Steel galvanised planters are a common design element in many car showrooms – and it’s not difficult to see why.

Car show rooms tend to be large, roomy spaces and large, tall planters can act as attractive room dividers, segregating particular areas ie the reception, foyer etc. They can also add an element of style, particularly glossy black or gleaming mirror stainless steel planters filled with cultivated greenery.

• Flexibility

The great advantage of using steel planters in the design of a car showroom is their flexibility. For instance, if the planters have castors attached onto the bottom of them then it’s easy to move them around and alter the design – certainly it’s much easier than removing a purpose-built partition or desk area. And if only the one variety of plant is used throughout the car showroom then it’s possible to move them around without worrying about interfering with the original design. Stones can also be put into the bottom of the planters to improve their stability and ensure they remain put when needed.

• Design

Greenery in the form of shrubs, plants and flowers can be added to cubed planters, coloured planters etc to enhance the overall design element. For instance antique gold planters are often used for a room aiming for a more classic theme while high gloss neon coloured planters are more contemporary or even look great in a sixties or seventies themed design. Meanwhile an exotic and eye-catching single plant or flower can fit in well in a modern minimalist environment. Planters can also look impressive simply filled with sand and glossy or natural looking stones and pebbles.

• Colour

Not only can the planters themselves add colour but the plants can as well of course. For instance planters with bright flowers or leaves can be used to liven up a dull and gloomy entranceway or a corner in a car showroom which doesn’t receive a lot of light and needs a bit of an enhancement. Sometimes a touch of greenery is all that’s needed to add a bit of a boost to an area with a monochrome colour scheme.

• Environment

Who doesn’t like to see plants and an expanse of greenery in what is traditionally a rather sterile, masculine environment? Not only are plants and flowers nice to look at, but they also add a more natural and lighter touch to all that gleaming steel and rubber. Then there’s the health benefits of course, plants improve the air quality of a room by converting carbon dioxide into oxygen through photosynthesis. Depending on the type of plant, they can also remove harmful elements from the air such as benzene and formaldehyde.

• Brand enhancement

One car dealership in Canada even used the planters and greenery to enhance their brand’s overall message. “Our design goal was to achieve a symbiosis of nature and high design which is a key driver of the Lexus brand identity,” explained General Manager Mark Worbeck for Open Road Lexus Richmond.

To take a look at the type of planters available for today’s car show see Precious Design