Anyone who hasn't wanted a beautiful vase on their table every day, filled with fresh flowers, or even a lovely bunch of dried flowers or a stunning pampas grass bouquet, raise your hand. Mainly used to hold flowers, a vase can also stand alone as a simple decorative object, whether placed indoors or outdoors in a garden. In porcelain, ceramic, glass or natural materials (terracotta, pottery, covered in jute or rattan), the vase has broken free of its simple role as a container to become a decorative object in its own right. A demijohn, a terracotta jar, a Greek vase shaped like an amphora with ancient touches or resolutely modern with clean lines, let the vase in, in all its forms and materials, into your home.
From the demijohn to the Greek vase, from the Ming vase to the modern designer vase: the journey of a decorative object!
A decorative object and ornament par excellence, just like the mirror, the vase is that object of desire we've all seen in our history books: who doesn't remember learning about ancient Greece through the study of its vases or its clay amphorae decorated with mythological motifs? Who hasn't come to know China through the famous vases of the Ming dynasty. And who doesn't remember the story of the famous vase of Soissons... As you'll have gathered, the vase has quite a history! Since these historical episodes, the vase has come a long way, and from a simple amphora, it has become an essential feature of our decor... And, in a way, an art of ornamentation. Although originally designed to carry water or even wine, it wasn't until the 6th century AD that the vase began to be used to hold bunches of flowers, as can be seen in still-life paintings from that period. A practical object, it then became an ornamental one, to our great delight! Since that time, we've known how to work with materials, colours and shapes to give it pride of place in our modern interiors! And since the rise of contemporary design, the vase no longer serves only to hold flowers: through its sometimes bold, complex or clean-lined shapes, it can stand out simply through its presence, like a genuine work of art...
A ceramic or porcelain vase, a glass or crystal vase, a terracotta vase, or why not cardboard! Which vase should you choose for your decor?
A great many materials are now used in the making of a vase: terracotta, glass, ceramic, metal, clay, porcelain, cardboard, or even natural materials woven around a vase (jute, rattan, banana fibre...), and there's bound to be a vase made for your home. If you love a boho feel, terracotta and natural material vases are made for you. If your home has more of a "vintage" style, you'll definitely find coloured porcelain vases with retro, pop touches. Do you love an industrial feel that showcases materials such as metal and wood? A glass vase will fit perfectly with your decor. Have you gone for Art Deco-inspired decor? Brass, with its golden sheen, will look wonderful on a vase. Would you like to follow current trends that celebrate DIY and recyclable materials? Why not give in to the appeal of cardboard vases and their delicate folded shapes, perfect for holding dried flowers?
A white, beige, terracotta, black, gold, blue or simply clear vase? Which colour should you choose for your vase?
It would be hard to say that the atmosphere of your house or flat will adapt to a vase... In fact, you'll choose the shape and, above all, the colour of a vase based on what you already have at home in terms of decor. If you've gone for a very natural look, with boho or jungle touches, giving pride of place to green plants sometimes adorned with lovely woven baskets: white, terracotta or sienna will be colours to favour. For a more industrial feel, a black or glass vase is a must. A fan of vintage or Art Deco styles: gold, blue or shades of red or yellow will be more than welcome to add a twist to your decor. Do you love cosy or Scandi styles, where rugs and beautiful, comfortable armchairs are key to your decor? White, beige or brown will be your go-to colours!
Tall, long, round, wide, small or narrow: which vase shape should you choose depending on your bouquet?
If you have very clear tastes when it comes to decor, you may also love certain types of flowers or bouquets: fresh round bouquets, long-stemmed flowers, pampas grass, feathers or dried flowers, choose the right shape for your vase! Certain shapes can be favoured to hold our favourite flowers and show them off perfectly:
• Tall vases (round, cylindrical, square or rectangular) suit flowers with long stems (pampas grass, gladioli...)
• "Ball" vases are perfect for compact, round bouquets (hydrangeas, peonies, lily of the valley...)
• Narrow-necked vases are best for thin stems: they can be kept aside for a single rose and multiplied as individual bud vases...
