In search of the perfect Vase
A few weeks ago my beloved blue Staffordshire pottery vase (a charity shop find) fell victim to the shudders of an overactive spin cycle on my washing machine, crashing to the floor (despite there being a worktop between the machine and it) and smashing into many pieces. It has featured in many of my flower posts, and I miss it.
(you can see how upset I was when it broke in that I couldn’t even focus the camera!)
Since then, I’ve thought a lot about vases, bought a few, and coveted many more, so I thought I’d share my findings with you.
What makes the perfect vase?
Well, that’s a tricky question, and the answer is there isn’t one perfect vase for all bouquets of types of flowers. But I have a few recommendations:
- Glass vases are best for flowers of a single type, that have a straight single stem, such as daffodils or tulips, otherwise stick to ceramic or opaque vases, so you don’t detract the focus away from the flowers. I’m using this green glass vase from Wayfair for an almighty bunch of narcissi (only £3 from Aldi – bargain):
- You will need at least two size vases – I’ve found that a vase with a height of 24cm is the best for bouquets from the florists – such as this gorgeous Goddess bouquet from Appleyard London from their Valentine’s Day Flowers (if you need to drop some hints, you might like to add that you can get 33% off using the code BLOG33). I’ve had some truly wonderful luxury bouquets from Appleyard and this size vase always fits them just right.
- a smaller vase around 22cm height good for more informal bouquets, such as bunches of anemones or carnations – or, more narcissi (that bunch was so big I just had to split it). But don’t just stick to vases, a jug of this height also works well:
What’s hot in the shops?
Here are my top picks of what vases are currently available in the shops:
I’m seriously coveting these vases from IKEA, which are perfect for single stem arrangements, and wouldn’t the pink ‘Formlig‘ one be perfect in Pantone Colour of the Year 2016 interiors?
Not one but two vases from the Living by Christiane Lemieux range at House of Fraser are currently on my vase wish list. I wasn’t surprised to learn that designer Christiane Lemieux studied art history before turning to fashion and design, as I can definitely see modernist influences in her designs, and maybe that’s why I love them so much:
The Geo vase (above left) costs £25, and the Abacus Ceramic Grey Geometric vase (above right) is £30, but there is currently a BYGOF offer, so you could snaffle both for £30.
have an amazing selection of vases at the moment, and if you are a fan of mid-century modern or retro style then you’ll definitely find something you fancy here. I’m particularly liking the ‘Pippin’ (below, far right) which also comes in a blue colourway.
Finally, don’t forget the charity shops – great places to find vases. I’m still looking for a pottery one just like my lost blue vase, but in the meantime I picked up this heavy pressed glass one for £2.99. A soak in some bleach and it came up crystal clear. I think old fashioned vases such as these are perfect for old fashioned flowers, such as, *ahem, daffs:
Thanks to Appleyard London for sending me a Goddess Bouquet from their Valentine’s Day Flowers range. Don’t forget entering code BLOG33 at checkout will get you 33% off luxury bouquets (excluding their Flowers by Post range).
Linking up with
Twitter:
on February 7, 2016 at 5:29 pm
Ahhh lovely post Molly. A girl can never have enough flowers in my opinion. Love your selection of vases particularly the Christian Lemieux.
Thank you Karen! I do love that Christiane Lemiux range, not just the vases, I keep eyeing different pieces up when in House of Fraser 🙂
Twitter:
on February 7, 2016 at 10:27 pm
I love vases, I have a collection of little coloured glass bud vases (all from charity shops) and a lot of jugs. Clear glass ones are always lovely but I have such hard water I find they often end up with marks on them, which is irritating. Sorry about your gorgeous Staffordshire one 🙁
Your bud vases sound lovely – I need to find the time to go charity shopping like I used to. Shame about the hard water, it’s soft where I am but when I lived in Dorset it was so hard so I feel your pain.
I’ve JUST started eyeing up vases and the like. I have a Habitat just down the road from me and I am always ogling their mcm style vases. Such fab colours! Lovely choices here Molly. Oh and I ordered a delivery from Appleyard only last week. For a friend of mine who’d just had a baby. She loved them!
Lucky you having a Habitat nearby. I sold all my vases (apart from my blue one) in a car boot when I moved into a studio flat, now that I’m back in a bigger one I have to start building up again. Delighted to hear you ordered from Appleyard – they really are my favourite to order from online.
Twitter:
on February 8, 2016 at 8:40 pm
I love the two tone vases from ikea! I love having flowers around the house, in fact I’m a bit addicted and always find you need a different vase for each kind of flower, I like jugs for more organic wilder flowers and glass for beautiful sculptural stems like tulips x
I’ll be buying those IKEA vases next time I’m there! I share your addiction 🙂
Twitter:
on February 9, 2016 at 3:53 pm
A lovely round-up Molly. I’m always on the hunt for the perfect vase and usually end up filling them all with water when I get flowers because I can’t judge which one fits the bouquet. Now I know. x
Thank Carole! I must admit I did the same until I got the measuring tape out and decided to sort it for once and for all 🙂
Twitter:
on February 10, 2016 at 1:31 pm
I love that pink Ikea one – would never in a million years have guessed it was Ikea! I definitely need to invest in some new vases instead of sticking to the same blue jug every time.
Nothing wrong to sticking to a favourite – that’s what I did till it broke 🙂 But now it seems no stopping me as I’ve just bought another today, eek (and will be snapping up that pink one next time I’m in IKEA 😉
Twitter:
on February 10, 2016 at 1:35 pm
Oh that was a beautiful vase, I love this post because I can hand on heart say I think I have only ever bought one vase and every time I buy flowers I get so angry and end up sticking them in jugs, bottles what ever I can find and then get annoyed they ruin the flowers.
I want those Ikea ones, they are so pretty xx
Maybe I’ll have inspired you to buy some more (only so I don’t feel so bad about my vase-buying habit)!
Twitter:
on February 10, 2016 at 7:03 pm
I love the geometric vases, they are so eye-catching! I have a bit of a vase obsession but I don’t think you can really ever have enough can you?!
Nope, you can never have too many Sue (only saying that as I bought another today!)
Twitter:
on February 10, 2016 at 8:00 pm
Do you know, I have hardly any vases, yet they are so lovely – whether they have flowers in them or not! I need to get some more, they look great grouped together. I really like the selection you have presented here 🙂
Thanks Antonia x
Twitter:
on February 10, 2016 at 9:15 pm
I have a bit of an addiction to vases, them and baking tins ha! I can never resist and have all sorts of different ones, I especially like the two from The House of Fraser, they are lovely xx
Some gorgeous vases here! I love that pressed glass one, and the geo vase is fab! I really want to get some new vases this year, all ours are plain so it would be nice to have something a bit more eyecatching. x #HomeEtc
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Twitter:
on February 11, 2016 at 11:33 am
Oh my goodness, I would have been devastated about the vase, poor you 🙁 This is actually a really great post for me, as I’m not ‘good’ with vases and finding the right sized one for the right flowers. I’ve bookmarked this for future reference as my daffs are currently residing in a pint glass and this needs to change! #homeetc
Twitter:
on February 12, 2016 at 9:28 pm
What a gorgeous selection, I’m a big fan of vases and you can’t have enough as far as I’m concerned. I hope you manage to find a replacement for your broken one soon X
Twitter:
on February 13, 2016 at 12:10 am
You must have been totally devastated about that case breaking. It was gorgeous. There’s so many fab vases available now, I wish I cups have so many. My favourite at the moment is good old fashioned glass milk bottles. We have small ones and a large one and it gives a lovely rustic look with flowers in them. Kat x #homeetc
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Twitter:
on February 16, 2016 at 1:58 pm
I have such a thing for vases – I agree with the others, you can’t have enough! Some flowers just work so well and some don’t in vases…Love a nice collection! Thanks for linking up 🙂 Jess xx
#HomeEtc
Twitter:
on February 16, 2016 at 3:46 pm
I LOVE that glass Wayfair one!! Love it — the shape almost looks like an old fashioned milk churn! I agree — you can ever have too many vases. I’ve got loads. I just need somewhere to PUT them all!!! 😉 Thanks so much for linking up with us 🙂 #HomeEtc
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Twitter:
on February 18, 2016 at 8:19 pm
Love the Wayfair case, they sell some lovely things. Also a fan of daffs, such an affordable way to brighten your home xxx
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Twitter:
on February 24, 2016 at 1:08 pm
Have you ever tried Country Baskets? I got plenty of vases for 2 or 3 quid in their last Summer sale. And they’re not cheap quality either!
I’m obsessed with vases though, loved this post 🙂 x