Choosing the Right Plant Containers for Your Client’s Brand

Sometimes I think plants are simply a justification for having some really cool plant containers. In many ways, the plant containers you choose have a greater impact on your overall design than the plants themselves, whether your project is an interiorscape, patioscape, or other form of urban horticulture. Choosing the planter to pull your design together and appeal to your client can be tricky. Often, clients don’t know exactly what they want—they are looking to you as the expert to help them choose.

Budget is usually a factor, to a degree. If the client doesn’t want to divulge their budget, their other furnishings will usually give you a clue. You should always offer two choices, one of which is an upgrade to a higher-end container line. People will justify the cost and find a place in the budget for something they really, really want.

Perhaps the biggest factor is choosing plant containers that will complement and enhance your clients’ message or brand. In other words, how do your clients want their employees and guests to feel when they enter the space? What is the message they want to send to their visitors, employees, and guests?

Trustworthy & Conservative

If your client is a financial firm or a major corporation, they probably want people to feel that they are trustworthy and conservative in their investments and activities. This is also true of many types of businesses found in the Northeast and Midwest areas. For example, I went to Boston recently, wearing my usual boho-chic Texas clothes. I soon discovered that no one—NO ONE—was dressed like me! Everyone was wearing black and white. And yes, the businesses I visited all had conservative interior designs, with the exception of the trendier areas.

Recommended plant containers: Cylinder or fishbowl shapes in conservative, neutral colors that complement the décor. Green walls that include a conservative design or the company’s logo will also work.

Hip, Trendy & Fun

Many technology-based companies are in a frenzied competition to hire the best young, tech-savvy employees they can find. To attract this type of individual, they want their interior space to feel hip and cool, a place where employees will have fun at work. Trendy restaurants, hotels, and shopping spots may also want to convey this message. In addition, many businesses in California, tourist destinations, and art-centered communities also want to appeal to the hip crowd.

Recommended containers: This is when you can go wild and have some fun! Vertical containers, organic and unusual shapes, and white or very bright colors are the go-to for this type of client. And feel free to include accessories, like sculptures, art glass, and matching or coordinating globes and cubes in fun fiberglass shapes. Don’t forget green walls with colorful designs!

Eco-Friendly Nature Lover

Many businesses today want to convey that they are earth-friendly to the eco-conscious consumer. This appeal is particularly important to those customers in their 20s and 30s. It’s also a no-brainer for businesses selling eco-friendly products such as organic cotton clothing, or spas and eco-tourist spots. An eco-friendly client is very similar to the hip and trendy customer but with a mother earth, tree-hugger twist.

Recommend containers: This client will be more open to lots of smaller plants. Containers made with natural materials or wood finishes will fit the bill. Terracotta and wicker can be used outdoors. Containers don’t necessarily need to match as long as they look coordinated. Green walls with curving shapes within the design are also good choices.

Note: Some businesses that have recently committed eco-suicide, such as chemical spills, may also try to recover from the damage to their reputation by taking on this persona, at least for a short time. Just don’t count on it to last for a significant time. They may want a green wall or large specimen trees in conservative, trustworthy-type planters to shout, “See, we love the earth, too!”

Private Residences

This niche may want to convey different messages, depending on the owners. Some want to parade their wealth and good taste—particularly if they frequently host important business contacts or high-end charity events—while some may want to create a place for their children to play and feel safe and secure. Others want a quiet, perhaps luxurious refuge from the busyness of their work world.

Recommended containers: Choices may range from very high-end or custom-made containers to soft, organic shapes. You will most likely be working with the interior designer and homeowner, who will have definite ideas about what they want. Be sure to offer something out of the ordinary if you think it will work well for their décor.

After all, you’re the expert!