Whether you’re looking to accent a doorway, highlight a walkway, create new areas within your restaurant, or frame an outdoor patio, commercial restaurant planters can make an aesthetically pleasing and functional addition to your space. Here’s how to find the right ones for your needs.

In the world of food and beverage establishments, commercial restaurant planters filled with lively greenery have become a staple decorative feature. And for good reason.

Strategically placed plant life can transform the vibe and atmosphere of a restaurant for the better and can be used to amplify both indoor and outdoor spaces. That’s why it’s commonly incorporated into the design of establishments ranging from boutique cafes to Michelin Star restaurants and everything in between.

The key is to find the right commercial restaurant planters to reflect your design, align with your ambiance, and work well in the places where you plan to put them.

So, whether you have a small independent eatery or a national restaurant chain, here’s everything you need to know about picking the right commercial restaurant planters.

4 Reasons Why You Need Planters for Your Restaurants

A little greenery can go a long way in a restaurant. In addition to the fact that they look great, they can also have physical and psychological benefits as well.

Plants are a must-have in your restaurant because they:

Make Your Guests Feel Comfortable – The term biophilia refers to the sense of connection that people feel with nature. Humans are hardwired to love the shapes, colors, and sounds of the natural world. In fact, the concept of biophilic design, such as green walls, has grown increasingly popular in recent years. This same theory can be applied to restaurants. Plant life makes people feel relaxed, happy, and at home – all things you want your customers to feel – and relate to the experience of your restaurant.
Add a Great Touch of Décor – Modern restaurant patrons don’t just go for the food. They go for the experience. They love taking photos of unique details and elevated design features and sharing them on social media. Plants make for an easy and impactful touch of décor, offering amazing contrasts and textures – whether it’s a green wall or outdoor planters packed with colorful flowers or beautiful shrubs. And they also offer an easy and affordable way to change the ambiance of your restaurant, whether seasonally or just to mix it up, without requiring a full overhaul.
Are Extremely Versatile – When it comes to commercial restaurant planters, the opportunities are endless. They allow you to add greenery both indoors and outdoors, from the patio to the lounge, as well as to line walkways, highlight entryways, separate spaces within the restaurant, or create filtered views, such as on a rooftop patio.
Clean the Air in Your Restaurant – As a fringe benefit to having plants in your restaurant, studies have shown that even basic houseplants can remove up to 87% of air toxins in 24 hours.

But before you can reap the benefits of adding plants to your space, you need to get familiar with the types of commercial restaurant planters you can choose from and which are the best for your purposes.

The 5 Most Common Types of Commercial Restaurant Planters

The first step in picking the right commercial restaurant planters is to learn about the various types that are available. At PureModern, we carry a wide array of planters, so we can help you find the perfect one for each space in your restaurant.

This includes:

COR-TEN Steel Planters

If you’re looking for a beautiful and unique commercial restaurant planter, you’ll love COR-TEN Steel. It offers a stunning modern industrial aesthetic due to a unique characteristic: this group of steel alloys develops a mesmerizing orange-brown patina after being exposed to the climate. This patina not only looks great, but it also protects the planter from further corrosion.

These sturdy planters require the outdoor elements to patina (and may stain the surrounding surfaces) and should only be used outdoors.

We’ve got a wide array of COR-TEN steel planters. Some of our clients’ favorites include:

The Modern Elite Rectangle Planter – Designed with a space-saving profile, this modern commercial restaurant planter can act as a standalone or be grouped together to create a quiet place for patrons by separating sitting areas from higher-traffic areas.

The Modern Elite Tapered Planter – This elegant modern planter was designed to create the perfect first impression for guests at your restaurant. With its clean and modern profile and its small footprint, it’s strategically crafted to maximize valuable real estate on your restaurant’s patio.

The Modern Elite Wider Tower Planter – This contemporary planter will make the perfect addition to any outdoor space in your restaurant – from flanking the front doors to sprucing up your patio area. With its modest footprint, it’s perfect for adding a touch of greenery while leaving more space for patrons to sit or move.

You can see our entire lineup of COR-TEN steel planters.

Fiberglass Planters

Ultra-lightweight and durable, our fiberglass planters are resistant to corrosion, frost, and UV-rays. They require very little maintenance and upkeep. They can handle the bumps and knocks that come with a high-traffic restaurant environment without worry of damaging or scuffing. And if you’re using them on a patio or outdoor space, you won’t need to worry about bringing them inside during the winter months.

Fiberglass planters are especially beneficial in areas where weight considerations must be made, such as rooftop patios.

If you’re looking for lightweight durability and ample customization options, check out some of our fiberglass planters, including:

The Oval Planter – This unique planter is a finely articulated oval. Its durable, lightweight fiberglass structure will offer a dramatic look.

PurePots Georgia Wide Rectangle Fiberglass Planter – Available exclusively from PureModern, these versatile commercial restaurant planters will liven up any area or strategically divide multiple areas within an open space. They are the perfect choice for both indoors and outdoors and are durable enough for year-round use.

PurePots Latz Oval Fiberglass Planter – This planter strikes a commanding vertical line and adds a touch of elegance to contemporary spaces. Ideal for patio plants or container gardening, these tall commercial planters exude sophistication and grace.

The Twain Round Tapered Planter – Optimized for outdoor use but great for the indoors as well, these commercial restaurant planters display a starkly bold and potent style, whether being used for plants or as an ash, trash or recycling container.

We offer dozens of unique fiberglass commercial restaurant planters. To browse the full collection, click here.

Powder-Coated Aluminum Planters

Our aluminum planters are comprised of the most durable planter material on the market: heavy gauge 5052 marine-grade aluminum alloy. It’s commonly used in high-end commercial grade outdoor site furnishings, shipbuilding, and aircraft fabrication. These planters are also powder-coated with TIGER Drylac(r) Series 38 powder coating, which is VOC-free and made for industrial applications such as military equipment and communication towers. It’s also proven to be weather and UV-ray resistant. Our powder-coated aluminum planters can withstand the elements with little to no maintenance.

Another benefit of selecting powder-coated aluminum planters is that they can be modified to add castors and kick-toes, which give the illusion that the planter is floating, as well as lights and speakers, which are perfect complements for building an outstanding restaurant ambiance.

If you’d like to learn more about our process for fabricating metal planters, you might like this article.

Some of our most popular aluminum planters include:

The Modern Elite Divider Planter – Our large rectangular planters are perfect for screening views or creating separate seating areas in large open spaces. These patio planter dividers allow you more flexibility in changing the feel of a space – instead of moving walls, relocate the planters or change the height of the greenery.

The Metal Round Planter – This commercial restaurant planter boasts a clean and modern profile and offers a minimal footprint, making it perfect for any indoor or outdoor seating area. Whether you’re using it to create green space or to act as a statement piece in your restaurant, this dynamic and durable planter can elevate the feel of your space.

To see even more aluminum planters, click here take a look through our full selection.

Connect Modular Planter System

Another popular option when it comes to commercial restaurant planters is to go modular. If you’re not familiar with the term, modular planters are a set of standardized planters that join together to create one large, long planter or custom shape.

Modular planters are a great option because they:

Can be extremely cost-effective
Offer exceptional water management options (if you’re interested in the best way to water commercial restaurant planters, check out our article on the topic)
Provide the ability to create a wall or secluded area of greenspace, such as on your restaurant’s patio or as a divider in the dining room

If this sounds like what you’re looking for, take a look at some of our Modular Planters, such as:

The Barclay Planter – Made from tough, versatile fiberglass, this lightweight modular commercial restaurant planter is as easy to upkeep as it is on the eyes.

Drummond Rectangular Planter – This commercial restaurant planter is a striking modernization of the standard window box.

Governor Trough Planter – This beautiful fiberglass commercial restaurant planter is a spin on the traditional window box offering a striking European-inspired relief design.

Our collection of modular commercial restaurant planters offers a wide range of styles. To see them all, click here. And if you’re interested in learning even more about this versatile option, check out our blog post: Modular Planters 101 Guide.

Custom Planters

If you’ve ever browsed for a commercial restaurant planter and just couldn’t find exactly what you’re looking for, you’re not alone. And we’ve got you covered.

All of our planters are completely customizable and come in a wide array of shapes, colors, and sizes. To learn more, get in touch with us. Our specialists are available to help answer any questions you may have.

4 Considerations for Picking the Right Commercial Restaurant Planter for Your Needs

Now that you know the options at your disposal, the next step is to pick the right commercial restaurant planter.

Each restaurant will have different needs and uses for their planters. To find the right one for yours, start with determining what you’ll be using it for.

Here are four common uses for commercial restaurant planters:

Highlighting Areas – Restaurant owners often use planters to highlight areas like doorways, hallways, walkways, or places where artwork is framed. For these purposes, we recommend lightweight and versatile fiberglass commercial restaurant planters. They’re durable, can be personalized, and easily moved as needed.
Adding Decor in High-Traffic Areas – It’s important to consider the volume of traffic that will pass by your planters. So if you’re adding décor to a high-traffic area, opt for aluminum to avoid the risk of scuffing or damage from passersby.
Strictly Outdoor Use – If you’re looking for a permanent addition to your outdoor space, consider COR-TEN Weathering Steel as it’ll not only be resistant to the elements but actually benefit from being exposed to them.
Framing and Creating New Spaces – When it comes time to frame a restaurant patio or create new spaces within your dining room or lounge, your best bet is to go with the Connect Modular Planter System. These are specifically intended to adjoin seamlessly and create standalone areas framed by beautiful plant life.

If you’re in search of commercial restaurant planters for other purposes, just get in touch with us to discuss options for Custom Planters.

3 Quick Tips for Picking the Right Plants for Your Commercial Restaurant Planters

While we aren’t necessarily specialists in gardening, we have picked up some great insights from our clients about how to pick the perfect plants for your commercial restaurant planters.

You’ll want to:

Make Sure They’re Tough – Restaurants can be a hostile environment for plants, so it’s wise to make sure the ones you pick are tough. Especially in areas near the kitchen, temperatures can fluctuate drastically, which can take a serious toll on plants. So, make sure the ones you pick can take the heat.
Consider Light Requirements – Plants often need a lot of light to survive, and restaurants don’t always offer it – especially indoors. For plants that you’re putting inside, consider finding low-light plants and make sure you don’t put plants in a place where it’s impossible for them to survive.
Think About Where You’ll Put Them – One of the many dangers of restaurants (from a plant’s perspective) is the fact that they are high-traffic areas by nature. Fragile plants may not fare well in this environment as they’ll have a tendency to get bumped into and damaged frequently. Ensure delicate plants are away from high-traffic areas and pick hardier plants for those busy spots.

It’s definitely wise to consult with an experienced gardener prior to purchasing plants and placing them in a challenging environment like a restaurant.

Some Inspiration from Our Portfolio of Commercial Restaurant Planter Projects

If you’re looking for inspiration on how you might be able to incorporate commercial restaurant planters into your venue, check out a select few of the restaurant projects we’ve helped out clients with.

Laurel Park Raceway

Situated in Laurel, Maryland, the Laurel Park Raceway approached PureModern to supply them with Modern Elite Aluminum Planters to separate the dining areas from the general flow of foot traffic. Snake plants were planted in the interior large metal planters due to their easy upkeep.

Glass & Vine

When we were contacted by Miami, Florida-based Groves Bay Hospitality Group to support their Glass & Vine project, we jumped at the opportunity. Located in Coconut Groves on the Biscayne Bay, this amazing Euro-style restaurant used our Rectangular Planters to create a garden oasis where patrons could dine alfresco and escape the busyness of life.

Whether you’re looking to accent a doorway, highlight a walkway, create new areas within your restaurant, or frame an outdoor patio, commercial restaurant planters can make an aesthetically pleasing and functional addition to your space. Here’s how to find the right ones for your needs.

If you’d like to learn more about the right planters to fit your needs, contact us to speak with one of our experts. We’re here to help!