Best Plant Stands & Tables
Buy the best best plant stands & tables selected and recommended by interior designers. By Caroline Patterson.
Plant stands tables are essential if you want to grow plants indoors. It is so much easier to water and care for your plants if they are not at floor level, and the tables and stands help display the various plants, as well. This is especially true of small plants such as African violets. Plant stands for larger plants need not be tall. They can simply be a low stool that gets the pot up off the floor, making it easy to clean around and under it. Nor do they always need to be extremely decorative, they can be utilitarian.
Best Plant Stands & Tables
Buying Guide
Caroline Patterson
Interior Design Expert
Caroline is a young, New York-based interior designer and home decor writer, obsessed with textiles and designer furniture. Backed with rigorous training from a prestigious design school, as well as a profound understanding of material quality and fabric care, she offers spot-on advice on how to furnish your place with reliable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing pieces.
Whether you are bringing the outdoors in or creating an oasis on your patio, plant stands, and tables help to show your potted plants in their best light and make a dramatic style statement.
But with such a variety of plant stands and tables to choose from, it can be challenging to find the perfect piece to complement your home décor. Here are our tips and tricks for selecting the right plant stand for your home.
The materials you choose depends on where you plan to use your plant stand. Indoor plant stands allow for more flexibility in your choice of materials because they aren’t exposed to the elements. Whereas, outdoor plant stands and tables should be constructed from weatherproof materials or powder-coated metal to prolong the life of the piece.
- Wood
Wooden ladder stands make use of vertical space and can also be used outdoors when coated in the right sealant. Stands and tables constructed from wood can also act as multipurpose furnishings by doubling as side tables or stools.
Natural wood grain finishes blend well with Scandi-modern and minimalist style homes as they add texture and depth to a sparsely furnished space. Choose light wood finishes paired with stone or ceramic plant pots for a modern home, while stands with a dark wood finish are best suited to traditionally styled rooms.
- Bamboo
Bamboo is naturally water-resistant and makes an excellent option for outdoor areas. The raw texture of the bamboo pairs well with oversized tropical plants, and the malleable material can be designed into a range of organic shapes that suit bohemian and eclectic style homes.
- Metal
Metals like brass or copper add a luxurious touch to your space and can create interesting color contrast between the green and natural texture of the plant and the bright metallic finish.
Metal frame plant stands create an open, airy look that is ideal for modern-urban, Scandi, and transitional style homes and allows the plant to take center stage for an understated style that won’t overpower the rest of the furnishing in the room.
- Masonry and Ceramic
Nothing says timeless elegance like a marble column plant stand. Sculpted pots perched atop masonry pedestals add a sense of grandeur to any indoor or outdoor space and work well with transitional or classically styled homes.
Stands with ceramic bowls are sophisticated and modern. Use the combination of a ceramic pot mounted in a low wooden stand for mid-century modern refinement. Or a low, wide ceramic bowl inside an open metal frame blends seamlessly with modern urban homes.
Finding the right size plant stand or table ensures that the piece fits harmoniously with your current style and can support the size and weight of your indoor and outdoor plants. To find the right size planter, consider the height and dimensions of your house plants.
Different plants grow to varying height and widths, which impacts the size of the plant stand you will need. A general rule to follow is the taller the plant the lower the plant stand should be. Plants such as Kentia palm, split-leaf philodendron, and ficus all grow over 4 feet and should be paired with a low plant stand between 6-10 inches with a wide base for stability.
Shorter plants such as the cast iron plant, peace lily, or snake plant grow to between 1-2 feet and can be displayed on plant stands up to 40-inches high. Try a set of nesting tables at varying heights to display a collection of short plants to create movement and interest in your room.
Another measurement to consider is how the plant falls. Many plants grow over the side of the planters to cascade down toward the floor, making a dramatic statement. However, plants that extend more than 2-3 inches below the pot should be displayed in a taller stand not only to display the plant to its full advantage but also to protect delicate fronds from damage.
Plant stands and tables come in a variety of styles to accommodate the needs of your plants and to match your home décor. Some styles of plant stand include:
- Nesting
Nesting tables are a set of pieces that fit naturally together, usually in descending size order. The tables can be positioned next to each other to build a multi-dimensional space or spread throughout a room to create multiple focus points.
Place nesting tables together in an entryway or at the end of a well-lit hallway to make a bold statement and a great first impression on guests. Or use nesting tables with large-growth plants on the patio to create the illusion of a lush paradise.
- Tiered
Tiered plant stands are also a great way to create a textural, multi-dimensional look. However, they do not offer the versatility of nesting tables. If you have numerous plants, a tiered plant stand provides an efficient solution that can help to free up floor and counter space.
Tiered plant stands are the best option for small outdoor areas as they allow you to expand your garden without taking up precious entertaining space. A tiered stand with a variety of potted herbs and edible flowers makes for an inviting outdoor environment and a functional kitchen garden.
- Single
A single stand offers the most basic way to display your plant collection, but it is also the most versatile when it comes to styling. Single stands and tables can accommodate a wide variety of sized plants to help create a multi-layered space.
Style your indoor house plants on a single stand alongside scented candles, a table lamp, and coffee table books.
- Tabletop
Plant stands don’t need to be large to make a statement. Smaller tabletop planters can make a big impact when carefully styled and positioned around your home. Add a tabletop plant stand to an entertainment unit, console table, or open shelves to elevate the style of your aloe or jade plants.
For many species of plant, drainage is an essential feature in a stand because it keeps plant roots healthy and prevents rot and mold. However, other plants such as succulents and cacti benefit from minimal drainage as they do not need to be watered often.
Many styles of indoor plant stands do not facilitate adequate drainage as the damp can ruin flooring and furnishings. If your indoor plants do need drainage to remain healthy, opt for an open style stand or a table as this allows you to select the pot and tray best suited to your plants.
You can choose from a variety of stylish pots that offer drainage from ceramic to plastic to metal. Pair a copper pot and tray with a light hardwood plant stand for a modern urban feel. Or style various sized earthenware drainage pots on nesting bamboo tables to create a bohemian oasis.
- Select plant stands in materials that complement your home décor.
- Ensure outdoor plant stands have a weatherproof finish to withstand the elements.
- The height and width of the plant stand should suit the size of the plant. Tall plants need low stands, short plants can be displayed on taller stands.
- The type of plant stands you choose impacts the style statement your plants make. Tiered and nesting tables add dimension to space, while single plant stands can make a bold statement when paired with a large cascading plant.
- Buy a plant stand that offers the right amount of drainage for the type of plants you have.