When Helen and I started putting arrangements together for Maison Delicious, we kept coming back to the same lesson: the flowers can be beautiful, but if the proportions of the vase are wrong, the whole thing feels slightly off.
We learnt this by styling pieces around our own home on the Northern Irish coast — moving stems between vases, stepping back, changing our minds and trying again. The good news is that choosing the right vase does not require complicated floristry rules. A few simple checks make most of the difference.
The quick answer
The rule we use is to choose a vase that is roughly one-third to one-half of the finished arrangement’s overall height. A narrower neck holds a small number of stems upright, while a wider opening gives fuller flowers room to spread.
It is only a starting point, not a law. If an arrangement looks right in the room, it is right. And if you would rather skip the measuring and matching altogether, our Ready-Made Arrangements pair the vase and stems for you.
Start with the stems
We begin by measuring the stems from the base to the highest flower or leaf. Most of the faux stems we choose are wired, so they can be bent to reduce the visible height rather than cut immediately.
Tall branches and eucalyptus sprays generally need a taller or heavier vase. Short hydrangeas, peonies and compact blooms tend to look better in squat, rounded vessels where the flowers can sit close to the rim.
We rarely make every stem finish at exactly the same height. A little variation gives an arrangement the looser, gathered-from-the-garden look we prefer.
The opening matters
This is the detail that is easiest to overlook when shopping online. Two vases can be the same height but behave completely differently because of the width of their openings.
- Narrow opening: Holds a few stems together and creates a taller, more upright silhouette.
- Medium opening: Works for most mixed arrangements and allows movement without the stems falling flat.
- Wide opening: Suits hydrangeas, larger flower heads and arrangements intended to spread across a console or dining table.
If the opening is slightly too wide, we cross the wired stems inside the vase or bend their lower sections gently. That gives the arrangement structure without adding visible supports.
Match the vase shape
Squat and rounded vases
These are the shapes we reach for when styling hydrangeas, dahlias, peonies and other full-headed flowers. Their lower centre of gravity also helps balance heavier blooms. Our Darcy Squat Stone Vase is a good example and has become one of the pieces we return to repeatedly.
Tall bottle vases
A tall, narrower bottle shape naturally supports blossom branches, eucalyptus and longer stems. We normally use fewer stems and let the height and movement do the work.
Urns and amphora vases
Handled and classical shapes bring more sculpture to a room. They can carry flowers, but we also like them empty because the silhouette already earns its place on a console or shelf.
Wide statement vases
A broad vase such as the Cassis Aged Stone Vase can take larger flower heads and a more abundant arrangement. We use ours when a display needs enough presence for a hearth, wide console or substantial table.
Check the balance
Artificial branches may be light, but their height creates leverage. A narrow, lightweight vase can become unstable when it holds long sprays or several large flower heads.
For tall arrangements, we favour ceramic and stone-effect vases with a broad base. Smaller stems are much more forgiving and can sit happily in a lighter bud vase or slender bottle.
Before deciding an arrangement is finished, we look at it from the front and the side. If it leans or feels top-heavy, we bend the stems slightly lower or bring the heaviest flower heads towards the centre.
Let one thing lead
At home, we usually let either the vase or the flowers do most of the talking. If both are highly decorative, the finished arrangement can feel busier than we intended.
- Warm autumn flowers sit beautifully with stone, terracotta, ochre and aged ceramic finishes.
- White and cream flowers work with almost anything, including darker or more decorative vessels.
- Green foliage looks particularly calm against neutral stone, antique white and softly coloured glass.
- Highly patterned vases often need a simpler arrangement around them.
You can browse our decorative vases by shape and finish, or begin with the colours in our artificial flowers and faux stems.
How many stems?
There is no single answer because one generous hydrangea head can occupy as much space as several finer stems. Three hydrangeas can fill a rounded vase, while a loose meadow-style arrangement might need a larger number of delicate flowers and foliage sprays.
Helen and I normally start with the largest flowers, then add height and movement with branches or foliage. We turn the vase as we work rather than styling it from only one direction. That stops the back of the arrangement from feeling forgotten.
Our single-stem flower collection lets you create your own combination. If you are uncertain about quantities, one of our photographed arrangements can also provide a useful guide.
Why we made ready-made arrangements
Matching stems and vases online is harder than doing it in person because scale is not always obvious from separate product photographs. We created our Ready-Made Arrangements to remove that guesswork.
Each set combines the vase and stems shown in the photograph as a single product. We style the combination first, work out the quantities and photograph the finished result. The pieces arrive individually packed to travel safely, and the wired stems can be bent back into shape in a minute or two.
It is still your arrangement when it reaches your home. You can copy ours exactly, loosen it, shorten it or move individual stems until it feels right in your room.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put artificial flowers in any vase?
Usually, yes, provided the opening supports the stems and the vase is stable enough for their height. A little internal bending often helps wired stems fit a shorter vessel.
Should an artificial arrangement be taller than its vase?
Usually. The flowers and foliage need enough visible height to create movement, but the exact proportion depends on whether you want a low, full display or something taller and more architectural.
How do you stop artificial flowers falling to the sides?
Use a narrower opening, cross the lower stems inside the vase or bend the wired sections slightly to create resistance. Foliage placed between the flower stems can also add structure.
Do artificial flowers need water?
No. We keep our vases dry unless the individual care instructions say otherwise. That also makes the arrangement easier to move whenever we feel like refreshing the room.
Chris & Helen
Maison Delicious