Flowers can instantly bring warmth to a home, especially in the dregs of winter when the world outside is gray and lifeless. But whether your taste is more cabbage rose or anthurium, you’ll need a vessel to display them in. The best flower vases give your favorite paper-wrapped blooms (or artificial stems) a home and accentuate their beauty; they don’t cover it up. A classic, curving urn can add romance to your bouquet, while an ikebana vase can give your flowers a much-needed structure.
Our Top Picks
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You don’t need to be a professional florist to indulge in the art of flower arranging. In fact, the best flower vases do the heavy lifting for you. From traditional glass cylinders to miniature bud vases, there’s an option for every kind of floral connoisseur. Below, we’re highlighting the nine best flower vases to bring your bouquets to life.
A Midcentury Classic
Designed by Finnish icon Alvar Aalto, this vase has been a staple in midcentury and Scandinavian design for decades. The undulated glass form gives any standard bouquet a sense of movement. Utilize the different compartments to cluster certain stems or petal colors. When not used to hold blooms, it can also double as an ice bucket or produce bowl.
For Spatterware Devotees
If your design style leans more English cottage than modernist, look to a terra-cotta vase to amplify that lived-in, old-world aesthetic. This one from Sharland England boasts a playful cream splatter glaze, similar to antique spatterware (no “L”; yes, they’re two different things) that dates back to the 1700s. The classical urn shape will never look out of place, even when empty.
For the Amateur Florist
If you envy the sculptural forms of professional floral arrangements, choose a vase that achieves a similar look with minimal effort. Fritz Hansen’s Ikebana vase has a removable cover with holes to ensure stems stay upright and in place. The few larger holes are ideal for peonies or branches, anything with a thicker stem, while the smaller ones can easily accommodate the accenting greenery of your choice.
For Wiggly Stems
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Sometimes flowers simply don’t want to cooperate—tulips drop, ranunculus twist and turn, and roses can get weighed down from the layers of petals. This vase from Lulu & Georgia embraces the flowers’ floppy nature and uses it to its advantage. The flared opening allows the stems to lean in an intentional way, not like when you forget to swap the water on day three.
Big Enough for Branches
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Displaying an array of bare branches is the winter aesthetic solution to not having in-season flowers. But standard vases are rarely large enough (or sturdy enough) to support the weight of a literal tree. Enter: the Zara Home ceramics line. The wide clay base keeps the weight evenly distributed, while the opening is big enough to arrange a few different pieces without overcrowding.
An Heirloom-esque Bud Vase
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A small bud vase can elegantly dress up a small nightstand or side table. This one from historic brand Match Pewter offers material diversity from the glass and ceramic forms on this list. The diminutive frame is ideal for smaller blooms, like poppies or a single rose for your beloved.
For the Maximalist
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Carlo Moretti’s Murano glass pieces are second to none in terms of vibrancy. Just take this vase, the playful stripes and warm tones are cut with a band of turquoise (which also serves as a handy water level reminder). The sleek column shape makes this an ideal everyday vase for whatever blooms your weekly haul consists of.
An Abstract Pick
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One step removed from the classic vase shape, this wavy option is small but leaves a distinct impression. The electric cerulean shade complements a variety of flowers. Use as a bud vase for a few larger stems, or arrange a complete bouquet with a mix of greenery that can drape elegantly out of the flared top.
For a Fuller Bouquet
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If you’re in search of a vase that can expertly hold your weekly array of hydrangeas, look to this Ikea pick. The wide base has clever ridges that help keep each stem in place, while the narrower neck ensures that any gaps or bare spots in your arrangement are kept to a minimum.
