You're Using The Wrong Shape Glass Vase: Here's When To Use A Square One

No matter the season, it's always nice to keep fresh flowers in your home because floral arrangements can be mood boosters and stress reducers. The type of flower you select depends on the vibe you're curating with your home's interiors, but there's another way to customize your arrangement: vase shapes. In different vases, the same bouquet can have a different feel. Round shapes, like jars, can showcase your flowers and help stems stay in place, especially if you're using thinner bouquets and arranging flowers at different angles. But for bulkier, fuller flowers, and those with thicker stems, such as sunflowers, square vases can be the way to go. Depending on the size, a square vase might not be able to fit as many flowers as other options in terms of quantity, but with the right styling and by choosing lush and dramatic flowers, a square vase can make a smaller arrangement appear more voluminous.

Square vases look best when their flowers are packed in, so by filling a cube-shaped vase with as many flowers as you can fit to fill out its width, you'll create an abundant appearance effect, even with fewer flowers. You might need to lay floral tape in a grid shape across the top of the vase to ensure that the heavier flowers stay upright, especially because you might be using flowers with wide blooms and heavy tops. You'll also need the right tool for cutting the flowers to size. It's always good practice to use floral scissors for precise cuts, and for thicker stems, consider using a pruner, which is a must-have tool for gardeners dealing with full plants.

When using a square vase, you'll need to consider balance, both aesthetically and structurally. Place four heavy flowers at each corner of your vase as support to prevent the rest of the bouquet from drooping and ensure even weight distribution. Think about the height of your vase, too. For shorter vases, the stems will need to be cut shorter, but you might be able to use heavier flowers, whereas with a tall vase, you can showcase longer-stemmed flowers, but you don't want to pick ones with blooms so heavy that they'll topple the vase over. Then, place the more dramatic flowers along the edges of the vase to add depth before you start adding in your filler flowers. An option to consider is using roses as your focal point, then including popular filler choices such as baby's breath and small daisies to complete the look.

Finally, it's all about finding the right place for your vase, whether that's at a seasonal event (such as peonies at a summer wedding), on a nightstand, or as a dining table centerpiece that will look good all year long. And you don't have to just stop at one. Fun, eclectic designs can be achieved by using multiple vases of different sizes, heights, materials, and textures, and you can even mix in some vases of other shapes. Ultimately, it all depends on the kind of flowers you choose and the vibe you're looking for when you style vases in your home.