Vases & decorating bowls

Stylish vases for all home aesthetics

There are few things in life that have the near-universal appeal as flowers. From modern and minimalist homes to grand gothic mansions and every style in between, flowers effortlessly enhance the look and feel of the home bringing a bit of nature in for its inhabitants. However, while the flowers themselves are loved by nearly all, the vases we prefer to keep those flowers in can vary quite a bit based on personal taste and existing home decor.

IKEA’s collection includes dozens of decorative vases to suit a wide range of needs and styles. Our ever-updating selection can vary, with options including neutral black, white, brown and clear vases alongside a rainbow of candy-colored hues.

Decorating bowls set boundaries

Whether you’re creating a tablescape and need a centerpiece or are setting a decorative bowl on a hall table as a catch-all, the literal boundaries of the bowl help tie everything together.

Let’s assume that in addition to dinnerware and glassware you want to include candles, decorative gems and stones, potpourri and a framed picture at the center of the table. Adding all of these elements to one of our decorating bowls makes the look more cohesive and intentional, while just placing them at the center of the table can look less polished.

Now let’s imagine you’ve grown tired of sunglasses, loose coins, hair ties and car keys spilling all over the entryway table. Adding a decorating bowl to corral them all helps cut down on the visual clutter, reduce how many things fall off the table and set a limit on how many things can be kept there before it’s time to put some away.

Preparing flowers for decorative vases 

For the perfect vase arrangement, you’ll likely need to trim the stems of the bouquet. To ensure the right length, measure the stems against the vase, cutting them all so they’re slightly longer than the vase from top to bottom. Once all stems are the same length, make a secondary cut at the base at a 45-degree angle; this helps the stem to “drink” more water. Be sure you don’t crush the stem while doing this, using a sharp pair of kitchen scissors or garden shears. You’ll also want to remove any leaves from the stem that will be submerged in water.

You can also cut your stems to slightly different lengths to give blooms more room to breathe and spread out in the vase, creating a fuller look.