Summer Decorations Using Flower Vases

Fruit and Vegetables

• Flowers may be the traditional use for a vase, but stepping out of the ordinary can give your home a fresh look. Use produce gathered from a farmer's market or grocery store and pile it high in a vase or two. Choose fruits and vegetables with bright colors for the best results. A solid white or ivory vase filled with a collection of lemons or oranges will brighten the mood in a dull room. Be sure to choose vegetables and fruits that will last at room temperature. Berries, lettuce and other soft produce will spoil quickly.

Candleholders

• Turn a solid or clear vase into an elegant vessel to hold candles. Place a large candle inside the bottom of a vase, turn out the lights and let the sun set, using the candlelight to illuminate a summer evening on the deck or patio. Keep the bugs away by using citronella scented candles. A transparent vase will give more light, but an opaque one will create a softer glow. Colored glass vases will cast a colored hue, diffusing the light and making a room or backyard area feel relaxing and romantic.

Natural Arrangement

• Go on a nature walk with family or friends and gather a few small treasures to make a rustic summer arrangement. A gathering of tall, dried grasses standing erect amid a collection of small, multi-colored pebbles will add visual interest to a coffee table or bookshelf. Create an arrangement using a collection of vases, one filled with grasses, another with dried flowers and a final one stocked with twigs, dried driftwood or other interesting artifacts. Give your arrangement more depth by incorporating vases of different shapes and sizes.

Fish

• Nothing is more refreshing than a dip in a cool pool or lake on a hot, sweltering day. Mimic the refreshing feeling in a room by filling a clear vase or two with water and stocking it with a beta. Line the bottom of the vase with a few pebbles or a plant or two to keep your fish happy. The fish will give definite visual interest and add a pop of color to a monochromatic or neutral toned room. Make sure you clean the fish's "tank" regularly to keep the fish in the best health and the vase in its best form.