Planter Styles for Traditional Homes
February is a great time of year to shop for new planters, whether you’re replacing something that’s damaged or just building your collection. Retailers have built up their inventory for the gardening season, which means you’ll have access to the largest selection now!
Traditional architecture is one of the broadest and most popular styles in the US. If your home falls into the traditional category, consider these guidelines for choosing planters to complement, not compete with, your exterior. If you’re looking to buy something like what I’ve featured in this post, click on any planter image for a link to shop online.
But first, let’s define “traditional”. It broadly refers to a historical type of house structure with certain traits and cultures incorporated. The style is inspired by traditions. (Source)
Common home styles falling into the traditional category include Colonial, Neoclassical, Farmhouse, and Craftsman. Here are simple descriptions of each, along with planter styles I would pair with them to create the most cohesive look.
Colonial
Colonial homes are symmetrical and formal, and often include dormers, fireplaces, and columns. Exterior facades are usually brick or wood. To adorn these homes, I reach for cast stone urns and vases, painted planter boxes with finials, lead-like cubes with molding details, and aged metal urns.
Brick and column details typical of colonial architecture
NEOCLASSICAL
Neoclassical exteriors boast formality and grand scale, and may be faced with stone, stucco, or brick. They often feature a dramatic use of columns and other Roman or Doric Greek detailing such as crown and pilasters around the front door, ornate moldings, and decorative corner blocks. Planters with more ornate detail like carvings and finials work well with neoclassical architecture. Terracotta and cast stone planters bring an aged, earthy look to neoclassical exteriors. Alternatively, formal planter boxes can be used to visually link the ornate architectural details of a home to its garden.
Grand entrances with ornate details are signatures of the neoclassical style
FARMHOUSE
Whether we’re talking about old, quintessential farmhouses or the more modern farmhouses so popular in new construction today, these homes are known for their casual feel, generous wraparound porches, and wood or composite siding. When choosing planters to suit this style, look for galvanized metals, barn influences, woven baskets, hanging baskets…and of course window boxes!
Generous front porch and casual vibe of a farmhouse
CRAFTSMAN
Craftsman style emerged during the Arts and Crafts movement of the mid 19th century. These homes celebrate simplicity with wide, low layouts, gabled roofs, and wood framing. Generous covered front porches are supported by columns and exposed rafters. I recommend breaking up the abundance of wood in these homes with the texture of metal or corten steel planters. (Note the rust of corten planters can stain your flooring, so they’re ideally situated in the landscape on a bed of stone.) Glazed ceramic pots offer a nice sheen to liven up the casual wood as well, and since it can be difficult to grow colorful flowers in the shade of a deep Craftsman porch, glazed planters give you a way to bring permanent color up close to the house.
Craftsman home with signature gables, columns, and covered porch
I’ve always said that great container gardens begin with beautiful containers. I hope my guidance will help you choose planters that will suit your architecture and serve as the perfect foundation for your arrangements.
XO,
Steph
Note: I may receive a commission from some of the products featured here when purchased through my links.