A vase sitting on a shelf or a table does something quietly important in a room — it introduces height, shape, and material in a single object. The best ones work just as well empty as they do full. Here's how to think about choosing and styling a vase for your home.
Shape and proportion matter more than you think
The silhouette of a vase determines what you can put in it and how it reads in a space. A tall, narrow vase holds long stems well and creates vertical interest. A wide-necked, lower vase suits bunched flowers and shorter stems. A round-bodied vase with a narrow neck — like a classic bottle shape — holds a single stem beautifully and looks considered with nothing in it at all.
Scale matters too. A small vase on a large surface gets lost. A large vase on a narrow shelf competes with everything around it. Match the scale of the vase to the surface and the room.
The vase as a centrepiece: the Fish Gluggle Jug
One of the most distinctive pieces in the Kiki Bazaar range is the Fish Gluggle Jug — a handcrafted ceramic fish jug from Portugal that doubles beautifully as a vase. The wide opening at the tail end holds stems well, and the fish shape makes it a striking display object in its own right. Available in more than eleven colours, it's one of those pieces that looks good with or without flowers.
What to put in a vase
Fresh flowers are the obvious choice, but they're not the only one:
- Dried stems: Pampas grass, dried protea, cotton stems, and seed heads last indefinitely and work well in any season.
- Branches: A branch cut from a garden or picked up on a walk — bare or leafy — adds organic scale and movement.
- Eucalyptus: Long-lasting, low-maintenance, and fragrant. Works in almost any vase.
- Nothing: A well-chosen vase on a shelf or a mantelpiece needs no filling. Let the shape and material do the work.
Grouping vases
A single vase is a statement. A group of vases is a collection. When grouping, vary the heights and widths — three vases all the same size looks like a set; three at different heights looks curated. Odd numbers (three or five) tend to read more naturally than even groupings. You can mix materials — ceramic with glass, for example — as long as the colour palette holds them together.
Ceramic vs glass
Ceramic vases hide the stems and the water, which suits arrangements where the stems are untidy or the water discoloured. Glass vases show everything — which works beautifully when the stems are part of the display (think tulips or ranunculus) and requires more maintenance to keep the water clean.
Frequently asked questions
Can a jug be used as a vase?
Absolutely. The Fish Gluggle Jug from Portugal is a popular choice at Kiki Bazaar for exactly this purpose. Any jug with a wide enough opening works well for loose flower arrangements.
How do I keep flowers fresher for longer in a ceramic vase?
Change the water every two days, trim the stems at an angle each time, and keep the vase away from direct sun and heat sources. Remove any leaves that would sit below the waterline.
What should I put in a vase if I don't have fresh flowers?
Dried stems, branches, eucalyptus, pampas grass or seed heads all work well and require no maintenance. Or leave it empty — a beautiful vase is decorative on its own.
Shop vases and jugs
Explore the full range of jugs and vases at Kiki Bazaar, including the Fish Gluggle Jug from Portugal and handcrafted ceramics from Spain.
