A bouquet looks right when it is about one and a half times the height of the vase. A 25 cm vase therefore carries stems of roughly 35 to 40 cm. Shorter and the flowers disappear into the glass; taller and the whole thing tips at the first knock.
The neck decides more than the height
A narrow neck gathers loose stems into a bundle and holds them upright, which is what you want for a handful of tulips or a few branches. A wide neck lets a full bouquet fan out the way the florist tied it. Put a full bouquet in a narrow neck and you crush it; put three stems in a wide one and they slide to the sides and lean.
| Bouquet | Vase height | Neck |
|---|---|---|
| Single branch | 20-30 cm | Narrow, 3-5 cm |
| Small bunch, 5-10 stems | 18-25 cm | Narrow to medium |
| Full florist bouquet | 25-35 cm | Wide, 12 cm and up |
| Dried flowers | Any | Any, no water needed |
Watertight or not
Glazed ceramic and glass hold water. Unglazed earthenware, wood and seamed metal can seep, so use a glass liner or dried stems in those. The product description says which you are looking at - worth checking before a vase leaves a ring on a wooden surface.
Groups of three
Three vases of different heights on one surface read calmer than four of the same. Vary the height clearly - 15, 25 and 35 cm rather than 20, 22 and 25 - so the difference is deliberate rather than accidental. Only one of them needs flowers.
Cleaning the inside
Warm water, a dash of vinegar and a handful of rice, swirled gently. The rice scours residue loose without scratching, which is exactly what a bottle brush cannot reach in a narrow neck. Rinse well afterwards.
Many of our vases are finished by hand, so colour and glaze differ slightly per piece. See also bottles and pots and the rest of our decor.
By Meike van Dongen · Veem, Amsterdam · 24 August 2026