19 Window Box Ideas to Brighten Up Your Exterior
Searching for new ways to flex your green thumb? Or looking to give your home’s exterior a miniature facelift? Window boxes could be the answer!
Window boxes offer the perfect place to grow your favorite plants without taking up valuable lawn space or digging into the ground. There’s no easier way to bring a hint of life and color to your home with minimal time, money, and labor.
Keep reading for some of the best window box ideas and how to recreate them to suit your own home!
Contents
1. Choose Simple Greens for Serenity
Focus on creating a lush, minimalist aesthetic by planting a variety of greenery in your window box. Select plants like boxwood, ivy, and hostas for their diverse leaf textures and shades of green, which can create a serene and cohesive look.
2. Plant Vibrant Petunias
Utilize the vibrant colors and full blooms of petunias to create a lively window display. These flowers thrive in window boxes, providing a cascade of color. Remember to choose a mix of trailing and upright varieties for a dynamic appearance.
3. Add Color with Geraniums
Geraniums offer a traditional and colorful option for window boxes. They require minimal maintenance and bloom abundantly. Group different colors for a striking contrast or stick to one shade for a monochromatic scheme.
4. Mix Variety of Flowers
Create an eye-catching display by combining different flower types. Think about varying heights, textures, and colors. Consider seasonal blooms for year-round interest and ensure each plant has similar sunlight and watering needs.
5. Make a Bold Statement with Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas make a bold statement with their large, lush blooms. Select a dwarf variety suitable for window boxes. These plants prefer morning sun and afternoon shade, so position them accordingly.
6. Fill With Rainforest Plants
Transform your window box into a mini rainforest with plants like small ferns, philodendrons, and begonias. These plants thrive in humid conditions and can create a lush, tropical feel.
7. Opt for Bushy Types
Select plants known for their dense, bushy growth like lavender, boxwood, and dwarf junipers. These plants provide fullness and a structured look, making them ideal for a polished window box display.
8. Poinsettia Window Box
During the holiday season, a window box filled with poinsettias can add festive cheer. These plants need protection from the cold, so consider this option for milder climates or as a temporary holiday display.
9. Mix & Match Perennial
Plant a combination of perennials for a window box that evolves throughout the seasons. Choose plants with varied blooming times for a display that changes and grows throughout the year.
10. Mount to the Wall With Coco Fiber
Use coco fiber liners in your window boxes for a natural look and efficient drainage. These liners also help retain moisture, benefiting plants. Mounting them to the wall can add a rustic or traditional touch to your home’s exterior.
11. Set Up a Succulent Display
Create a low-maintenance, modern display with a variety of succulents. They thrive in well-drained conditions and can tolerate direct sunlight, making them perfect for window boxes.
12. Install a Low Window Box
A low-profile window box is unobtrusive yet elegant. It’s ideal for growing herbs or small flowering plants and works well on windows where you don’t want to obstruct the view.
13. Match the Window Box With the Shutters
Coordinate the color and style of your window box with your shutters for a harmonious exterior. This approach ties the elements of your home’s facade together, creating a cohesive and thoughtful design.
14. Standalone Window Box Planter
Consider a freestanding window box planter for flexibility in placement. This type is perfect for adding greenery to windows without ledges or for creating symmetry in your design.
15. Eucalyptus & Fern Window Box Arrangement
Combine eucalyptus with ferns for a window box with varied textures and soothing green tones. This pairing is not only visually appealing but also fragrant, adding a sensory element to your space.
16. Barn-Style Window Box
For a rustic charm, use a barn-style window box. This style typically features distressed wood and a simple design, complementing farmhouse or country-style homes.
17. Classic White Window Box
A white window box offers a classic and versatile look. It can highlight colorful plants effectively and matches well with any exterior paint color, providing a crisp, clean appearance.
18. Wooden Window Box
Wooden window boxes add a natural, warm element to your home’s exterior. They can be painted or stained to match your home’s style and are ideal for a range of plants, from flowers to herbs.
19. Concrete Window Box
A concrete window box is a durable and modern choice. Its solid construction and neutral color make it suitable for architectural plants, like succulents or ornamental grasses, and it complements contemporary home styles.
Window Box FAQs
If you want your planted flowers to survive the entire season, yes! Most window boxes include a drainage system but it’s always a good idea to check before installing new planters to your home’s exterior.
If you find that your chosen window box lacks drainage, don’t be afraid to add your own. Use a power drill and bit appropriate for the material to create drainage and keep your plants happy and healthy!
Ideally, a window box should be the same length as the window frame it sits under. While a difference of an inch or two won’t make a big difference, the closer the sizing the cleaner the final look will be.
If matching your window boxes to the exact window size isn’t possible, try to opt for a planter that is longer rather than shorter. A shorter window box will cut off the window frame and make it look smaller. Meanwhile, a longer window box will frame the window and draw attention to it.