"Our collection of vases is something I get most excited about," shares Tara, our Creative Director and Founder.

"The creative process behind them – exploring unique forms, playing with textures, and seeing how they transform a space – it's truly inspiring." says Tara.

This passion is infused into every piece, designed to bring that very feeling of creative joy and inspiration into your home.

The thoughtful selection and artistic placement of these elements can truly elevate a space, transforming it from merely functional into a sanctuary of beauty, meaning, and joy. These are the sculptural statements, the silent storytellers, and often, the classic missing piece to elevate any home with texture, beauty, and personality.

This guide is designed to empower you, whether you’re seeking new inspiration or discovering Few & Far for the first time, to cultivate your own captivating spaces, infuse warmth, and spark conversation in every corner of your home.


Why Vases, Pots, and Sculptures are Essential Home Storytellers

In the grand symphony of interior design, vases, pots, and sculptures play a crucial, yet often underestimated, role. They are the elements that transcend basic utility, serving as powerful tools for enhancing aesthetics and injecting personality.

  • Functionality Meets Artistry: While a vase might hold a bouquet, or a pot nurture a plant, many pieces in our collection are sculptures in their own right. They stand alone, their form, texture, and silhouette speaking volumes, demonstrating that even utilitarian objects can be breathtaking works of art. This duality allows them to serve both a practical purpose and a profound artistic one, adding layers of interest to any space.
  • Adding Personality and Character: These are the pieces that truly tell your story. Unlike larger furniture items, vases, pots, and sculptures are often collected over time, representing travels, passions, or meaningful moments. They become tangible reflections of who you are, creating a home that feels deeply personal and authentic, a far cry from a mere showroom. They showcase how these pieces contribute texture, introduce captivating forms, and infuse your rooms with distinct personality. Even when standing empty, they act as sculptural art, adding visual intrigue and a sophisticated touch that commands attention and conversation.
  • Creating Focal Points and Visual Interest: Strategically placed, a unique vase, a commanding pot, or an intriguing sculpture can instantly draw the eye, serving as a powerful focal point within a room. They break up monotonous surfaces, add visual weight where needed, and introduce unexpected shapes that spark curiosity and encourage conversation.
  • Reflecting Your Journey and Cultural Influences: At Few & Far, many of our pieces carry the whispers of distant lands and ancient craftsmanship. Incorporating a hand-carved wooden sculpture from India or a textured ceramic pot inspired by Mediterranean aesthetics allows you to weave your personal travels, dreams, and appreciation for global cultures directly into your home’s narrative. Each piece becomes a mini-portal, transporting you to places, both real and imagined.

Understanding Your Pieces: The Language of Form, Texture, and Materiality

Before you begin styling, truly understanding the inherent qualities of your vases, pots, and sculptures is essential. Each possesses a unique language conveyed through its form, texture, and the very material from which it is crafted.

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Form (Shape and Silhouette): The silhouette of a piece can dramatically influence the mood it evokes.

Sleek, Minimalist Forms: Think clean lines, geometric shapes, and smooth finishes. These pieces often lend themselves to modern, contemporary, or minimalist aesthetics, exuding a sense of calm and order. They allow accompanying elements or even negative space to be the star.

Organic, Irregular Shapes: Inspired by nature, these forms might be asymmetrical, free-flowing, or subtly imperfect. They bring a softness, a bohemian touch, or a connection to the natural world, ideal for rustic, coastal, or wabi-sabi inspired interiors.

Angular, Bold Geometrics: Pieces with sharp lines, defined corners, and strong angles make a contemporary statement. They add a sense of drama, structure, and modernity, perfect for creating dynamic visual tension.

Traditional/Classical Forms: Rooted in history, these often symmetrical shapes with classic proportions bring a timeless elegance and formal presence, suitable for traditional, neoclassical, or eclectic spaces. Understanding the inherent energy of a form allows you to choose pieces that harmonise with your desired room aesthetic or provide an intentional, compelling contrast.

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Texture: Texture is the unsung hero of interior design, adding tactile richness and visual depth. It’s what makes you want to reach out and touch a piece.

Smooth & Polished: Think glazed ceramics, polished metals, or refined glass. These textures reflect light, add a sense of sophistication, and can create a sleek, contemporary feel.

Rough & Matte: Raw terracotta, unglazed stoneware, distressed wood, or unfinished stone. These textures absorb light, create a grounded, earthy feel, and add a sense of authenticity and warmth, perfect for rustic or bohemian schemes.

Intricate & Detailed: Carved wood, embossed metal, or finely sculpted ceramic. These pieces draw the eye in, inviting closer inspection and adding a layer of intricate beauty and craftsmanship.

Porous & Natural: The subtle grain of sandstone, the inherent imperfections of river stone. These textures connect us directly to nature, offering a calming, organic presence. Layering various textures within a single vignette creates a sophisticated and engaging display, preventing it from feeling flat or one-dimensional.

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Materiality: The material itself speaks volumes about a piece's origin, durability, and aesthetic.

Ceramic & Stoneware: Versatile, offering a range from smooth glazed finishes to rough, earthy textures. They bring an artisanal, handcrafted feel.

Terracotta: Inherently warm, rustic, and porous, often associated with Mediterranean or bohemian styles.

Glass: Adds lightness, transparency, and a modern touch. It can reflect light beautifully and act as a subtle filler.

Metal (Brass, Iron, Bronze, Chrome): Gleaming brass offers warmth and luxury; dark iron brings an industrial or grounded feel; aged bronze provides a classic, timeless patina. Subtle hints of chrome speak to a modernist scheme, sleek forms in reflective finishes that convey contemporary design while maintaining a timeless presence. Metals add contrast and strength.

Wood: From light, natural timber to dark, rich mahogany, wood brings warmth, organic appeal, and a connection to nature. Carved woods add artistry and cultural depth.

Stone (Marble, Travertine, Sandstone): Cool, elegant, and timeless. Stone pieces add a sense of solidity, sophistication, and a connection to natural elements.

Resin: Offers modern versatility, allowing for unique shapes and finishes, often mimicking natural materials but with contemporary flair. Understanding these material characteristics helps you choose pieces that align with your overall design vision and add genuine layers to your home’s character.


Gonia's Principles for Effortlessly Curated Displays

Our Senior Interior Designer & Stylist, Gonia Chylinska, offers five foundational principles that transform mere arrangements into captivating compositions. These rules, stemming from her artistic background and design expertise, are perfectly applied when styling your collection of vases, pots, and sculptures:

  1. Start with Balance and Breathing Space: This is Gonia's cornerstone. Resist the temptation to overcrowd. Just as a good conversation requires pauses, a beautiful display needs visual breaks. Intentionally leave room around each object so the eye can rest, and each piece has space to speak. This ensures individual forms are celebrated, preventing visual noise and allowing the beauty of each element to truly resonate.

  2. Create Height and Interest: To avoid a flat, monotonous display, Gonia advocates for dynamic variation. Employ stacks of art books as clever pedestals, elevating smaller sculptural objects or brass candle stands. Introduce varying heights with different sized vases, creating a rhythmic visual pathway that draws the eye across your arrangement. This thoughtful interplay of dimensions adds intrigue and prevents the display from feeling static.

  3. Mix Textures and Tones: Engage the senses by artfully combining contrasting textures. Imagine the smooth coolness of hand-thrown ceramics against the rich patina of warm metals, or the rustic charm of aged wood juxtaposed with the clarity of glass. Gonia stresses maintaining cohesion by adhering to a curated colour palette – think nuanced tonal harmony (variations within a similar colour family) rather than exact, matchy-matchy tones. This layering adds richness and sophistication.

  4. Layer Vintage Treasures: Few & Far prides itself on pieces with a past, and Gonia champions their inclusion. A well-worn ceramic vessel, a hand-made box carrying whispers of history, or a unique figurine collected on your travels – these objects infuse your shelves with soul and personal narrative. Layering these unique finds amongst your newer pieces elevates the overall look, adding a timeless character that transcends fleeting trends and tells a deeply personal story.

  5. Think Sculpturally: Gonia encourages viewing each styling vignette as a miniature three-dimensional composition, a canvas upon which you arrange form and space. Utilise negative space deliberately to define objects, vary heights to create visual interest, and layer pieces to build depth and intrigue. Prop a smaller sculpture in front of a larger vase, or lean a unique pot against a stack of books. This sculptural approach transforms a flat surface into a dynamic and endlessly engaging visual landscape, inviting the eye to embark on a journey of exploration, tracing the intricate relationships between the diverse forms and textures you’ve so carefully arranged.

Styling by Location: Placing Your Treasures Thoughtfully

The beauty of vases, pots, and sculptures lies in their versatility. They can enhance virtually any space, but mindful placement unlocks their full potential:

Dining Tables: As centrepieces, they anchor the dining experience. A low, wide bowl filled with seasonal florals or a cluster of varied height candlesticks creates an inviting atmosphere without obstructing conversation. For larger tables, a single commanding sculpture or a group of three varying forms can make a grand statement.

Coffee Tables: These are prime real estate for curated vignettes. Opt for lower, more intimate arrangements. A sculptural vase, a textured pot with a trailing plant, or a small abstract sculpture can create a captivating moment. Combine with books, a beautiful tray, or a unique coaster to complete the look.

Sideboards & Consoles: These surfaces often serve as a welcome point or a transition zone. Use taller vases or a pair of commanding sculptures to anchor the ends, or create an asymmetrical arrangement that draws the eye across the length of the furniture. Lean a piece of art behind a vase to add depth.

Shelves & Bookcases: As discussed in our previous blog, integrating these pieces with books is an art form. Use them to break up rows of books, create visual anchors within larger sections, or add pops of colour and texture. A sculptural vase can act as a bookend, or a small pot can be placed on a stack of horizontal books to create a visual break.

Entryways: Make a grand first impression. A large, commanding floor vase or a sculptural piece on a console table can instantly set the tone for your home, hinting at the style that awaits within.

Bedside Tables: Here, smaller, more serene pieces work best. A delicate vase with a single bloom, a calming ceramic pot, or a small, abstract sculpture can contribute to a peaceful and personal retreat.

Outdoor Spaces: Extend your interior style outdoors with weather-resistant pots and larger sculptural elements. Terracotta, concrete, or robust metal pots can house lush plants, while outdoor sculptures can become focal points in your garden or on your patio, blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor living.


Styling by Purpose

Beyond their location, consider how you intend for your pieces to function, or simply exist:

  • With Florals: The classic purpose of a vase! "A beautiful vase can be just as important as the flowers themselves," says Caroline from Flowers on the Mill, beautifully encapsulating this synergy. Whether showcasing fresh, seasonal blooms or our realistic faux florals (perfect for lasting beauty and low maintenance), consider the scale and how the floral arrangement matches back to the vase. Our new vases offer the perfect pieces for refreshing a space, breathing new life into a room, or simply sparking a creative outlet in your home's narrative.
  • As Standalone Sculptures: Many vases and pots, particularly those with unique forms or textures, are compelling enough to stand alone. They require no adornment, their inherent artistry speaking for itself. Place them where their silhouette can be appreciated against a clear backdrop.
  • Functional Use: Think beyond florals. A stylish pot can hold kitchen utensils, art supplies, or even serve as a chic catch-all on an entryway table. The beauty lies in elevating the everyday.
  • Clustering & Grouping: The "rule of odd numbers" often applies here – grouping items in threes or fives tends to be more visually appealing. Mix varying heights, textures, and forms within your cluster to create a cohesive yet dynamic arrangement. Ensure there's enough space around the cluster for it to be appreciated.

Choosing the Right Piece: A Guide to Few & Far's New Collection

We believe that the right piece will find you, not the other way around. Our newly launched collection of vases embodies this philosophy, offering a diverse array of forms, textures, and materials to help you discover the perfect elements for your home.

You'll find organic ceramic vases that whisper of handcrafted artistry, alongside striking metal sculptures that demand attention. Our collection spans styles from minimalist and modern to bold and eclectic, ensuring there’s a piece that resonates with your personal aesthetic.

Each item in this launch is chosen for its inherent beauty, its quality craftsmanship, and its ability to add a layer of meaning and personality to your interior. We travel far and wide to bring you pieces that carry a story, ensuring that when you choose a vase from Few & Far, you're not just acquiring an object, but a piece of art that enriches your home's narrative. These pieces are designed to bring not just immediate delight, but also lasting joy and a continuous source of inspiration for years to come.


Maintenance & Care: Preserving Your Pieces

To ensure your cherished vases, pots, and sculptures continue to bring joy and beauty to your home for years to come, mindful care is essential:

Ceramics/Unglazed Pots: Avoid harsh chemicals. Wipe gently with a soft, damp cloth. For unglazed terracotta, allow to dry completely between uses if holding water.

Glass: Clean with a glass cleaner and a lint-free cloth for a streak-free shine.

Metals (Brass, Iron, Bronze): Polish brass regularly with a suitable brass cleaner to maintain its lustre. Iron pieces may require occasional wiping with a dry cloth to prevent rust if exposed to moisture.

Stone (Marble, Travertine, Sandstone): Wipe with a soft, damp cloth. Avoid acidic cleaners which can etch the surface. For porous stone, use a mild, pH-neutral cleaner.

Wood: Dust regularly with a soft cloth. Avoid excessive moisture. Use a wood conditioner periodically to maintain its finish.

Your Invitation to Curate: Begin Your Styling Journey

A thoughtfully chosen and artfully styled vase has the power to transform a room, creating moments of beauty and conversation that truly reflect your personal style. By understanding the language of form, texture, and material, and by applying Gonia’s rules of styling, you can unlock the full potential of these often-overlooked decorative elements.

Explore our ever-evolving collection at Few & Far, where new designs and unique finds arrive frequently. 

Discover the perfect stage for your treasured objects and begin curating a space that truly reflects your individual style and the beautiful narrative of your life.

If you're still unsure or need a little extra support bringing your vision to life, our incredible team of Interior Designers and Stylists are here to help. Feel free to reach out and connect with us in-store, or explore our Design Services.


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