Buying guide

1. Height

Measure the surface first. Bedside tables and dining tables suit pieces under 25cm, because anything taller blocks sightlines. Consoles, hearths and shelves suit 28–35cm. For an empty floor corner or a tall alcove, look at 45cm and above.

A reliable ratio: the tallest stem should sit at roughly one and a half times the height of the vase. Beyond that the arrangement starts to look top-heavy.

2. Neck width

A narrow neck of 6–8cm holds a handful of stems upright without tape or a flower frog, which is why it suits dried grasses and single branches. A 9cm-plus opening lets an arrangement fall naturally and is better for loose, garden-style bunches.

3. Material

• Ceramic and stoneware — opaque, so stems and water lines are hidden. The most forgiving choice. See ceramic vases.
• Glass — translucent, so it lifts darker corners, but requires clean water and tidy stems. See glass vases.
• Hand-thrown clay — warmest in tone and unique in shape, with slight variation between pieces. See handmade vases.
• Stone and polished composite — heaviest and most sculptural, best treated as an object in its own right. See luxury vases.

4. How many pieces

Groups of three read better than pairs: one tall, one low, one small. Leave about a third of the surface empty. If you are starting from nothing, a 30cm ceramic vase, a low bowl and a candle holder will finish most surfaces on their own.

Then look after it

Each material has a different tolerance for water and cleaning products — our care guide covers all of them.