Choose a living room flower vase by its spot. Keep it small and low on a centre table so people can see over it, use 24 to 31 cm on a console or TV unit, and group two or three pieces for height. Vase and stems together look right at 1.5 to 2 times the vase height.
By Nitin Shetty, co-founder, Mapland Home Decor (Gurugram store)
Most people pick a vase by colour and then find it too small on the table or too tall beside the TV. In our Gurugram store, a question we often hear is whether a vase will look too small on a surface at home. This guide goes spot by spot. Once you have chosen, see our separate guide to styling ceramic vases at home.
How do I choose the right flower vase for my living room?
Three quick checks do most of the work.
- Height. A common designer rule of thumb is that the vase plus its stems should come to about 1.5 to 2 times the height of the vase itself. A 24 cm vase with a dried stem or two reaches roughly 36 to 48 cm.
- Width of the surface. Let the vase, or the group of vases, take up about a third of the length of the surface, and rarely more than half.
- Where eyes land. Anything on a surface you sit beside should stay below eye level when you are seated. Anything on a surface you walk past can be taller.
Shape comes after size. A flat, slim piece suits a narrow console where a round belly would stick out. A round, squat piece suits a table where people reach for cups. A tall, narrow piece suits a TV unit or a corner where height reads as an accent.
What size flower vase suits each spot in the living room?
Here is the whole room on one page. The heights are rules of thumb, and the Mapland picks use the real sizes from each product page.
| Spot | Vase height and shape | What to put in it | Mapland pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centre table | Low and small, keep the whole arrangement below about 30 cm, round or squat | Cotton stems, small dried flowers, or leave it empty | Roll Ceramic Vase Set of 2 (Rs. 999), Stripe Gourd Vase 15 cm (Rs. 499) |
| Console or entryway | 24 to 31 cm, slim or flat so it does not block the walkway | Dried pampas, a eucalyptus branch, one sculptural stem | Sunburst Ceramic Vase 31 cm (Rs. 2,349), Fluted Ceramic Vase (Rs. 1,869) |
| TV unit | One taller vase at the end, a smaller one nearby, nothing in front of the screen | A single dried stem, or empty | Moai Face Vase Large 25 cm (Rs. 999) with Moai Face Vase 16 cm (Rs. 500) |
| Shelf or bookcase | Mixed heights, 15 to 25 cm, placed between books | Dried grasses, or empty | Twin Wave Ceramic Vase 24 cm (Rs. 1,149) |
| Side table | About 20 cm, glossy or coloured so it reads next to a lamp | One or two stems | Heart Stripe Tumbler Vase 21 cm (Rs. 899) |
| Corner | The tallest piece you have, raised on a stool or plant stand, or a group of two or three | Tall dried grasses or branches | Sunburst 31 cm raised on a stand, or Twin Wave plus Moai Large grouped |
| Window sill | Small, 15 to 20 cm, light enough to move for cleaning | A small bunch of dried flowers | Stripe Gourd Vase 15 cm (Rs. 499) |
Which flower vase is best for a centre table?
The best flower vase for a centre table is a small, low one. Nobody should have to lean around the arrangement to talk across the sofa, so keep the vase and stems below about 30 cm.
The Roll Ceramic Vase Set of 2 (Rs. 999) comes in matte white or lavender, with one vase 14 cm wide and 9 cm tall and the other 16 cm wide and 13 cm tall. With a short cotton stem in the larger one, the group stays well under 30 cm. The Stripe Gourd Vase (Rs. 499) is 15 cm tall and 10 cm long, with vertical stripes, a good single piece for a smaller table.
The Roll set is listed for small dried flowers and dried cotton stems, not for prolonged water contact. For fresh flowers on a centre table, use a plain glass jar from your kitchen.
What flower vase suits a console table or entryway?
A console is where a taller vase belongs, because it does not sit between people. The surface is narrow, so a flat or slim vase keeps the walkway clear.
The Sunburst Ceramic Flower Vase (Rs. 2,349) is our tallest at 31 cm. It is 19 cm long and 8 cm wide, so it is flat and slim, with a raised sunburst relief in a velvety matte finish across the front. It comes in grey, teal or lavender, and a few dried pampas stems or a eucalyptus branch is all it needs. The product page lists it as suitable for dried, faux and fresh-cut stems, and if you use it with water, empty and dry it after use. The Fluted Ceramic Flower Vase (Rs. 1,869) is a similar idea in a different shape: a wide flat disc, 20 cm tall and 23 cm long, with a narrow slit at the top that holds three to five stems. It is listed for dried stems only.
Which vase works on a TV unit?
On a TV unit, protect the screen. Use the ends of the unit, so a taller piece stands beside the TV rather than in front of it.
A good formula is one taller vase and one smaller one in the same colour family. The Moai Face Vase Large (Rs. 999) is 25 cm tall, 10 cm long and has a 5 cm mouth, in matte charcoal black, with an elongated face silhouette. Next to it, the 16 cm Moai Face Vase (Rs. 500) is 8 cm by 8 cm at the base. Both are listed for a single dried stem or to be displayed empty.
What do I put on shelves and bookcases?
On a shelf, vary the heights and leave gaps. Put one taller piece such as the 24 cm Twin Wave Ceramic Flower Vase (Rs. 1,149) at one end and a smaller piece in the middle. The Twin Wave is 24 cm tall and 15 cm long, in matte charcoal black or beige, with two wave shapes rising from one flat base, so a single dried grass stem is enough.
What size vase suits a side table or window sill?
Both are small spots, so choose something near 15 to 21 cm that is narrow and easy to move.
The Heart Stripe Tumbler Vase (Rs. 899) is 21 cm tall and 8 cm in diameter, in glossy white with stripes in pink, red, blue or yellow and small red hearts. The product page lists it as suitable for dried and fresh-cut stems, to be emptied and dried after use, so it suits a few fresh stems on a side table. On a window sill, the 15 cm Stripe Gourd Vase is a compact partner.
Is there a big flower vase for the living room corner?
Our tallest vase is 31 cm, and we do not sell floor vases. For a big flower vase in a living room corner, the honest answer is to raise a tall piece or group several.
- Raise it. Stand a 31 cm vase on a sturdy stool, plant stand or low cabinet Pick a stand wider than the base, because the Sunburst is only 8 cm wide and needs a steady surface.
- Group two or three. Put pieces of different heights together at the corner, for example the Twin Wave at 24 cm, the Moai Large at 25 cm and the Moai at 16 cm.
- Add height with the stems. Long dried grasses or branches take a 31 cm vase to roughly 45 to 60 cm by the 1.5 to 2 times rule.
Which vase for a money plant, and what about fresh flowers?
Check the Safe to use line on the product page before adding water. The Sunburst and the Heart Stripe Tumbler Vase are listed as suitable for fresh-cut stems, to be emptied and dried after use. The Roll, Twin Wave, Moai, Fluted and Stripe Gourd vases are listed for dried stems and are not designed for prolonged water contact.
A money plant cutting in water usually stays for weeks, longer than the empty-and-dry-after-use guidance covers. Use a plain glass jar or bottle for the cutting, and keep the ceramic vases for dried stems or as decor.
Try this first, free
Test the size with things already at home before you buy. It takes five minutes.
- Find a glass bottle or kitchen jar close to the height you are considering, say about 24 cm.
- Put it on the exact spot with a stem or two, then sit where you normally sit. If it blocks a face or the screen, it is too tall. If it vanishes, it is too small.
- For a flat piece such as the Sunburst, cut a paper rectangle 31 cm by 19 cm and lean it against the wall.
What can I spend on a flower vase for the living room?
These bands use today's Mapland prices.
| Budget | What fits | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Under Rs. 500 | Stripe Gourd Vase 15 cm (Rs. 499) | A window sill, a desk or a small centre table |
| Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,500 | Moai Face Vase 16 cm (Rs. 500), Heart Stripe Tumbler Vase (Rs. 899), Moai Face Vase Large (Rs. 999), Roll Ceramic Vase Set of 2 (Rs. 999), Twin Wave Vase (Rs. 1,149) | A TV unit, a shelf, a side table or a centre table |
| Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 3,000 | Fluted Ceramic Flower Vase (Rs. 1,869), Sunburst Ceramic Flower Vase (Rs. 2,349) | A console or entryway, or a statement piece in a corner |
You can see the full range in our Floral Vases collection.
Frequently asked questions
What size flower vase is best for a living room?
It depends on the spot. Keep a centre table vase small and low, below about 30 cm with stems. On a console or TV unit, a vase of 24 to 31 cm works well. As a rule of thumb, a vase with its stems looks right at about 1.5 to 2 times the vase height.
Which flower vase is best for a centre table?
A small, low, squat one. Nobody should have to lean around the arrangement to talk across the sofa. A pair such as the Roll Ceramic Vase Set of 2, with vases 9 cm and 13 cm tall, stays well below eye level when you sit.
What vase should I put on a TV unit?
Use one taller vase at the end of the unit and one smaller one nearby, kept out of the front of the screen. A matte charcoal pair such as the Moai Face Vase Large at 25 cm and the Moai Face Vase at 16 cm stays quiet beside a dark screen.
Do you sell a big flower vase for the living room corner?
Our tallest vase is the Sunburst at 31 cm, and we do not sell floor vases. For a corner, raise a tall piece on a sturdy stool or plant stand, or group two or three vases of different heights together.
Can I put fresh flowers in these vases?
Only where the product page allows it. The Sunburst Ceramic Vase and the Heart Stripe Tumbler Vase are listed as suitable for fresh-cut stems, and you should empty and dry them after use. The others in this guide are listed for dried stems and are not designed for prolonged water contact.
What vase should I use for a money plant?
A plain glass jar or bottle is the practical choice for a money plant cutting that stays in water for weeks. The ceramic vases we sell are better kept for dried stems or displayed empty, apart from the two listed above for fresh-cut stems with short-term water.
Ready to choose? Browse the vases above in our Floral Vases collection, or visit our Gurugram store to see the sizes side by side.