Decorating Ideas for Tall Clear Glass Vases

Seasonal Mantle Display

• Tall, clear glass vases neatly display seasonal elements on a mantle or shelf. Flank both ends of a mantle with vase clusters, and fill the vases with something that defines the season or a holiday to you. Springtime vases can be filled with seeds, vintage seed envelopes or collectible glass Easter eggs, and a summer display can show off beach sand, live flowers or items inspired by a family member whose birthday falls in the summer months. Autumn displays can focus on Halloween, harvest and autumn leaves, and a winter display of antique Christmas ornaments or Kwanza-related items will end the year with a “wow.”

Kitchen Cabinet Tops

• Modern kitchens often include a space above hung cabinetry ideal for display. Clear, tall glass vases create a fresh look when lit from the behind with rope lighting. Fill with kitchen-related items. Small vintage kitchen items can be stacked at angles in a vase, or faux lemons or limes can fill vases and add a zesty freshness to the space. Use items that relate to the dominant colors in the room, and always leave clear spaces in the vase where the light can shine through to attract attention to the space.

Necklace Showcase

• A bathroom shelf or bedroom chest of drawers will provide a good home to a tall, clear glass vase filled with colorful beaded necklaces. Necklaces that aren’t worn regularly can be laid into a vase in layers to create a one-of-a-kind strata-style display. To keep your everyday jewels untangled and appreciated, hang on the lip of the vase by the clasp and allow the pearls, glass beads and jewels to glisten their way down the sides of the vase.

Foyer Nostalgia

• A foyer table is often a forgotten display opportunity. When topped by matching tall, clear glass vases, this neglected or cluttered space achieves a purpose. Entertain guests with your personal style and family history when you place vintage postcards, old black and white family photos and vacation keepsakes in the vases. Carefully placed items can be viewed from all sides by guests, and the vases give often-stored personal collectibles a place of honor.

Fishy Fun

• A kitchen, bathroom or sunroom all look fresh and happy when you display a few clear, tall glass vases filled with your favorite low-maintenance fish. Betas will thrive when you place some colored glass discs in the bottom of a vase and fill with water to two-thirds the way up the vase. Once the water is treated with an aquarium preparation chemical and a little bit of aquarium salt, betas will go in and get lined up on a shelf, sill or table. Overhead lighting will keep fish warm, and a weekly water change keeps the display looking fresh and clean.