The Best Vases

It may not feel like it on the East Coast yet, but spring is definitely on its way. And that means spring cleaning won’t be far behind. One little shortcut that doesn’t actually involve a bit of scrubbing or organizing: adding in a plant or two can make any space feel a tiny bit better and brighter. Plus, having fresh colorful flowers around always makes me feel like the weather is friendlier than it actually is. In anticipation of the seasons changing, we’ve rounded up our favorite vases, from the simple to the extreme, which will suit any arrangement you bring home.

How This Works

Every week we bring new products into our “test lab” and have the whole office vote on their favorites, based on quality, appearance and price. The winners become the Top Picks of our Annual Guides, which showcase the best products of the year.

Maxwell Ryan, our Founder & CEO, oversees the field, throws in his vote as well, and then demonstrates the favorites in a video so you can see them with your own eyes. Come back every Thursday for a new edition of The Guide right here and in social with Maxwell’s Instagram story!

The geometric trend continued to rule in our Guide test-off this week. While I personally favored the hand thrown Farmhouse vase, and secretly thought that Kailo Chic‘s bright colors would win, the Faceted Porcelain Vase collection from West Elm drew the most votes. With multiple shapes, colors and sizes, this collection mixes and matches better than any other and, paired with great pricing, it was far more an easy, attention getting decorative piece as well as a functional flower repository.

• Shopper’s Guide: Where to Buy Really, Really Big Vases
• How To Arrange a $6 Grocery Store Bouquet
• These 3D Printed Vases Upgrade Plastic Bottles to Art
• On Trend: Oversized Vases Filled with Beautiful Blooms & Branches

For something totally different, check out this single-stem vase that is shaped like the silhouette of a regular vase without the inside. Created by designer Yuko Tokuda, this vase isn’t practical if you want to show off a whole bouquet, but it fits the bill if you’re looking for something unique and contemporary.

This Jonathan Adler vase is like something out of a trippy Art Deco dream. Colorful, patterned and lined with 24-karat gold luster, it screams “statement piece”—minimalists beware, maximalists rejoice.

For more of a traditional porcelain look, this vase from One Kings Lane is a beautiful option. Embellished with a large blue lotus blossom, the design celebrates the centuries-old history of porcelain, which originated in China.

This little vase is a seriously adorable home for a flower or two. Target recommends displaying it in your entryway as a warm welcome to guests, but something this sweet can easily find a, well, home just about anywhere in your space.

Simple and classic, this vase from Farmhouse Pottery is wheel thrown at the company’s studio in Vermont. Perfectly suited for farmhouse/shabby chic decor, the clean style of this vase would complement big, bright flower arrangements.

The father-daughter duo behind Herriott Grace produce some incredible home goods from their Canadian studio, including this sophisticated, industrial vase. It’s what doesn’t meet the eye that’s most impressive here – the textured exterior is made partly with wood ash from a local pizza oven.

From the experts at Heath Ceramics comes the simple and sturdy Multi-Stem Vase, which also happens to be our top pick in the stoneware category. With six different complementary colors to choose from, you can buy just one or mix and match a couple to create a cohesive look in your space.

If it’s color and fun you’re after, these ombre vases from Etsy shop kailochic make nice options — in fact, they’re our top picks in the glass category. Plus, since they’re handmade to order with four different color options, no two vases in this collection are the same.

Shaped like an antique bottle, this opaque glass vase from Terrain is big without being excessive. Because of its size, we recommend displaying tall plants or branches in here — short-stemmed or smaller flowers will easily get overpowered by this vase’s shape.

A step above your average glass vase, this pick from Canvas Home was developed with Simon Moore, a well-known glassblower in the UK. The modern cut glass finish and high-quality materials make this vase a great gift idea, especially for weddings.

For a true heirloom piece, check out this beautiful vase from the experts at Juliska. Designed specifically for larger branch arrangements, this classic-looking vase will lend sophistication.

1. Consider what you have first. Start out by opening your bouquet and laying out all the flowers so you can see what you’re working with.
2. Trim the leaves off your stems. Any leaves that hit the water will rot, making your flowers go bad faster than normal.
3. Build a base with your fuller flowers. These foundational flowers are the ones that take up more space, so you want to get them in first. Cut off the sprigs to arrange them at different levels, creating a “carpeting” effect.
4. Keep building with the larger flowers. Try grouping them by color, and trim the stems so they aren’t all at the same height.
5. Don’t forget final touches! Put your “showstopper” flower in at the end, then fill in any bare spots with filler flowers. Make sure your arrangement looks full from all sides, but still select one area to be the “presentation side.”

• The Best Vases for Making Bodega Flowers Look Good — The Strategist
• Shopping for Vases — The New York Times
• The 5 Vases You Need For Fresh Flowers — Cupcakes & Cashmere
• Flower Arranging by Vase — Goop