Are you a frustrated designer with an eye for color and fashion?

Planters & Hanging Baskets Made Simple

New to planters or hanging baskets? You’re in the right place
You don’t need years of experience or a design background to create something beautiful. In fact, planters are one of the easiest and most forgiving ways to start designing with plants.

Think of a planter as a small, creative playground. You can experiment with colour, texture, and shape, move plants around, and see what works. If something doesn’t look quite right, that’s okay—plants grow, change, and can always be adjusted. There’s no “wrong,” only learning and discovering what you love.

Whether you’re drawn to bright, cheerful colours or calm, leafy greens, planters and hanging baskets let you explore your style at your own pace.

A Simple Way to Choose Plants

Plants naturally grow in different ways. Some grow tall, some spread out, and some trail over the edges. Once you understand this, putting a planter together becomes much easier.

To help, we use a clock-face idea—a simple visual guide that shows where each type of plant feels most comfortable.

The Clock Method (Beginner-Friendly!)

12 O’Clock – Upright Plants
These plants grow upwards and give your planter height. They’re often placed in the middle or at the back and act as a gentle focal point.
Examples: grasses, spikes, dahlias, upright begonias

3 & 9 O’Clock – Mounding Plants
These are bushy, rounded plants that fill out the planter and make it look lush and full.
Examples: petunias, geraniums, marigolds, coleus

6 O’Clock – Trailing Plants
These plants spill over the edge of the pot, softening the look and adding movement.
Examples: ivy, trailing lobelia, creeping jenny

If you think of your planter like a clock, you’ll always know where to start—and your plants will naturally fall into place.

Thrillers, Fillers & Spillers (An Easy Shortcut)

You might also hear this called Thrillers, Fillers, and Spillers—it’s just another way of describing the same idea.

Using all three helps your planter look balanced and “finished,” even if you’re just starting out.

  • Thriller: one taller plant for height
  • Filler: a few bushy plants to fill the space
  • Spiller: one or two trailing plants to soften the edges

Bringing It All Together

Start with a Focal Plant

Choose one taller or more colourful plant and place it in the centre. This gives your planter a starting point and makes everything else easier to arrange around it.

Symmetrical Planters (Neat & Calm)

If you like things tidy and balanced, symmetry is a great choice. Place similar plants on either side of your focal plant. This style feels calm, organised, and works beautifully at entrances or patios.

Asymmetrical Planters (Relaxed & Natural)

Asymmetrical designs feel softer and more natural. The eye moves from the taller plant, through the fillers, and down to the trailing plants. This style is perfect if you like a more relaxed, creative look.

Remember

Plants are very forgiving—and so is planter design. Start simple, trust your eye, and enjoy the process. The more you play, the more confident you’ll become.

With a planter, you can easily move plants around to find the best combinations and see how different textures complement each other. Unlike home furnishings or paint, plants change shape and color as they grow, offering endless possibilities to explore and refine your designs. Whether you prefer bold, vibrant colors or subtle, calming tones, a planter allows you to test and perfect your ideas in a dynamic, living medium.

Single planting

After all that planning and considering structural elements, it’s important to remember that single planting can be just as effective. A planter made with just one type of plant can create a striking, cohesive look. The key to success with single planting is to use enough plants to create a bit of crowding. This crowding encourages the center plants to grow upward, adding height, while the outer plants naturally spill over the edges, enhancing the trailing effect.

This approach works especially well with semi-trailing plants, which can fill out a basket beautifully and create a lush, uniform appearance. Single planting offers simplicity and elegance, proving that sometimes less really is more.

Now Let’s Talk About Colour

Once you’ve chosen your main structure plants, it’s time for the fun part—colour 🎨
If you’re new to gardening, the easiest way to create a planter that looks good straight away is to stick to either a hot mix or a cool mix. This keeps things simple and helps everything feel naturally balanced.

You don’t need to overthink it. A basic designer’s colour wheel can be a helpful guide, but your eyes and instincts matter just as much.

Hot Colours vs Cool Colours

Hot Colours

Reds, oranges, and yellows

Hot colours feel warm, energetic, and cheerful. They stand out, catch the eye, and bring a sense of excitement to your planter. These colours naturally work well together, making them a great choice if you want something bold and uplifting.

Hot colour planters are perfect for:

  • Front doors and entrances
  • Sunny patios
  • Anywhere you want a pop of colour and energy

Cool Colours

Blues, purples, and greens

Cool colours create a calm, relaxed feeling. They’re soothing, elegant, and easy on the eye. Cool colours also blend beautifully together, which makes them very forgiving for beginners.

Cool colour planters are ideal for:

  • Seating areas
  • Shady corners
  • Spaces where you want a peaceful, restful feel

Creating a Hot Mix Planter

A hot mix is all about warmth and impact. Here are a few easy ways to build one with confidence:

1. Combine 2–3 Warm Colours

  • Red, orange, and yellow work beautifully together
  • Red and orange add depth and richness
  • Yellow brightens everything and lifts the whole design

2. Use Neighbouring Colours

  • Red + orange
  • Orange + yellow

Choose colours that sit next to each other on the colour wheel:

This creates a harmonious look with lots of warmth but less contrast—perfect if you want bold but not busy.

3. Try One Colour in Different Shades

Pick one hot colour and use lighter and darker versions of it:

  • Deep burgundy through to bright red
  • Soft peach through to rich orange

This gives you a polished, designer feel while still keeping things simple.

Hot mixes are confident, joyful, and full of life—great if you love colour and want your planter to stand out.

Creating a Cool Mix Planter

Cool mixes are gentle, calming, and very easy to live with.

1. Combine 2–3 Cool Colours

  • Blue, purple, and green work naturally together
  • Deep blue adds richness
  • Soft purple adds interest
  • Green brings freshness and balance

2. Use Neighbouring Colours

This creates a smooth, flowing look that feels calm and cohesive.

Stick to colours close together on the wheel:

  • Blue + green
  • Blue + purple

3. Use Shades of One Colour

Choose one cool colour and vary the tones:

  • Navy, sky blue, and pale blue
  • Emerald, moss green, and soft mint

This approach is very forgiving and creates a relaxed, elegant planter without needing lots of different plants.

Cool mixes are perfect if you want something timeless, peaceful, and easy on the eye.

A Reassuring Tip for Beginners

If you’re ever unsure:

  • Choose either hot or cool
  • Use 2–3 colours only
  • Repeat those colours throughout the planter

That’s it. You don’t need more than that.

Plants are generous, colour is flexible, and your confidence will grow with every planter you create. Trust yourself—and enjoy the process