Adelaide homes have their own character. The light here is different from Sydney or Melbourne — warmer, more golden, longer in summer. The architecture spans Federation bungalows, mid-century clinker brick, 1980s red brick and contemporary builds. Outdoor living is central to how most people actually use their homes. And the aesthetic that tends to work — that feels right rather than imported — is warm, earthy, unpretentious and well-made.
Vases are one of those objects that either fit this character or fight it. After years of helping Adelaide customers style their homes, we have identified three vase types that work in almost every local interior. They are not the only good vases. But they are the ones we would start with.
1. A tall, slender ceramic in a warm neutral
This is the most versatile piece in any vase collection. A tall ceramic — between 30 and 45cm — in warm white, oatmeal, terracotta or soft charcoal works on a floor, on a mantle, on a sideboard, or in a corner that needs anchoring. It holds a single dried stem, a branch of eucalyptus from the garden, or a few stems of pampas grass. Or it holds nothing at all and simply exists as a form.
The key word is ceramic — specifically matte or semi-matte ceramic rather than gloss. Gloss ceramics can look cold in Adelaide's warm light. Matte finishes absorb the light rather than reflecting it and feel more at home in the earthy, textural interiors that work so well here.
Our Robert Gordon tall ceramic range and the sculptural forms from our current collection are the pieces we return to most often for this role. They are made to last, made in Australia, and designed to sit quietly in a room rather than demanding attention.
2. A medium ribbed or fluted glass vase
Ribbed and fluted glass is one of the strongest trends in Australian interiors right now — and unlike many trends, this one has genuine longevity because it is rooted in function as much as aesthetics. Ribbed glass catches and disperses light in a way that is endlessly interesting as the sun moves through a room. In Adelaide's long-light afternoons, a ribbed glass vase on a dining table or kitchen bench creates something close to a moving installation.
For size, a medium piece — roughly 20 to 30cm — is the most useful. It holds a bunch of flowers from the Goodwood Road market, a few stems of dried botanicals, or sits empty as a light-catching object. Clear glass works with everything. Coloured glass in olive, amber or a deep cobalt makes a stronger statement but still fits the Adelaide palette well.
This is also one of the most accessible price points in our vase collection — a quality ribbed glass vase is not expensive, which makes it an excellent first piece for someone building a collection, or a reliable gift when you are not certain of someone's taste.
3. A small stoneware bud vase — bought in multiples
The third piece is not one vase but several. Small stoneware bud vases — 8 to 15cm, in varying heights and slightly different forms — grouped on a windowsill, a bathroom ledge, a kitchen shelf, or a bedside table are one of the simplest and most effective styling moves in any home.
The reason this works so well in Adelaide specifically is that so many local gardens produce exactly the kind of casual, single-stem pickings that bud vases are designed for — a sprig of rosemary, a single rose, a stem of lavender, a cutting of whatever is blooming in the back yard. You don't need florist flowers. You need a vessel that makes a garden cutting look intentional.
Stoneware is the right material here rather than glass or porcelain, because stoneware has a handmade quality and natural variation that feels right alongside casual, organic plant material. Our Noss & Co bud vases are particularly popular for this — the gingham and stripe patterns bring a playful graphic quality that lifts a grouping without overwhelming it.
How to put the three together
If you have all three — a tall ceramic, a medium ribbed glass, and a cluster of small stoneware bud vases — you have a complete vase wardrobe that covers every situation. The tall ceramic anchors larger spaces. The ribbed glass handles flowers and dining tables. The bud vases handle the everyday, the seasonal and the spontaneous.
They don't need to match. They need to share a general palette — warm neutrals, earthy tones, or a consistent accent colour — and they need to vary enough in height and form to create visual interest when grouped.
That is genuinely all there is to it.
Browse our full vase collection at House of Dudley →
Also worth reading: The House of Dudley Guide to Choosing the Right Vase →