Styling Essentials: Vases
Today marks the beginning a new monthly series called Styling Essentials. Once a month, I’ll be focusing on a particular interior design styling element, more specifically, I’ll be sharing the exact decor items I source the most and bring to every magazine styling assignment. These are the pieces that many homeowners typically don’t have enough of - or at all. So, I’m here to help you know what to look for, where to find it, and provide tips on how to style it! Think of this new series as a prop stylist at your service!
Our first Styling Essentials lesson will focus on vases. Often I will find that homeowners have an abundance of clear generic glass vases that their last Valentine or birthday flowers came in. What I don’t see as much of are pieces that can be not just functional, but also add a sculptural element to a space even when they aren’t filled with flowers or foliage. In other words, pieces that can stand alone on a bookcase, a side table, or credenza. In this post, I’ve sourced a variety of beautiful vases for you in three categories: Statement, Accent, and Heirloom. Now let’s talk about each of them in more detail!
STATEMENT VASES
What makes a vase a “statement” piece? It can be a striking color or unique design, but it can also simply be its size. Large scale statement vases are perfect for entryways, coffee tables, or dining rooms. They can handle a large floral arrangement or bundles of decorative grasses, or branches. Scale is important when choosing statement pieces. They’re best used in spacious environments with high ceilings, but occasionally you can play with scale and add a large piece to a smaller room for dramatic visual impact!
1 - Scallop Edged Planter: Although not technically a vase, I had to include this amazing planter in the mix - Lay some leafy branches inside for an effortlessly stunning look. The texture and unique shape of the vessel does all the work for you.
2 - White Jar Vase: The shape and size of this simple vase is perfect for a kitchen island or coffee table. Not too big and not too small, and a classic shape that it will go with any interior style.
3 - Earthenware Vase: The varied colors and textures on the surface of this elongated vessel are beautiful. The shape is perfect for displaying decorative grasses, branches, or taller stemmed flowers.
4 - Large Dark Terracotta: This beautiful object could live on its own without any filler and still make an impact! It’s a timeless piece.
5 - Recycled Glass Demijohn: You can never go wrong with a demijohn. The narrow neck helps hold tall heavy branches and the light and airy glass shape compliments foliage beautifully.
6 - Black & White Striped Vase: I like how the stripes on this vase aren’t perfectly straight, which give it a more casual, earthy feel.
7 - Tall Antique Brass Vase: This vase is the perfect height to sit on the floor next to an entryway console or on a large mantle.
8 - Wide Jute Wrapped Vase: The texture of this wrapped vase makes it a unique piece to have in your collection. The sculptural shape is an example of a piece that can stand alone without any florals and still look beautiful in a space.
9 - Matte Gray Tapered Jar: I love the chalky texture and slightly crooked shape of this one. I might need to buy it!
ACCENT VASES
The size and scale of the accent vases below are perfect for bookcases, nightstands, side tables, and bathroom vanities. Because of their smaller size, it’s easier to experiment with new shapes and patterns that you may normally feel wary of on a larger scale. The black and white squiggle vase below is the perfect example of this. I will typically bring 5-7 different accent vases on a shoot because they’re needed in nearly every space. If you’re wanting to build your own collection of pretty vases, I suggest starting here!
1 - Weathered White Stone Vase: This has a perfectly distressed surface and I love the subtle linear facets. The neutral color will work in nearly every space. I use these types of vases for bookcases as they tend to blend in and not detract from the books.
2 - Modern Matte Black: A great mix of modern design and primitive simplicity. It’s a great sculptural piece for a kitchen shelf.
3 - Faceted Brass Vase: I have a similar vase that I use on a guest bath vanity - I fill it with garden roses when they’re in bloom!
4 - Speckled Stoneware Vase: These petite vases have the best speckled glaze. They would be lovely gathered together on a tray.
5 - Rolled Neck Bubble Glass Vase: The texture of this vase makes it feel casual and slightly rustic. If you’re looking for glass vases, keep in mind design elements that make them unique; a rolled neck, interesting shape, etchings or bubbles.
6 - Sculptural Porcelain Vase: The hand molded “petals” on this vase are really unique. This vase doesn’t even need flowers, it’s absolutely stunning!
7 - Modern Round Gold Vase: The perfect mix of Scandinavian simplicity and glamorous elegance. If I were styling a bedroom for a magazine, I might add this to a nightstand filled with roses to represent the “hers'“ side of the bed.
8 - Vanilla Glossed Ceramic Vase: The elongated arms and rustic glaze are reminiscent of ancient Greek and Rome pottery.
9 - Black & White Squiggle Vase: This is a subtle way to incorporate the post-modern look that’s popular right now. Black and white always add a graphic element to a space which I personally love.
HEIRLOOM VASES
These unique vases are either hand-made by independent artisans, or antique and one of a kind. These feel extra special because they have a unique story attached to them, whether they were handmade in Hawaii or Portland, or sourced from France, Asia and beyond, they are great conversation starters and will make an excellent addition to anyone’s collection. Heirloom pieces can range in price from very affordable to investment, but they’re meant to be treasured and hopefully passed down to future generations.
1 - Matte Gray Footed Vase: Made by Notary Ceramics, based in Portland, Oregon. The sculptural shape is incredible on its own.
2 - Antique French Pot: A classic terra cotta color with a charming black squiggle. Style this with wildflowers on a dining table.
3 - Antique Shanxi Pot: The deep black of this pot is so versatile and adds a pop of contrast. I have one on my kitchen island!
4 - Copper & Brass Jug: It’s fairly easy to find great copper pitchers in any antique mall, but the shape of this one is quite unique.
5 - Curvy Speckle Vase: Gorgeous pottery made in small batches in Copenhagen by ceramic artist Robynn Storgaard.
6 - Short Linear Texture Vase: I love the flat shape and unique glazing of this vase. The ridges add a beautiful textural element. This would be lovely with a single bloom or branch as opposed to a bundle of flowers.
7 - Speckled Drip Glaze Vase: Anytime a piece of pottery has beautiful glaze drips, I instantly love it. Handmade in Hawaii!
8 - Matte Black Texture: This truly unique vase reminds me of something you’d find in the natural world, like lava rock, sea urchins, or spiky seed pods. The rough texture would contrast beautifully with fresh flowers, and would look striking with dark hued blooms.
9 - Antique Clay Vessel: Judging by its looks, this vase could be 2,000 years old, or just 50, and that’s what makes it so great. It would be perfect on a kitchen counter filled with beautiful blooms or as a utensil holder for small wooden spoons.
I hope you enjoyed our first Styling Essentials lesson! I’d love to hear your thoughts or answer any questions in the comments below.
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Image Credits in order: Amber Interiors, Athena Calderone, Amber Interiors, and Studio KO
