We put a lot of things on top of our desks, dining tables, and shelves, whether for functionality or decoration. Over time, we get so used to their presence that they become almost invisible, at least until something changes that shocks us awake to reality. Being mindful of the things around us isn’t so bad a thing, especially when it causes you to stop and think, even for a brief moment. Things that give us pause don’t have to be outlandish, loud, or unsettling. They just have to be unusual enough for our minds to be puzzled and stomped. This tabletop collection does that effectively not with sophisticated mechanisms or intricate designs but my simple shapes and materials create an illusion of something that isn’t what it seems at first glance.
Optical illusions work by making our eyes and our brains disagree with each other. Something that isn’t logical but clearly looks that way could send our heads in a loop. Most of these illusions use diagrams and illustrations on flat paper, but there are times when they can also be made with solid, three-dimensional objects. You just need some creative thinking and a devious use of forms, colors, and mirrors.
The Zig/Zag collection is a pair of table accessories, namely a vase and a tray, that sport the eponymous shape. That alone is enough to call attention to them because of their uncommon design, but that novelty doesn’t last really long. A properly placed mirror on the edge of these objects, however, reveals a whole new dimension you might have not seen before, almost literally. The wave that you see reflected on those discs doesn’t seem to be the same one standing before you, definitely not the same color, at least.
Imagine seeing a reflection that is the same yet slightly different. The shape of the vase or tray is exactly the same, and so are the objects that they hold. Everything’s mirrored perfectly as you would expect, except for the color of the tray. Orange is yellow, black is hot pink, and green is pale peach. It’s almost as if you’re peering into an alternate reality instead of looking at a mirror, but in truth, the design is just messing with your head. The secret is actually simple: The “zig” side in front is painted with a different color from the “zag” behind it. Unless you’re looking at the objects from a specific angle, you wouldn’t even know that they have two different colors. Only that mirror reveals this duality in a way that seems mysterious and magical.
Mirrors are often seen as functional objects, but the Zig/Zag tabletop collection design transforms it into an art object. The vase and the tray don’t lose nor gain any functionality, but they do gain new value as aesthetic pieces that straddle the line between form and function. It’s a simple gimmick that urges you to take another look, perhaps to solve the mystery that you never knew existed. It makes your mind zig-zag between reality and fantasy, making you pause and simply enjoy the moment of being there.
Vases usually take a back seat to the flowers and plants that they house since the main attraction are the flora. Usually they are just functional or if they do have designs, they’re not always that eye-catching and can sometimes be minimalist. But who says you can’t have attractive flowers and also beautiful vases with various colors and patterns?
The Dot Dot Dot Paper Vase is one kind of vase that will catch your attention even before you put flowers or plants in them. From its name of course you can deduct that they are made from paper but it’s not just any ordinary paper but ones that have different colors, patterns, and shapes. It can spark creativity in the “viewer” and can also serve as an interactive canvas together with what you’ll put in it.
Since the material is paper, you will also be able to fold, shape, and decorate it in any way you want. You can use it to either complement the flora that you’ll put in it or provide a startling contrast to add to the visual smorgasbord. Minimalists will probably not be that fond of it because of the vibrant colors and the textured patterns.
The paper vases have different colorways like green, red, violet, yellow, and pink, but always with the white color creating patterns. There are also different shapes like circles, spirals, half moons, and lines. They can add an artful feel to your space aside from serving its function as a vessel.
I rarely display flowers in my space for a lot of reasons. Fresh ones are a bit expensive and hard to come by, my apartment is a bit humid and already overstuffed, I’m too lazy to take care of them and prolong their life, etc. So many excuses but basically I don’t have time or space. Also I don’t have vases or vessels to place them in although it’s pretty easy to find one in the nearest mall and there is no shortage of interestingly designed ones to choose from.
Designers: Naoki Ono and Yuki Yamamoto
If these were produced and made available commercially, I might have actually gotten them. Puddle is a series of unique-looking flower vessels that were designed to look like what it’s name after. I really can’t call them vases since there is a limit to the amount of flowers it can hold. The body is designed to look like different water puddle patterns so the flower you place in (on?) it looks like it’s sprouting from that puddle.
The transparent body which has different organic water puddle shapes has a wall that’s just 1.55 m high, just enough to have a cup of water. There’s a tiny needle in the middle where you can insert a single plant stem. You just have to pour water over the needle to fill the vessel with it and even creating actual puddles while doing so with water spilling over into the ledge. I don’t know how long that single stem of flower can last given the way the vessel is designed.
But it’s a pretty interesting and unique kind of flower vessel to have around your space. You can maybe even fool some guests to thinking that you have spilled some water and there’s a flower that grew out of that. Well, if they don’t really look that closely. Sadly it didn’t get produced for commercial purchase, maybe due to practicality reasosns.
The world is filled with many things that have the potential to become materials for creating products, and yet we still prefer typical materials like plastics, metal, or wood. Not all of these are sustainable, and those that are sustainable aren’t always easily renewable or require a lot of energy to process or recycle. Admittedly, looking for alternative sources of materials isn’t an easy task, but once in a while, we come across a promising solution both in terms of sustainability and beauty. This rope light and Ikebana vase, for example, are already quite striking in their unique shapes, but they are made even more significant by the fact that they are made using a biodegradable material based on one of the most common and simplest kind of plant on the planet: algae.
Designer: Su Yang Choi
One of the problems with supposedly more sustainable or recyclable materials is that the process of making or treating them isn’t always sustainable, requiring more energy and water than usual. In contrast, this algae-based material isn’t treated with harmful chemicals, has reduced energy consumption during manufacturing, and can easily be shaped using heat. Even better, leftover scraps from the production process can be collected and recycled to reduce material waste at every step.
While the material itself is quite impressive, putting it to good use is the real test. For this purpose, a pair of everyday objects were made not just to demonstrate the usability of this algae-based material but also to show off the complicated designs that can be made with it. And nothing can perhaps be more complicated than knots, especially the beautiful traditional Korean knots known as Maedeup.
This knotting is best exemplified in this Ikebana vase that loops around itself a couple of times in an almost random fashion, symbolizing the unpredictability and cyclical nature of life. In addition to this rather intriguing structure, the biodegradable material used here is mixed with coffee grounds, another sustainable material, to give it that earthy brown color.
On the opposite end of the color spectrum is a long string lamp that uses the algae-based material in a four-faced linear braid that wraps around a flexible LED strip. This segmented structure was inspired by Korean stone pagodas that rise in majesty and grandeur, characteristics carried by this string lamp. These two objects, part of the Slow series of artworks, embody the ingenuity and creativity that spring from combining modern material science and traditional craftsmanship to produce breathtaking designs that do no harm to the planet in return.
One of the easiest ways to style your home is with vases, whether it be brimming with fresh, exquisite flowers or serving as ornamental artifacts. Vases lend a beautiful finishing touch to any space. Moreover, these versatile pieces can be showcased in a multitude of ways, be it when artfully grouped on a mantelpiece or a side table or as a captivating centerpiece on a dining table. The best part about incorporating vases is that they seamlessly blend into any room, making it possible to distribute your cherished pieces throughout your entire home.
Creating a beautiful mantel decoration involves arranging an assortment of vases with varying shapes and heights. It is highly recommended to opt for a collection of artisanal, handcrafted ceramic vases that not only serve as an appealing permanent display but are also versatile and can be filled with seasonal blooms, ensuring that the mantel maintains a fresh and attractive look throughout the year.
Craft an eye-catching arrangement in a contemporary living space by adorning the niches with an artisan-crafted ceramic vase in abstract or transparent forms, artistic finishes, and even vibrant hues.
As the entrance foyer forms the initial space that greets any guests, this space forms the most appropriate place for displaying vases that overflow with fresh flowers. In the entryway, a console table or sideboard becomes a vital inclusion that can be embellished with decorative vases and other artful objects, cherished family photographs, and one can introduce a touch of nature through strategically positioned plants.
Exceptional vases should be displayed to enhance empty corners by employing a set of two vases, either with similar or contrasting shapes, and filling them with dried flowers. This method not only adds character to the vacant space but also provides volume and an appealing design element.
Single stems in small vases can be equally as striking as a grand centerpiece and truly highlight the beauty of each bloom. One can employ bud vases for swift and sophisticated table arrangements, ranging from single stems to a combination of petite bouquets. Being lightweight, these vases can be easily relocated when it’s time to serve food, and there’s no need to be concerned about them toppling over due to their size.
Enhancing a center table or dining table with seasonal blooms or artificial flowers is a delightful way to infuse a room with both color and fragrance. Moreover, they serve as ideal accent pieces to adorn and enhance the interior decor. Note that while it’s always pleasant to have a vase on the dining room table when hosting, one can also adorn the sideboard with a few vases.
7. Colorful Vase Display
Vibrant vases provide an enchanting method to showcase lively blooms, crafting a vivid arrangement while also serving as a practical solution for hiding messy stems.
Various vases from the same series, featuring different colors and heights, come together to form an intriguing composition. Their slender necks look elegant but can hold only a limited number of flowers.
When curating the interiors with decorative vases, create rhythm and balance by incorporating vases of varying heights. Consider a single-color palette or opt for pieces with captivating sculptural shapes and textures. Alternatively, one can go for pieces from the same family but in different colors for a cohesive look.
When enhancing your indoor spaces one can effortlessly craft a captivating sculptural centerpiece using just a few leafy branches. In this example, the tall vase has an earthy vibe and it is complemented with wheat spikelets.
Vibrant hand-painted or unique-shaped vases form a beautiful display on the mantel, shelf, or side table. One can mix and match vases in various styles and materials to create an eye-catching arrangement. Whimsical vases can add a cheerful and playful touch to any interior making it a characterful addition.
Go for floor vases in different heights just as in this image. For the spring and summer season, go for ceramics in nature-inspired textures and soothing tones like shades of blue or cream. Additionally, one can mix and match designs of different heights as the tall and short pieces impart a visually pleasing look.
Enhance your open shelf with wall-color-matching vases by placing a vase on a lower shelf to add color and vibrancy to the interiors. For a longer-lasting arrangement, choose dried flowers, especially if the room lacks natural light. Hence one does not have to hide flower vases in a utility cabinet and can display them on open shelves or in a glass-fronted cabinet for an appealing and easily accessible presentation.
These vases feature a three-dimensional pattern on their surfaces, introducing a tactile element to the interior decor. The timeless turquoise blue in a three-dimensional Criss cross design when paired with vibrant green plants, breathes life into the space.
Enhance your wall with multicolored hanging planters, creating a form of wall art that’s ideal for empty walls, adding character to them. The earthy hues of these planters can complement the decor, especially if it follows a nature-inspired color palette.
The lively vase incorporates a design that adds visual appeal to a neutral environment. Make sure it complements the interior’s color palette to craft an energizing presentation. Unfilled vases can form striking arrangements, particularly when they boast charming hues, intricate sculptural shapes, and captivating textures.
This vase brings a touch of biophilia into the interior by incorporating vein-shaped patterns and a tactile quality on the golden vase. Leaf fronds further enhance the overall aesthetic.
Vases can introduce a tactile dimension to the interior, as seen here with the textured appearance of three distinct vase designs. While they exhibit variation, they share a common design theme.
A metal vase not only adds a touch of luxury to the decor but can also function as a decorative object, and by adding branches, you can ensure they remain upright in tall vases.
These ideas will surely help you decorate your home with flower vases, a timeless decor accessory that has remained fashionable for centuries. Whether you’re aiming for a sleek and modern setup or a vintage one, you’ll always find a vase to match your personal style.
Flowers are things of beauty, whether it’s a single stem or a dozen heads. They have a naturally enchanting appearance that almost makes them feel like they come from a different world, one that’s filled with color, magic, and dreams. Those are the things that fairy tales are made of, so it’s not surprising that flowers often play an important role in these literally fantastic stories, even if just to create that mystical atmosphere. It may just be fiction, but you can bring a bit of that magic to your home with this elegant book that transforms into an enchanting pop-up vase that makes it look like your flowers are magically growing from the book, creating an atmosphere of awe and wonder at every turn of the page.
A vase is traditionally made of glass, ceramic, clay, or even plastic, basically any rigid material that creates a stable vessel for flowers to stand in. These are also naturally water-resistant since the plants will need water to survive longer. The last thing you’d expect is for a vase to be made out of paper, let alone one that pops out from a book like one of those kids’ fairy tale books, but that’s exactly the enchanting story that this Flowery Tale vase wants to tell.
When you turn over the cover, you’re immediately greeted by a 3D silhouette of a vase cut out from the pages of the book. Turn the page and you’ll behold yet another vase design, equally graceful and beautiful as the first. A third design awaits you on another page, giving you the power to choose how you’d like the day’s floral arrangement to be. Even better, you can turn the book upside and it will still work as a proper vase, which means you have six possible variations to choose from.
The magic behind it is actually the glass tube that you insert into the spine of the book to hold the flower and the bit of water to keep the plant alive for a few more days. The tube can be inserted right side up or upside down and it will work just fine. All vase designs, however, have a narrow silhouette on the “top” and a larger shape at the “bottom,” so you can choose which side to use depending on the volume of the flowers you intend to place.
The pages of the book are made from 100% natural pulp paper, but you don’t have to fret about accidentally splashing it with water thanks to the “OK Rain Guard” water-resistant coating applied to the material. Whether you want to highlight a single flower or impress with a bouquet, this creative Pop-up Book Vase will set the perfect stage for your design and the epic story that is your life.
Everyone could use some decorative items in their house, whether it’s just a few flowers or jewelry on display. These small items can enhance the ambiance of a space by their mere presence, creating points of visual interest or setting a more welcoming atmosphere in a room. Unfortunately, we can only have so many of these, especially if we’re short on desk or shelf space. What if you could double the enhancing effects of colorful foliage or lustrous accessories without doubling the space they take up? That’s the kind of visual illusion that this rather unique desk accessory creates, strategically using a mirror to make you see double at no additional cost. Even better, the mirror itself is a work of art, making it a beautiful decoration piece even on its own.
Mirrors have long been used not just as functional products but also as decorative items. Some cultures even place greater value on these highly reflective objects, especially because of their psychological effects. Mirrors can play tricks on our eyes and minds, and these can be put to good use. For example, it can make a room look bigger than it really is or, in this case, double the number of beautiful items that your eyes can behold.
The Mirror Vase Stand is a unique, multi-functional object designed to amplify the decorative value of items in front of it by literally doubling them, at least visually speaking. Its base configuration functions as a holder for small items like accessories and jewelry that can potentially create a dazzling show as both objects and light get reflected again and again. In this form, the Mirror Vase Stand makes for a perfect dresser item, holding your jewelry and letting you put them on or take them off with ease.
Remove that stand, however, and you’re greeted with a hollow container that can function as a vase. The small size makes you more intentional about the flowers and stems that you place inside it, but even just a single flower will be doubled thanks to the mirror. What’s more interesting is that the mirror has a profound effect even on the act of pouring water inside the vase, helping you pause and reflect on the process, no pun intended.
But even without flowers or jewelry, the Mirror Vase Stand can proudly stand on its own, pardon the pun. Its simple design is accented by the polyhedron shape of the slanted base, creating a play of shadows through its flat, faceted surfaces. The multipurpose vase’s beauty extends to its very soul, made from environment-friendly bioplastic material that uses rice husks to create unique visual details and a matte texture that enhances the product’s character.
Why settle for any old vase or accessory stand when you can have a beautiful one that can double its aesthetic value at no additional cost. Whether it’s flaunting jewelry, showcasing a single flower, or standing proudly on its own, this multipurpose Mirror Vase Stand is sure to add a touch of elegance and flair to any space, while also doing its part in keeping the planet healthy.
Flower vases are not an uncommon product in interior spaces, but the majority of them are designed for a single style of flower arrangement. This style often involves a handful of flowers surrounded by rich foliage that create an almost bulbous shape, bringing a splash of color to any area. Of course, that isn’t the only way to arrange flowers, but the standard shape and size of vases put a heavier emphasis on the flowers themselves, using leaves as a background and their stems as invisible scaffolding. Sometimes, however, you can have an even more striking presence with just a single flower and a stem with just a few small branches, and this small metal vase provides not only the support but also the flexibility to embrace that minimalist design, using whatever you may have as the base for such an enchanting floral arrangement.
The Japanese Ikebana style of arranging flowers is almost a stark contrast to what most see on vases. Where typical arrangements bundle a bunch of flowers that are mostly in full bloom, Ikebana might sometimes present a bud that slowly opens up over time, much to the viewer’s delight. Just like with many Japanese designs and philosophies, every aspect of the flower comes from a thoughtful decision, including the length of the stem, the cuts made, or the number of pieces used. A regular tall vase that hides those intentional details, however, isn’t cut for such an arrangement, which is where the HANAKUBARI vase comes in.
Named after the Japanese words for “flower” and “twig,” this small metal barrel looks nothing like a vase. Its size can hold just enough water to keep the flower alive, and its short stature means that it will only cover up a few centimeters of the stems, putting the focus on the minimalist arrangement rather than calling attention to itself. Despite its small size, however, it won’t topple over because the center of gravity is maintained by the main body’s 197g weight. There’s also a small 10g adapter that fits inside, allowing the vase to hold thinner stems.
This cute flower vase, however, isn’t meant to stand alone, although it can definitely function that way. Thanks to that diminutive size, you can place the vase on top of or inside anything, turning that thing into an Ikebana vase. You can, for example, put it on a ceramic plate with an oriental design or place it on top of a metal dish to complement the vase’s stainless steel body. You can even place it inside a transparent plastic or glass container to add some visual accent without detracting from the stem’s natural beauty.
Most flower arrangements are made to dazzle and excite, and their large vases are designed to support their weight and even embellish the image. This tiny yet elegant stainless steel vase, in contrast, encourages a more thoughtful, almost meditative, way to make a delightful arrangement, allowing even a singular flower and its stem to enchant the beholder with its natural beauty.
Plastics aren’t the only sources of pollution on our planet. It might come as a surprise, but even biodegradable material can become problems if left unchecked. Food waste, for example, can easily pile up, and not all of them are easily recycled or reused. Considering how many kinds of food use eggs for one reason or another, eggshells are prime examples of materials that become not only literal waste but also wasted potential to turn into something more useful. Fortunately, that are always ways to upcycle some of the most common food waste, and this collection of oddly-shaped accessories and vessels demonstrates one such method that takes advantage of the materials’ own properties to create interesting organic forms to decorate your tables or your shelves.
Technically, egg shells aren’t exactly recyclable. Yes, they are biodegradable and serve as excellent compost for gardens. Other than that, however, there are a few other uses for the remnants of widely-used eggs. Unfortunately, most people, kitchens, and food production processes don’t exactly pay special attention to food waste like eggshells, creating problems down the line, even for recycling plants.
Just like the eggs they contain, eggshells can, fortunately, become ingredients for something greater than themselves. Burn’tShell, for example, is more than just a collection of vases and lamps with weird yet interesting shapes. This family of biodegradable and biomaterial products actually uses that often ignored food waste material, giving eggshells a new purpose and helping alleviate their harmful effects on the planet even by a little bit.
Burn’tShell actually uses two kinds of sustainable materials. The egg shells serve as the ingredient for the bottom pieces, while tapioca starch is used for the shell. What makes the design even more special is that processes use the materials’ innate properties, potential, and performance, leading to self-forming pieces that really capture the eye with their odd curves. That’s the same cause for the blight-like color-changing design that the material naturally produces, adding to the clay-like appearance of these vessels.
The vases and lamps are definitely conversation starters. Light brown hues mixed with patches of white create an earthy tone, while their unconventional curvy shapes convey a unique, organic character. They would definitely be fitting centerpieces for restaurant tables, especially ones where eggs are used for the main course.
When you think of vases, you will most likely imagine a single vessel that is able to hold a bunch of flowers, often with half a dozen stems or so. These tall containers can be made of anything, though ceramic, stone, or metal seem to be the favored materials. Of course, they can actually be made of anything, nor does the concept of a vase dictate that there should be only a single receptacle to hold the stems. There is definitely plenty of room for variety in shapes and design, and this rather unusual vase challenges all those assumptions by using not one, not even two, but seven tubes that may or may not even hold a single stem.
It’s easy not to think of the Bulbous Lotus as anything other than a vase if there aren’t stems sticking out of it. Metal pipes of various heights often conjure up images of musical instruments instead of something like a utilitarian container. Perhaps that is a fitting association, considering how this unique vase produces a melody of a different kind, one that sings of the beauty of nature and the artistry of humans.
The vase is made of two parts, both independent of each other and both beautiful in their own right. The circular base is made of wood, either oak or walnut, and provides the stability that the vase needs, ensuring it stays standing, no matter how large the flowers above might be. It also has holes into which the copper tubes are inserted in your preferred arrangement. After all, there is no hard rule that these cylinders be arranged in a specific order.
The slim copper tubes offer very little room for one or two stems only, pushing you to think about how your flower arrangement will go. Of course, you don’t actually need to even stick anything inside them, leaving some of the pipes empty to give some dramatic effect to the flowers that are there. You don’t even have to match the tube’s height with the stem’s length, giving you complete freedom in how you want to combine different design elements. You are the artist, and this vase is your canvas.
The use of copper for the tubes is by no means accidental. The metallic material has the effect of keeping the water inside from becoming odorous. Copper also discolors over time, and rather than being an eyesore, the unique patinas will give each cylinder a unique appearance and character. Whether you want to fill the corner of the room with flowers or prefer a more minimalist arrangement that would remind people of Zen gardens and bonsai, this distinctive metal and wood vase gives you the artistic freedom and the creative exercise you need to bring some life into your space.
