What to do with an entryway planter?

Can you post a photo?

YES! A photo please!

Other than taking it out, there a a number of ways to use it to create a room divider; a base for a fish tank, hang a curtain of metallic beads from the ceiling down to the top of the planter, for the holidays a Holiday scene, plant bamboo in it for a living divider.

Make a nice bench/boot stow station. If you can open the front just below a seat, you could stow all manner of items coming into the front door and have a comfortable place to do so. the bench could be plush or more rustic, depending upon you tastes. the bench could also lift for the same storage, so all you would need is a top, some gorgeous hinges, and you are good to go. If it is brick, whitewash it.

Make a cover for it with some wood covered with cotton batting with oilcloth over that ....you now have a bench to sit on that's easy durable wipeoff fabric and you can use the inside of the planter for storage : ) ...Vermont Country Store sells oilcoth tablecloths likely big enough to do the job

If you like the look of the brick, but don't want to have plants there, just build a top to create a seat with storage. Or if you have enough space and don't like the current look, build a 2 x 4 structure around it (frame it in) , you can still do seating or build it up higher to create a entry way display shelving or cabinets. Looks like your to far north to put a fish tank next to door. Worst comes to worst, just create a false wall, frame it up, sheet rock it, paint and hang a entry way mirror. Most people like to look in mirror near door, once you put on a hat or remove it, we all want to know our hairs not messy.

Cheap way, take measurements, depth and distance to ceiling and length, go to local habitat for humanity restore, buy a cabinet that can sit on top. If it's not exactly right size, plywood addition to correct the size. Wood putty seams, sand and paint to match walls. Hang mirror or framed pic on other side.

More exspence idea, turn it into faux fire place, depending on placement of brick structure in relationship to room that it enters.

My parents home has one of those planters with a solid facing in the entry, and a book shelf facing the living room. It had plastic plants when we moved in. my mom placed a shelf on top and small candles and knickknacks. Its about 4 feet tall x 2 1/2 feet wide and 10 to12 inches deep. So some of the suggestions might not work if this is the size of the planter in question. I always thought a fish tank would work, with the shelving holding supplies, but fish tanks require more work that I care to deal with. If it were up to me, I would remodel the entry area and front wall of the living room using the front porch area and adding a new porch! Or just remove the damn planter. This space might be good to use for a guest closet, if there is no closet convenient to the entry.