Where I buy cheap and cheerful planters
I've got curb appeal on the brain.
Our backyard has really come in clutch this summer. Most weekends, my husband, daughter, and I can be found either in the inflatable kiddie pool or around the fire pit. And we always have guests—but not the human kind. A houseplant party is usually in full swing on the patio. My husband is something of a collector (we have 16 plants and counting) and insists that they crave fresh air and a nice breeze just like we do. I leave him to it—he is the sole reason they’re all still alive. But when we have a newcomer, I’m in charge of buying the pot. Where, you ask? Keep reading. —Lindsey Mather, digital director
All My Favorite: Hardware Store Planters
I love a splurge as much as the next person, but planters don’t usually fall in the worth-it column for me. In a pinch, I’ll always reach for the most basic terracotta pot, the kind you can get at any home improvement store. It doesn’t get more timeless than that chunky rim and matching saucer. Plus, you don’t have to be precious with clay because it only looks better as it’s exposed to water, sun, and soil. Even when I do want something a little more special, my first stop is still the hardware store. Trust me, stylish planters live amongst the fertilizer and bug repellant.
My most recent discoveries:
If you’re a Domino reader, you know this brownish burgundy hue is very now.
For when you want the pot to be the main character.
How fun is this grass-green glaze?
Don’t give up on your handcrafted pottery dreams. I’m always pleasantly surprised to find artisan-made options like this sweet botanical design.
If you’re eager to skip ahead to a perfectly aged pot, this cement planter comes already weathered.
Often, all it takes is a tiny tweak, like a subtle flared lip, to give a plain pot some intrigue.
This little guy’s inverted bell silhouette sets it apart. Not to mention, it’s less than $5.
This elegant rolled-rim planter belongs in the English countryside—and yet it’s from The Home Depot.
That classic shape I’m fond of, but in a more unexpected swirly gray finish.
Hot Topic
House numbers are chicer than ever these days—here’s the proof—but can I convince you to come over to Camp Address Plaque? Artist Emily Elizabeth Miller shared this duck-shaped cutie (above) the other day, and she’s now taking custom orders. I’m all for the quirkier side of this typically traditional detail, and this isn’t the only fresh take I’ve spotted.
Color and checks collide in mosaic mastermind Amy Exton’s pieces (FYI, she does commissions!).
Hang a stained-glass plaque in your front window for optimal light-catching.
Place an order for one of Pomme de Boue’s funky geometric creations via DM. The French artist duo glues the tiles directly to the facade as a form of street art.
A classic ceramic option, handcrafted in Turkey, for my minimalist friends.
Side Notes
I’m reading a lot of Substacks these days. It’s technically for research, but the best work feels like fun, right? These are some of the most interesting things I read recently.
A refreshingly doable list of everyday luxuries by Small Pleasures. Now taking suggestions for fancy hand soap.
À La Carte’s curation of “little sculptures for your shoulders” under $250.
This fascinating deep dive into beeswax candles. Nobody’s Home introduced me to a brand I hadn’t heard of before but very quickly bookmarked.
Long Live’s guide to dressing like a ’90s J.Crew catalog model this summer. It’s the canvas tote’s time to shine!
This A Tiny Apt. post dedicated to a single, perspective-shifting design tip.