8 Gorgeous Ikebana Vases for Your Living Room

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As we get older, we often find ourselves in situations that put us under immense pressure. The good thing is some activities could lessen life’s burden, such as trying Ikebana. It’s a hobby unknown to many that could break you from your hectic lifestyle. Learning how to use an Ikebana vase is relaxing as it allows you to connect with nature and be grounded in life’s simple pleasures.

What is Ikebana?

Ikebana is a traditional Japanese flower arrangement. It is how a person draws out the beauty of a flower by only placing a couple of blooms and branches in a vase. The goal of Ikebana artists is to preserve the natural qualities of a flower. The flower should not be stiff and straight. Instead, it should lay on the vase naturally.

However, Ikebana is more than just arranging flowers. It is also about being one with nature. Aspiring artists tend to choose blooms and vases that match their immediate environment. Ikebana is one of the ways for someone to become one with nature. It may well even be a way of life, as one may consider.

How to Use an Ikebana Vase?

Ikebana is different from Western flower arrangement practices, which involve filling the vase full of leaves and flowers. It is more about leaving unfilled spaces to highlight the beauty of each bloom. It may sound simple, but learning Ikebana requires years of practice as you’ll have to familiarize yourself with the fundamental concepts. But we will not dwell on the technical aspects of Ikebana. For now, we will introduce the basic concepts on how to use an Ikebana vase to give you an idea of what it’s like doing it. 

The first step is, of course, collecting the materials. This doesn’t only mean picking out random flowers in the garden. Gathering leaves, branches, mosses, and other natural materials are essential as well. You might also need to purchase a kenzan or a metal pincushion to hold the flower or branch in place.

To make it easier to select the materials, just make sure to have a clear concept in mind. You can draw inspiration from the current season or special events and occasions. But if you are a complete beginner and don’t know where and how to start, you can just follow these different types of Ikebana styles:

1. Rikka

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2. Nageire

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3. Shoka or Seika

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4. Moribana

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As for arranging the flowers, ensure that these three elements are present: shin, soe, and hikae. “Shin” represents heaven so it’s the longest branch. Meanwhile, “Soe” is the representation of earth so it is the shorter, middle branch. Lastly, “Hikae” symbolizes mankind, and often, this is a flower or a short stem. This concept is derived from the Buddhist principle of a harmonious universe. All things are connected thus creating harmony and unity. 

8 Best Ikebana Vases

Your floral arrangement will depend on the type of Ikebana vase you’ll purchase. So, before you buy one, you have to decide what type of Ikebana style you would want to try. But if it’s difficult to choose, you could check out these stunning Ikebana vases to help narrow down your choices: 

Read more: How To Make Vases

1. [Georgetown] Round Ikebana Vase

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Ikebana looks simple because of its minimalist aesthetic design. However, making a simple Ikebana flower arrangement is not that simple. This is most glaring if you want to try a traditional arrangement like the Rikka. To make things easier, start with a small Ikebana vase first. This Round Ikebana Vase from Georgetown is great for beginners because it’s small and has a pin frog inside. You have to decorate it with a couple of branches and flowers to create a simple Ikebana arrangement.

2. [Anding] White Ceramic Vase

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Even though there are rules to follow in Ikebana, you don’t necessarily have to adhere to them. This is applicable unless you are trying to do a traditional flower arrangement style. You can try a more contemporary liberated Ikebana style in which you can be more creative. If you are up to the challenge, you should consider buying this White Ceramic Vase. This Japanese Ikebana Vase has a unique irregular oval shape, making it a great accent piece in a living room.

3. [WANDIC] Ceramic Flower Pot

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If you want to create a classic Ikebana flower arrangement, but you don’t want to be bound too much by the traditional rules, then the Seika style is for you. You still have to follow the fundamental concept of the scalene triangle (shin, soe, and hikae), but you are allowed to add more flowers and branches in your overall arrangement. If this is the style that you want, we recommend using this Ceramic Flower Pot from WANDIC.

4. [LIONWEI] Ceramic Flower Vase

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The second Ikebana style that was invented right after Rikka is Nageire. It focuses more on highlighting the natural form of the flowers. Instead of artificially erecting the flowers, they are naturally laid on the vase. To achieve such style, use a tall, slim Japanese flower arranging vase. Just like this Ceramic Flower Vase from LIONWEI! It’s a cylindrical, skinny vase that is adorned with elegant gold patterns.

Read more: How To Arrange Ikebana Floral Arrangements

5. [CHP] Ceramic Flower Vase Set

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Here’s another set of flower vases great for a Nageire Ikebana flower arrangement! This Ceramic Flower Vase Set from CHP is just like the flower vase from LIONWEI because each flower vase also has a tall structure. What is unique about them is that they have a flambe-glazed finish. In Ikebana vase pottery, a flambe-glazed has distinct tones of purple and blue with pale patches that appear like small flowers and foliage.

6. [Skagele] Modern Home Decor Vase

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Since it’s almost the holiday season, it would be appropriate to create a winter Ikebana. Remember that Ikebana is all about connecting with nature so the flower arrangement should match the season. This Modern Home Decor Vase from Skagele would be a great choice for a winter Ikebana because of its blue and white colors. The white represents the snow and the blue symbolizes the chilly weather.

7. [FANTESTICRYAN] Modern Glass Vase

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There are Ikebana vases made of other materials that you can use. For example, a glass Ikebana vase. What is great about glass is that it is easy to clean and doesn’t easily scratch. Moreover, it can help extend the life of a flower because it doesn’t react with water, unlike with metal vases. Rest assured that your plants will stay healthy and last longer.

8. [roro] Wooden Concave Vase

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If you want to add an organic touch to your Ikebana flower arrangement, you should use this Wooden Concave Vase from roro. This is not just your average wood Ikebana vase because of its intricate carvings. It’s almost like a finely crafted sculpture. And since it’s made of wood, it’s an environmentally-friendly product.

Even though Ikebana was first practiced a hundred years ago, it remains a prominent hobby today. However, it’s not an easy one to get into. You have to understand the fundamental rules and put them into practice. Only then you are free to become more creative with your flower arrangements. If you are willing to take the challenge, you should also be prepared to invest in lessons and materials. This includes spending on intricate Japanese Ikebana vases.

Aside from flower vases, you also need a crafting table. Investing in such furniture allows you to work comfortably on your flower arrangements. So, start shopping today and begin your exciting and therapeutic Ikebana journey.