Flower Vases

A vase does more than hold flowers. Used well, it is a decorative object in its own right, contributing shape, texture, and colour to a surface even when it is empty. Choosing the right vase comes down to understanding both the flowers it will hold and the space it will sit in.

Shape is the starting point. Tall, narrow vases suit long-stemmed flowers like tulips, roses, and calla lilies, holding the stems upright and letting the blooms sit cleanly above the rim. Wide-mouthed vases give more freedom for loose, relaxed arrangements where the stems can spread naturally. Squat, globe-shaped vases work well for short-stemmed or voluminous blooms like peonies, hydrangeas, and ranunculus, which benefit from the support of a tighter neck.

Material affects both the look of the vase and how it interacts with light in a room. Clear glass vases are the most versatile option and work with almost any flower, but they do require more attention to the stems inside, which become a visible part of the arrangement. Ceramic and stoneware vases conceal the stems entirely, which tends to give a cleaner result and suits artificial or dried arrangements particularly well. Ribbed, speckled, and textured finishes have become increasingly popular as vases are used more frequently as decorative objects rather than purely as functional vessels.

Size groupings work well on sideboards, dining tables, and shelving. Clustering three vases of the same material but varying heights creates a considered display that is easy to style and easy to refresh by simply changing the stems. Odd numbers tend to read better than even groupings on a surface.

For dried flower arrangements, which remain very popular in UK interiors, an opaque vase in a neutral or earthy tone is usually the most complementary choice. The muted tones of pampas grass, dried lavender, and bleached stems sit well against stoneware, terracotta, and matte ceramic finishes in a way that clear glass sometimes does not.