A vase is one of the most versatile pieces in a room. Filled with stems it brings softness and height; left empty it works as a sculpture; grouped with others it can finish a whole surface on its own. It is also one of the easiest pieces to get slightly wrong, usually because it is too small for the space, the wrong shape for what is in it, or standing alone where it needed company.
This guide covers how to style a vase so it looks deliberate: how to choose the right size and shape, how to style one with or without flowers, how to group vases, and where they work best around the house. Everything mentioned is in the Mikolia vases collection.
Decide what the vase is for
Before choosing a vase, decide which of three jobs it is doing. The answer changes the size, the shape and where it goes.
- A statement on its own. One vase carrying a surface, such as a console or a hallway table. It needs scale and a strong silhouette, and it should be the tallest thing in its spot.
- Part of a group. Two or three vases styled together, where no single piece has to do all the work. Variety in height and shape matters more than size here.
- A holder for stems. The vase is there to present flowers or branches. Its shape should suit what goes in it, and the stems become the focal point.
Most styling problems come from buying for one job and using the vase for another, such as a small bud vase asked to carry a large sideboard on its own.
How to choose the right vase size
Scale is the single biggest factor in whether a vase looks right. A few working rules help:
- Size the vase to the surface, not the shelf above it. A long sideboard or console usually needs at least one piece of 35cm or taller to hold its own. A vase under 25cm on a large surface tends to look lost unless it is part of a group.
- Keep the coffee table low. Vases on a coffee table should sit below the eye line of someone seated on the sofa, roughly 30cm or less including any stems, so they do not block conversation or the view of the television.
- Keep the dining table lower still. The same rule applies more strictly at the table. Anything over seated eye level gets moved the moment people sit down.
- On a mantelpiece, go taller than you think. The tallest piece on a mantelpiece can comfortably reach a third to half of the height of the mirror or artwork above it.
- For stems, aim for one and a half to two times the height of the vase. This is the classic florist proportion. Shorter stems look cropped; much taller ones look as if they might tip.
If you are unsure between two sizes, choose the larger one. A vase that is slightly too big looks generous. One that is slightly too small looks like an afterthought.
Match the shape to what goes in it
The opening of a vase decides what it can hold well:
- Wide mouth: massed, rounded heads such as hydrangeas, peonies and cabbage roses, which need room to spread.
- Narrow neck: a single sculptural branch or two or three stems, held at an angle. A faux cherry blossom branch or a magnolia stem looks its best in a narrow neck and poor standing upright in a wide bowl.
- Bottle shapes: one or two delicate dried stems, or nothing at all. The frosted glass bottle vase with a black ball stopper works as a sculptural object with the stopper in place, or styled with a few fine dried stems.
- Tall, slim forms: long, straight stems such as delphiniums, grasses or bare branches, which echo the line of the vase.
A useful test is to imagine the arrangement in silhouette. If the stems and the vase make one clear shape together, the pairing works. If the stems seem to be fighting their way out of the vase, or slumping over its edge, the opening is wrong for them.
How to style a vase without flowers
An empty vase is not an unfinished one. Many of the most striking vases are designed to be displayed on their own, and adding stems would only hide what makes them interesting.
Sculptural vases. The 3D printed vases are a good example. The faceted surface of the Tall Geometric Origami Vase at 52cm, or the curved form of the Fluted Neck Vase, is the point of the piece. Place them where light falls from the side, such as near a window, so the texture casts shadows.
Decorated vases. Vases with sculpted ceramic flowers, such as the Ribbed Blossom Vase, already carry their own floral detail. They are complete without stems, and a few fine dried grasses at most will keep the focus on the ceramic.
Three things make an empty vase look intentional: give it space rather than crowding it with other objects, lift it slightly on a small stack of books or a tray if it sits too low against the wall, and pair it with one contrasting object, such as a candle holder or a small sculpture, rather than several.
How to group vases
Grouping is the quickest way to make a set of vases look curated rather than collected. The rules are simple:
- Odd numbers. Three vases read as a composition; two often read as a pair waiting for a third. The exception is a deliberate matching pair, covered in the ginger jar section below.
- Three distinct heights. Tall, medium and short, with a clear step between each. Vases within a few centimetres of each other look like a near miss rather than a choice.
- One shared thread. Keep one thing consistent across the group, such as colour, finish or material, and let the rest vary. Three off-white vases in completely different shapes look cohesive. Three different colours in three different shapes usually do not.
- Overlap slightly. Stagger the group so the shorter vases sit a little in front of the tallest one, rather than standing in a straight line.
Several designs in the range come in graduated sizes made for this. The ribbed and crackle-glazed blossom vases come in heights from 20.5cm to 38cm in white and brown, the faceted origami vase comes in 39cm and 52cm, and the frosted and tortoiseshell glass bottle vases come in two heights each. The floral and ceramic vases collection shows the full set.
Where to put a vase
Console tables and sideboards
The easiest place to style a vase, and the one with the most room. Place the tallest piece off-centre, roughly a third of the way along, and balance it at the other end with something lower and wider, such as a lamp, a bowl or a stack of books. If there is a mirror or artwork above, let the vase overlap its lower edge slightly so the two read together.
Mantelpieces
Either a symmetrical pair, one at each end, for a formal and classic look, or an asymmetric group of three at one end with something lower at the other for a more relaxed one. Keep the centre clear for the mirror or artwork. Our guide to living room ornaments covers how to build the rest of the mantelpiece around them.
Coffee tables
One low vase, or a small vase on a tray with a candle and a book. Wide, shallow shapes work better than tall ones here, because the table is seen from above.
Dining tables
Low and central, or a row of two or three small vases down a long table. Short stems in a wide vessel are easier to talk over than one tall arrangement.
Shelves and bookcases
Use vases to break up runs of books. Alternate a vertical piece with a horizontal stack, and vary the shelf each vase sits on so they zig-zag up the bookcase rather than lining up on one level.
Hallways, bedrooms and bathrooms
A single vase is usually enough. In a hallway, choose a slim silhouette that will not catch a passing elbow. On a bedside table or a dressing table, a small, soft piece works better than anything sculptural, and a handbag vase is a playful option for a dressing table. In a bathroom, a vase with artificial or dried stems brings softness without the upkeep.
How to style a ginger jar
Ginger jars, also called temple jars, are the one vase shape that is traditionally displayed with its lid on and nothing inside. They are styled as objects rather than as holders for flowers.
They are also the exception to the odd-numbers rule. A matching pair of ginger jars at each end of a mantelpiece or sideboard is one of the most classic arrangements there is, and it suits formal and traditional rooms particularly well. In a more modern room, use a single jar next to a lamp, or group two jars of different heights in the same colourway.
Colour sets the tone. The Black and Gold Ginger Jar reads as dramatic and contemporary, while the White, Gold and Blue Floral Ginger Jar brings the classic blue and white look into a warmer, gilded palette.
Choosing a vase to suit your interior
- Calm and minimal: off-white, matte and textural. The 3D printed vases suit this best, as their interest comes from form rather than colour.
- Warm and natural: brown and earthy glazes such as the Brown Crackle-Glazed Blossom Vase, alongside wood, linen and stone.
- Cream and gold: white and gold ceramics and ginger jars, which add a quiet touch of glamour without looking ornate.
- Monochrome: black and gold ginger jars or frosted glass with a black stopper, against white or pale grey walls.
- Playful: handbag vases, which work as conversation pieces on a dressing table or shelf. Our guide to handbag vases covers how to style them.
If you are still deciding which direction your room is going in, our guide to minimalist vs colourful décor is a useful starting point.
Fresh, dried or artificial stems?
Many decorative vases, including textured, crackle-glazed and 3D printed ceramics, are designed for display rather than for holding water. Always check the product page before adding fresh flowers. If you want to use fresh stems in a decorative vase, place a glass jar or a watertight liner inside it and put the water in that instead.
Dried and artificial flowers need no water at all, which makes them the natural partner for decorative ceramics. They also stay the same height and shape, so once an arrangement is right it stays right. Our guide to styling artificial flowers and plants together covers how many stems a vase needs and how to make faux arrangements look natural. For tall pieces that stand on the floor, see our guide to styling planters and floor vases.
Caring for decorative vases
- Dust with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth. Dust settles quickly on textured and ribbed surfaces.
- Avoid abrasive cleaners, harsh chemicals and scouring pads, which can damage glazes and gold detailing.
- Take extra care with sculpted petals and raised details, which are more delicate than the body of the vase.
- Do not fill a vase with water unless the product page says it is suitable, and use a liner for fresh flowers.
Frequently asked questions
What size vase do I need?
Size the vase to the surface. A console or sideboard usually needs at least one piece of 35cm or taller, while a coffee table or dining table needs something low, around 30cm or less including stems. If you are choosing between two sizes, the larger one usually looks better.
How tall should flowers be compared to the vase?
Aim for stems roughly one and a half to two times the height of the vase. Shorter stems look cropped, and much taller ones look unbalanced.
How do you style a vase without flowers?
Choose a vase with a strong shape or surface texture, give it space, place it where side light shows the texture, and pair it with one contrasting object rather than several. Sculptural and decorated vases are designed to be displayed empty.
Can you put water in a decorative ceramic vase?
Not always. Many decorative vases are made for display only and are not watertight. Check the product page, and if you want fresh flowers, use a glass jar or watertight liner inside the vase.
How many vases should you group together?
Three is the most reliable number, in three clearly different heights with one shared colour or material. The exception is a matching pair, such as two ginger jars at each end of a mantelpiece.
What is a ginger jar used for?
Today a ginger jar is a decorative object, displayed with its lid on, usually in pairs on a mantelpiece or sideboard or singly beside a lamp. They were originally used for storing spices, which is where the name comes from.
Where should I put a vase in my living room?
The strongest spots are a console or sideboard, a mantelpiece and a coffee table. Use the tallest vase on the console or mantelpiece and keep anything on the coffee table low enough to see over from the sofa.
Where can I buy decorative vases in the UK?
Mikolia offers a curated collection of decorative vases, including floral and ceramic vases, ginger jars, 3D printed vases, glass bottle vases and handbag vases, online at mikolia.com with UK delivery.
Mikolia is a UK based home décor brand. Alongside vases, the collection includes artificial flowers and plants, soft furnishings, wall art, sculptures and decorative accessories, all at mikolia.com.
