You’ve received a beautiful bouquet – or picked up your favourite blooms from the florist – here we share how to choose the perfect vase for your flowers. A well-chosen vase can elevate a simple floral arrangement into a stunning display. But with so many shapes, materials, and styles available, how do you choose the right one? Whether you’re arranging seasonal flowers for the home, creating a table centerpiece, or displaying garden blooms, selecting the right vase ensures your flowers look their best and last longer.
Here’s how to choose the perfect vase for flower arrangements like a professional.
1. Get the Right Vase Height
The golden rule for vase selection is: your vase should be about half the height of your flowers.
- Tall flowers like lilies (which grow up to 80 cm) need a 40 cm vase.
- Shorter flowers such as grape hyacinths (Muscari) look best in a 7 cm vase.
- For everyday floral arrangements, a 20–25 cm vase is ideal, as most cut flowers from florists are sold at 40–50 cm.
Top Tip: Choosing the right vase height helps prevent flowers from flopping and keeps your bouquet looking balanced.
2. Pick the Right Vase Shape
Different vase shapes complement different flowers. Here’s how to match them:
- Flared vases (wide at the top and bottom) are perfect for natural, airy arrangements.
- Tall, straight-sided vases work well with structured flowers like Liatris and Delphinium.
- Cylindrical and square vases provide a clean, modern look and suit minimalist bouquets.
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Vases that are wider at the bottom and narrower at the top can be difficult, you need flowing plant material such as Eucalyptus or tulips to arch over the rim.
3. Consider the Vase
The material of your vase affects how your flowers are displayed and perceived.
- Matte vases (ceramic, stoneware) provide a natural, neutral feel
- Copper and brass vases suit rich, warm tones like orange, gold, red, and purple.
- Silver and pewter vases pair beautifully with white, cream, pale blue, and pink flowers.
- Glass vases offer timeless elegance but need extra care – regular dishwasher use can make them misty.
Top Tip: IKEA has a small range of vases but they are great value. If they have glass cubes in stock buy one of each size or maybe two or more – ideal as a gift together with a few flowers.
4. Don’t Forget Texture!
Vase texture subtly influences the style of your arrangement.
- Ribbed or pleated vases add interest to a simple bunch of flowers.
- Smooth, glossy vases create an elegant, refined look.
- Rough or grooved textures suit wild, natural bouquets.
Join us for an online vase class
Now that you know how to choose the perfect vase, why not take your skills to the next level?
Join our Foundation Online Vase Class and learn expert techniques for arranging flowers beautifully in any vase.
This course is perfect for beginners and floral enthusiasts looking to master home flower arranging.
By choosing the right vase, you can transform any bouquet into a breathtaking floral display.
