20 of the best minimal plant pots and planters - image: Ferm Living

20 of the best minimal plant pots and planters

I receive lots of requests for my ‘Best of’ round-up posts, for everything from dog bowls to bedside tables, but one thing that’s popped up time and time again is a need for minimal plant pots and planters.

It can actually be harder than you think to find well-made, simply designed pots that are a little bit fancier than your cheap and cheerful terracotta options. A lot of what’s out there can look a bit plastic-y and tacky rather than built to last and endure. That said, most of us probably don’t want to blow the budget on something as mundane as a plain plant pot… On a mission to find simple style on an affordable budget, I’ve rounded up what I deem to be 20 of the best minimal plant pots and planters out there.

20 of the best minimal plant pots and planters - image: Ferm Living
image credit: Ferm Living

Brands are going back to basics, focusing on tactile, natural materials. One of the first I saw doing simple concrete planters was HAY. Much-copied, they come in a number of sizes and colours and are great for easy versatility. Two other names to have on your list for quality are Ferm Living and Skagerak – both Danish brands have some lovely, pared-back designs that will stand the test of time.

Available in two sizes, Ferm Living’s Sekki pots (above) are made of unglazed, solid dyed clay, which has a deep, earthy tone. Inspired by an ancient Greek-Egyptian tradition for craftsmanship, Skagerak’s Edge series (below) offers a collection of simple, hand-thrown terracotta pots in various sizes with a distinctive amphora-inspired foot.

20 of the best minimal plant pots and planters - image: Skagerak
Image credit: Skagerak
20 of the best minimal plant pots and planters - image: Ferm Living
Image credit: Ferm Living

But onto my round-up… 20 of the best minimal plant pots, from small glazed ceramic pots to metal planters that can be raised on stands, from £10 to £80. Most of the designs below come in several colours and sizes so do check dimensions before you buy as not all the styles below are the same proportion. I’ve tried to include pots for both the home and the garden – Skagerak for instance has two versions of the Edge pot for indoors and outdoors. I love bringing the outside in and filling the home with greenery, that is if I can keep the plants alive for long enough!

20 of the best minimal plant pots and planters

1. Concrete pot in dark grey by Ferm Living, small, £27, also comes in various sizes, Amara
2. Hammershoi pot in light grey by Kahler, £22, Scandinavian Design Center
3. Oasis flower pot by Northern, available in two sizes, from £56.81, Clippings.com
4. Edge pot, in Sierra yellow by Skagerak, also comes in various sizes and colours, £44, Amara
5. Terracotta flower pot, medium, £15, also comes in black, dark green, white and grey in two sizes, £15, Arket
6. Plant box small by Ferm Living, £65, Heal’s
7. White plant pot with plant stand, £20, geo-fleur
8. Sekki pot in charcoal, medium, £32, Huh. Store
9. Large ceramic plant pot, £12.99, H&M Home
10. Palm set of two plant pots in sand and white, £25, Made.com
11. Riihitie Plant Pot A by Artek, £49, Skandium
12. Futami grey speckle pot, set of two, £45, Habitat
13. SMULTRON plant pot, £35, IKEA
14. Pidestall Flowerpot by Woud, small, £59, Utility Design
15. Hexagon pot by Ferm Living, £32, Heal’s
16. HJÄRTELIG plant pot with trellis, £10, IKEA
17. Small black textured plant pot, £10, Trouva
18. Flower pot with saucer by HAY, medium, grey, £13, Amara
19. Small stoneware ceramic plant pot by Hubsch, £28, Trouva
20. Wire plant pot in white by MENU, available in three heights, from £86, Nest.co.uk

Things to look out for when you’re buying a plant pot: ideally you want one with a drainage hole to avoid soggy roots and water collecting at the bottom, even better if the pot has a matching dish to catch water. Otherwise you can keep plant in the plastic container it comes in and place it in the pot, taking it out when it needs watering, or add a layer of small stones or pebbles at the bottom of the pot. You can read more of my tips for looking after your house plants here.

20 of the best minimal plant pots and planters - image: Ferm Living
Image credit: Ferm Living
20 of the best minimal plant pots and planters - image: Ferm living
Image credit: Ferm Living
20 of the best minimal plant pots and planters - image: Skagerak
Image credit: Skagerak

If you’re looking for something low maintenance, let me point you in the direction of Northern’s Oasis pots. Made of terracotta, these clever self-watering designs are comprised of two interlocking parts, a stable, glazed base and an integrated reservoir. A little lip in the bottom allows you to easily pour in water from a watering can, the plant can then absorb water from the base below it. Available in two sizes, the bases come in green, white and dark brown, contrasting with the rich orange colour of the tops. No more coming home to dead plants when you go on holiday! Now that’s something to celebrate.

20 of the best minimal plant pots and planters - image: Northern
Image credit: Chris Tonnesen for Northern
20 of the best minimal plant pots and planters - image: Northern
Image credit: Chris Tonnesen for Northern

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