We don’t always have a vase on hand, which can be a real problem if you get sent flowers unexpectedly. But don’t go running to the shop just yet because we’re helping you out and sharing some of our favourite alternatives to vases for flowers.
Not only are these ideas practical, they also look great, and can give your bouquets a more creative and bohemian appearance. Perfect for matching flowers with different styles of interior!
1. Wine Bottles
If you’ve got an empty wine bottle (or two) lying around, you can upcycle them to create a DIY vase for flowers. This can look really chic, like something you’d see in a traditional Italian restaurant.
Wine bottles are a particularly good fit for longer stemmed flowers. For shorter stems, smaller glass bottles may be a better fit. You could even divide up a larger bouquet to create an elegant centrepiece with different sized bottles.
It’s up to you whether you remove the label – some wine bottle labels can actually look great on display. If you decide not to, it’s simply a matter of washing out the bottle and filling it with clean lukewarm water. However, if the label doesn’t match the aesthetic you’re going for, soak the bottle in room temperature water with baking soda for around half an hour to easily remove the label.
You can customise your ‘vase’ even further by trying things like wrapping the bottle in lace for a cute vintage look, or even dipping it in glitter if you’re looking for something a bit more eye catching and colourful!
2. Pitchers
Your kitchen cupboard is probably full of potential vases! If you own a pitcher, it’s incredibly easy to turn it into a vase – after all, it’s already designed to hold water.
You can achieve a number of different looks depending on the pitcher in question. Traditional glass pitchers are great for creating a more classic look, whilst metal pitchers make for a striking contrast against delicate flowers.
3. Mason Jars
Mason jars are everywhere nowadays and have reached a new peak of popularity – so why not use a spare from your kitchen for flowers? Taller jars are ideal for longer stemmed flowers, but with a bit of strategic stem trimming even small mason jars can be transformed into stylish vases. Perfect for achieving a nostalgic, authentic look.
4. Wellington Boots
For a truly bohemian look, why not pull out your festival wellies from the wardrobe? With wellington boots available in a huge range of colours and patterns, you can create a truly distinctive and unusual vase alternative.
If you’re worried about wrecking them, you can always put a water bottle inside and place the flowers in that. However, wellies are usually watertight and tough enough that you’ll get away with it, and they’ll be fine to fight off another muddy day.
5. Tin Cans
Upcycling is all the rage nowadays, so why not transform boring old tin cans into something special? Give them a good clean and strip off their label, and you’ve got yourself a cute little shabby chic vase.
Due to their size, this is obviously a better choice for shorter stems, and you’ll need to rearrange a bouquet into several cans. If you want to customise cans further, you can spray paint them, or cover them with wrapping paper to match your interiors. Pastel colours look particularly cute, and you could even finish off the look with some pretty ribbons.
6. Watering Cans
For a rustic and bohemian look, put flowers in a watering can. Watering cans are already watertight, so you won’t need to worry about leaks. Plus, with plenty of alternatives to the standard boring watering can available nowadays, it’s easier than ever to find something stylish that won’t look out of place indoors.
7. Teapots
Teapots are another fantastic vase alternative, and make an adorable addition to a vintage styled room. Cute patterned teapots look very pretty when paired with pastel toned blooms or white flowers.
8. Buckets
The perfect choice for a farmhouse style look, buckets have plenty of room for even the biggest bouquets. Although not necessarily a household item, a metallic milk pail can look particularly striking, and really bring out a rustic inspired aesthetic.
9. Drinking Glasses, Teacups & Mugs
For stems that you can cut down to a few inches, drinking glasses, cups, and mugs can be a great last minute saviour. With so many different styles, from brightly coloured beakers to cute patterned mugs, you can easily create an arrangement or centrepiece that’s truly unique.
10. Chemistry Sets
Okay so this probably isn’t something you just have lying around, but if you plan ahead and buy them in advance, test tubes and beakers can make for really unusual vases. They give off a cool alchemical vibe, bringing the magical and mysterious into your home – especially when paired with unusual blooms like rainbow or black roses.
