I agree to restore it as bigreader said but have something under the pot to stop water staining, have fun!

I would color it - but it depends on how much wood you have in your house. Coloring gives it an updated look - hides the stains and yes a plant plate would solve the water issues. Nina

Go for a gold or metallic colour... adds some difference? Even a completely different colour to green and blue.. orange? Pink?

Greyed -down pink.

Have a look at the spray can options they are endless for colours or metallics if that could work. I think you could sand it lightly to start with & there might be a spray primer you can apply, then your choice of colour or if metallic how about copper?

Porters make a copper effect paint system that replicates the aged copper look though I haven't used it & Porters is expensive.Porters liquid copper paint

Love your planter.

I'd weather proof it a little and get a basin in it for re use as a bird bath

I'd hesitate to paint a beautiful vintage piece like this one! I'd opt for a dark brown stain. If you really must paint, how about a gloss black?

I have an identical one! Got sick of the wood color and painted it Turquoise. Sits in a corner of the entry with a lush plant in a bright red pot. Looks awesome!

It has such a great shape,gently scrub it back with some fine steel wool and see what you thin,though red,white ,black,copper all sound great too

Stunning piece of furniture - Turkish tiles cut to fit the top in a similar shade of blue to what you have in other pieces (you can get them professionally cut) and either restore the legs etc or sand them yourself and give them a light coat of sealer to retain the natural colour - or lime wash them. Dragonfly Sydney

I love old pieces of furniture. It always seems to pieces from my grandmother's house that I remember most from my childhood - macrame plant holders, cacti and succulents, good solid timber furniture, the standout cushions on the green leather lounge, the teapot cosy and grandpop's chair - right next to the kettle. I like the idea of colour - remember paint can always be removed at a later date and this classic piece can be restored to its natural beauty if you so desire. Good luck.

there is a rusted iron spray on paint that looks amazing otherwise sand and re stain etc

It is a beautiful elegant piece - I would restore it (sand and polish).

Try rubbing it back with fine steel wool and Metho. I love it

Paint it a flat black and then paint about 10 cm of the legs in a copper paint. Would look awesome and highlight that wonderful pot :)

If you're hesitant about painting it, experiment with some metallic wax that are made for furniture.

Doh, do you mean that stuff made from grasshoppers?

I'm lost...

Wax on...

I agree with the black paint and gold / metallic dipped legs but I recently painted similar side table and old plain bookshelf the same colour as grey walls but in an enamel. These old (quality) pieces get to tell a new and fresh contemporary story. Restoring is great but as already mentioned earlier , depends on how much timber you have in house.

I have found that old pieces of furniture like this respond really well to .....shoe polish. I would use the dark tan, apply a few times with a day or so in between, and you get a wonderful warm sheen on the timber when you buff it. I do this with all sorts of timber within the home, including door steps. Reapply every 6 months or so to keep the look fresh.

It is a beautiful stand! For a fresh new look (depending on your interior decor of course) I'd paint it white and paint the 'feet, but not the lower shelf, in copper which is very on trend. This would make your gorgeous planter really stand out. Use a wet area paint on the top to protect from water spills. The fabulous thing I love about older pieces with great wood is they are very forgiving. Paint it one year, sand and stain the next. You can always take paint off and redo it as your style changes. Good luck.

If you are worried about water marks you can either get a piece of glass cut for the top of the stand or look for one of those old wooden chopping boards that sit in a metal holder. Ditch the chopping board and polish up the holder and you have a nice holder for your pot that will catch all spills and splashes when watering. Even better if this holder has little feet. Regarding the stand, I would go for a high gloss paint in either white, black or gold.

Here's a (not very good) photo

Nice job! The gold gives it a touch of quirky elegance to suit your turquoise pot man ;)

Love the end result & keeping the natural timber look with the blue accent pieces top & bottom.