulents)
  • Sea glass
  • Moss
  • Flat glass “marbles”
  • Small seashells

 

Have I inspired you to beautify your houseplant decor and display your indoor plants more confidently? I hope I’ve given you unique ideas to take your indoor garden from ‘meh’ to ‘WOOOW!’ Do you have a design dilemma? Let me know below! I’d love to help!

 

 

Disclosure: Rare and Worthy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites like this to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

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