10 Potted Plant Arrangement Ideas for Indoor and Outdoor Spaces

Living room with neutral potted plants — Photo:
Easy Plant

A singular potted plant sitting on a shelf, patio stoop, or in the corner is lovely, but sometimes you feel moved to take a "more is more" approach. You can do this with potted plant arrangements, which involve incorporating two or more complementary potted plants into a beautiful vignette. This decorative twist on the standard encourages you to get creative and play with texture, height, color, and plant varieties in a single area. Whether adding plants to your bathroom, garden, or living area, let these potted plant arrangement ideas spark your imagination.

01 of 10

Stack Your Pots

Whether you want to save on space or like the idea of building height, a stacked potted plant arrangement is an excellent approach. Carve out space within the soil for each pot you stack and play with texture. This stacked arrangement incorporates different herbs, including mint, thyme, cilantro, and rosemary.

02 of 10

Go With Earthy Terra Cotta

Terra cotta pots come in a variety of shapes and sizes—and sometimes with unique designs or carvings—while remaining the same soft orange-brown hue. As a bonus, the absorptive material is excellent at preventing excess water for plants that prefer less moisture. Here, five different terra cotta pots sit on a ledge showcasing a variety of plant types.

03 of 10

Embrace a Rainbow of Colors

Colorful potted plants — Darrell Gulin / Getty Images

Consider leaning into lots of different colors. You can purchase pots that are already a vibrant hue, or consider buying terra cotta planters and painting them yourself. To double down, fill them with a spectrum of colorful flowering plants.

04 of 10

Use a Tray

african violet potted plant arrangement — Noe Dewitt

A tray can help create a more contained potted plant arrangement, as pictured in this beautiful display featuring African violets. The same type of earthy pot creates more cohesion, as well. This gold tray lends a sense of royalty, but try different materials and shapes depending on your aesthetic preferences.

05 of 10

Take Your Arrangement Vertical

Vertical garden — cerro_photography / Getty Images

Take your potted plant arrangement vertical by utilizing a structure like this one. This display features matching gray pots and a variety of herbs and small green plants in each. Whatever plants or pots you choose, the result is a beautiful arrangement that doubles as wall art.

06 of 10

Try Container Boxes

Potted Cactus plants in Palm Springs-inspired orange plant boxes, ideal for small courtyard, backyard, apartment and residential living. — Naomi Rahim / Getty Images

Those with extra space to spare may want to consider going larger with their potted plant arrangement via container boxes. Here, a trio of bright orange containers house various cacti for a playful pop of color that still feels intentionally designed. If your climate doesn't lend itself to cacti, consider vibrant florals or breezy grasses instead.

07 of 10

Use Large Planters

Large plants in terracotta pots — Jacky Parker Photography / Getty Images

When space allows, opt for a series of oversized planters and fill them to the brim. This potted plant arrangement idea is perfect for empty garden nooks, sparse garden pathways that can use some decorative appeal, and large rooms that need some green infusion.

08 of 10

Stay in the Same Color Family

potted plants in cream containers — easyplant

If you like the idea of incorporating multiple plants into a single area but don't like an eclectic aesthetic, stay in the same color family when selecting your pots. Here, cream, beige, and blush seamlessly complement each other. While the plants all have different foliage structures, each is a similar shade of green to create cohesion.

09 of 10

Mix and Match Your Pots

Potted plants by windowsill — Sara Monika / Getty Images

Matchy-matchy can work beautifully, but don't feel like that's the only strategy you can take when creating potted plant arrangements. Mixing and matching pot textures, materials, and sizes creates instant dimension and intrigue. To play with height, consider incorporating a small riser like the one pictured here.

10 of 10

Upcycle Old Items to Display Your Plants

Upcycled potted plants — nomadnes / Getty Images

For a more eclectic cottage feel, consider looking around your space—or the thrift store—to see if there's anything you can repurpose into your potted plant display. An old wooden ladder works perfectly, as do stools, barrels, and old tree stumps. you can get imaginative with the pots themselves via old colanders, watering cans, glass jars, and beyond.

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