Tag Archives: Vase

Pilot Just Turned a 400-Year-Old Japanese Craft Into Living Art

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There’s something hypnotic about watching things change color. Remember those mood rings from the 90s? Or those hypercolor t-shirts that turned purple wherever you got warm? That same technology just got a serious upgrade, and it’s sitting on the cutting edge where centuries-old craftsmanship meets modern science.

Enter TimeVase, a collaboration between Pilot Corporation (yes, the pen company) and traditional Arita porcelain artisans in Japan. This isn’t your grandmother’s ceramic vase, even though it’s made using techniques that have been perfected over 400 years in one of Japan’s most historic pottery towns.

Designer: Pilabot

The concept is beautifully simple. The entire surface of the porcelain vessel is coated with Pilot’s thermochromic ink, the same temperature-reactive technology they developed for their erasable pens. At room temperature, the vase appears as a deep, rich navy blue. But pour in hot water, and something magical happens. The heat triggers a color transformation that gradually reveals a stunning celadon glaze underneath, one of the most prized colors in traditional Arita ware.

What makes this particularly fascinating is how the change unfolds. It’s not an instant flip from one color to another. The transformation is organic and unique each time, with different patterns emerging as the heat spreads through the ceramic. Then, over the next 30 to 60 minutes, you watch as the color slowly returns to its original deep blue state as the water cools. It’s like having a living piece of art that breathes with temperature.

Thermochromic ink has been around since the 1970s, initially showing up in novelty items. The technology works through leuco dyes that change their molecular structure when heated, typically becoming translucent or shifting to lighter shades. Pilot has been a pioneer in this field, particularly after developing erasable ink pens in 2006 that used thermochromic properties to create ink that disappears above 65°C.

But applying this technology to traditional ceramics required something different. The ink had to work at the right temperature range for hot beverages and withstand the demands of daily use while maintaining the aesthetic integrity of Arita porcelain. Arita ware has a reputation for its delicate beauty and that distinctive celadon color, a jade-like blue-green that has captivated collectors for centuries. Covering it entirely with color-changing ink and trusting it to reveal that beauty at just the right moment takes both technical precision and artistic courage.

The practical applications are surprisingly versatile. Sure, it works as a traditional vase for flowers, but it’s also designed to function as a tea vessel or even an aroma pot. Add a few drops of essential oil to the hot water, and you’ve got a piece that engages both sight and smell, creating what the designers call “luxurious blank time” for contemplation.

There’s something distinctly Japanese about this design philosophy. The concept of finding beauty in transience, of appreciating the moment as it unfolds and then lets go, feels deeply connected to traditional aesthetics like mono no aware (the pathos of things) or wabi-sabi (finding beauty in imperfection and impermanence). You’re not just using a vase. You’re watching time made visible through color.

This fusion of old and new, analog and digital, craft and chemistry represents a growing trend in contemporary design. We’re seeing more collaborations where traditional artisans partner with tech companies to create objects that honor heritage while pushing boundaries. It’s not about replacing one with the other but finding where they can amplify each other’s strengths. TimeVase launched in January 2026 through Pilot’s creative division, Pilabot, which focuses on experimental projects that explore new applications for their ink technology. It’s part of a broader movement where stationery and office supply companies are thinking beyond paper, asking what else their specialized materials can do.

For anyone interested in design, this piece sits at a fascinating intersection. It’s functional art that performs differently each time you use it. It’s tech that doesn’t scream its presence but quietly enhances the everyday ritual of making tea or arranging flowers. It’s a reminder that innovation doesn’t always mean adding more features or screens but sometimes means taking technologies we’ve mastered and applying them in unexpected ways. The TimeVase proves that magic doesn’t require batteries. Sometimes it just needs hot water and patience.

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Lotus Effect Vase Lets Stems Drift Across Edges Like Leaves on Water

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The lotus effect is a phenomenon where aquatic plant leaves shed water and dirt through microscopic surface structures, staying clean and efficient under heavy rain. The symbolism runs deeper, plants like Victoria regia and white lotus that emerge from murky depths to float serenely on the surface, occupying the boundary between water and air. That mix of resilience, lightness, and boundary dwelling becomes the starting point for a vase that treats support as spatial action rather than neutral containment.

The Lotus Effect Vase is a minimal object that borrows the outline of aquatic leaves and turns it into structure. It combines a circular metallic element, echoing a floating leaf, with a slim cylindrical container, both in stainless steel. It is not trying to imitate the lotus leaf literally; it is translating its posture and presence into a support for cut stems, turning the ring into both a base and a way to guide where the plant can go.

Designer: Fabrício Auler

Most vases center the plant, holding stems upright in the middle of a table or shelf and making the container disappear behind the flowers. This design treats the support as an active part of the composition. The ring and cylinder let the plant lean, angle, and extend, so it stops being in the right place and starts inhabiting different positions relative to furniture and space, with the steel structure visible and intentional rather than hidden.

The circular structure invites the vase to live on edges and thresholds, resting across the corner of a bench, near the lip of a shelf, or slightly off-center on a sideboard. The plant can project into the room, skim along a surface, or cross from one plane to another. It feels closer to how a leaf floats at the boundary between water and air than to a bouquet locked in a vertical cylinder, turning what would normally be a centerpiece into something more provisional and spatial.

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The choice of stainless steel, cold and permanent, confronts the organic and ephemeral character of the natural. The technical gesture tries to capture the movement of a leaf in a fixed line and ring, freezing a moment of tilt or drift. The living stem then reintroduces change, growing, wilting, and being replaced, so the object becomes a frame for ongoing variation rather than a static centerpiece that always looks the same.

The project extends beyond the object into a small visual system, with circular green forms, modular layouts, and the LOTUS wordmark echoing lily pads on a calm surface. This suggests that the designer is thinking about the vase not as a one-off sculpture, but as part of a family of gestures and surfaces that could populate a room, each one giving plants a slightly different way to occupy space and relate to the furniture around them.

The Lotus Effect Vase quietly questions how we bring nature into interiors. Instead of forcing stems into a single, upright pose, it lets them behave more like they do outside, leaning, reaching, and crossing boundaries. It turns the vase into a small negotiation between leaf and line, water and steel, reminding you that even uprooted and repositioned, a plant can still find new ways to express itself in built scenarios, given the right kind of support.

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Mirrored tabletop accessories create illusions that have you questioning your sanity

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We put a lot of things on top of our desks, dining tables, and shelves, whether for functionality or decoration. Over time, we get so used to their presence that they become almost invisible, at least until something changes that shocks us awake to reality. Being mindful of the things around us isn’t so bad a thing, especially when it causes you to stop and think, even for a brief moment. Things that give us pause don’t have to be outlandish, loud, or unsettling. They just have to be unusual enough for our minds to be puzzled and stomped. This tabletop collection does that effectively not with sophisticated mechanisms or intricate designs but my simple shapes and materials create an illusion of something that isn’t what it seems at first glance.

Designer: Bo Zhang

Optical illusions work by making our eyes and our brains disagree with each other. Something that isn’t logical but clearly looks that way could send our heads in a loop. Most of these illusions use diagrams and illustrations on flat paper, but there are times when they can also be made with solid, three-dimensional objects. You just need some creative thinking and a devious use of forms, colors, and mirrors.

The Zig/Zag collection is a pair of table accessories, namely a vase and a tray, that sport the eponymous shape. That alone is enough to call attention to them because of their uncommon design, but that novelty doesn’t last really long. A properly placed mirror on the edge of these objects, however, reveals a whole new dimension you might have not seen before, almost literally. The wave that you see reflected on those discs doesn’t seem to be the same one standing before you, definitely not the same color, at least.

Imagine seeing a reflection that is the same yet slightly different. The shape of the vase or tray is exactly the same, and so are the objects that they hold. Everything’s mirrored perfectly as you would expect, except for the color of the tray. Orange is yellow, black is hot pink, and green is pale peach. It’s almost as if you’re peering into an alternate reality instead of looking at a mirror, but in truth, the design is just messing with your head. The secret is actually simple: The “zig” side in front is painted with a different color from the “zag” behind it. Unless you’re looking at the objects from a specific angle, you wouldn’t even know that they have two different colors. Only that mirror reveals this duality in a way that seems mysterious and magical.

Mirrors are often seen as functional objects, but the Zig/Zag tabletop collection design transforms it into an art object. The vase and the tray don’t lose nor gain any functionality, but they do gain new value as aesthetic pieces that straddle the line between form and function. It’s a simple gimmick that urges you to take another look, perhaps to solve the mystery that you never knew existed. It makes your mind zig-zag between reality and fantasy, making you pause and simply enjoy the moment of being there.

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Paper vases lets you play around with shapes, colors, patterns

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Vases usually take a back seat to the flowers and plants that they house since the main attraction are the flora. Usually they are just functional or if they do have designs, they’re not always that eye-catching and can sometimes be minimalist. But who says you can’t have attractive flowers and also beautiful vases with various colors and patterns?

Designer: Super Nature Design

The Dot Dot Dot Paper Vase is one kind of vase that will catch your attention even before you put flowers or plants in them. From its name of course you can deduct that they are made from paper but it’s not just any ordinary paper but ones that have different colors, patterns, and shapes. It can spark creativity in the “viewer” and can also serve as an interactive canvas together with what you’ll put in it.

Since the material is paper, you will also be able to fold, shape, and decorate it in any way you want. You can use it to either complement the flora that you’ll put in it or provide a startling contrast to add to the visual smorgasbord. Minimalists will probably not be that fond of it because of the vibrant colors and the textured patterns.

The paper vases have different colorways like green, red, violet, yellow, and pink, but always with the white color creating patterns. There are also different shapes like circles, spirals, half moons, and lines. They can add an artful feel to your space aside from serving its function as a vessel.

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Ikebana vessel looks like a puddle of water with a flower sprouting out of it

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I rarely display flowers in my space for a lot of reasons. Fresh ones are a bit expensive and hard to come by, my apartment is a bit humid and already overstuffed, I’m too lazy to take care of them and prolong their life, etc. So many excuses but basically I don’t have time or space. Also I don’t have vases or vessels to place them in although it’s pretty easy to find one in the nearest mall and there is no shortage of interestingly designed ones to choose from.

Designers: Naoki Ono and Yuki Yamamoto

If these were produced and made available commercially, I might have actually gotten them. Puddle is a series of unique-looking flower vessels that were designed to look like what it’s name after. I really can’t call them vases since there is a limit to the amount of flowers it can hold. The body is designed to look like different water puddle patterns so the flower you place in (on?) it looks like it’s sprouting from that puddle.

The transparent body which has different organic water puddle shapes has a wall that’s just 1.55 m high, just enough to have a cup of water. There’s a tiny needle in the middle where you can insert a single plant stem. You just have to pour water over the needle to fill the vessel with it and even creating actual puddles while doing so with water spilling over into the ledge. I don’t know how long that single stem of flower can last given the way the vessel is designed.

But it’s a pretty interesting and unique kind of flower vessel to have around your space. You can maybe even fool some guests to thinking that you have spilled some water and there’s a flower that grew out of that. Well, if they don’t really look that closely. Sadly it didn’t get produced for commercial purchase, maybe due to practicality reasosns.

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Algae-based material and traditional Korean braiding turn into striking lights, vases

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The world is filled with many things that have the potential to become materials for creating products, and yet we still prefer typical materials like plastics, metal, or wood. Not all of these are sustainable, and those that are sustainable aren’t always easily renewable or require a lot of energy to process or recycle. Admittedly, looking for alternative sources of materials isn’t an easy task, but once in a while, we come across a promising solution both in terms of sustainability and beauty. This rope light and Ikebana vase, for example, are already quite striking in their unique shapes, but they are made even more significant by the fact that they are made using a biodegradable material based on one of the most common and simplest kind of plant on the planet: algae.

Designer: Su Yang Choi

One of the problems with supposedly more sustainable or recyclable materials is that the process of making or treating them isn’t always sustainable, requiring more energy and water than usual. In contrast, this algae-based material isn’t treated with harmful chemicals, has reduced energy consumption during manufacturing, and can easily be shaped using heat. Even better, leftover scraps from the production process can be collected and recycled to reduce material waste at every step.

While the material itself is quite impressive, putting it to good use is the real test. For this purpose, a pair of everyday objects were made not just to demonstrate the usability of this algae-based material but also to show off the complicated designs that can be made with it. And nothing can perhaps be more complicated than knots, especially the beautiful traditional Korean knots known as Maedeup.

This knotting is best exemplified in this Ikebana vase that loops around itself a couple of times in an almost random fashion, symbolizing the unpredictability and cyclical nature of life. In addition to this rather intriguing structure, the biodegradable material used here is mixed with coffee grounds, another sustainable material, to give it that earthy brown color.

On the opposite end of the color spectrum is a long string lamp that uses the algae-based material in a four-faced linear braid that wraps around a flexible LED strip. This segmented structure was inspired by Korean stone pagodas that rise in majesty and grandeur, characteristics carried by this string lamp. These two objects, part of the Slow series of artworks, embody the ingenuity and creativity that spring from combining modern material science and traditional craftsmanship to produce breathtaking designs that do no harm to the planet in return.

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20 Best Ways to Style Your Home Using Vases

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One of the easiest ways to style your home is with vases, whether it be brimming with fresh, exquisite flowers or serving as ornamental artifacts. Vases lend a beautiful finishing touch to any space. Moreover, these versatile pieces can be showcased in a multitude of ways, be it when artfully grouped on a mantelpiece or a side table or as a captivating centerpiece on a dining table. The best part about incorporating vases is that they seamlessly blend into any room, making it possible to distribute your cherished pieces throughout your entire home.

Designer: Hideaki Miyauchi

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1. Mantel Décor

Image courtesy of: pro_creator

Creating a beautiful mantel decoration involves arranging an assortment of vases with varying shapes and heights. It is highly recommended to opt for a collection of artisanal, handcrafted ceramic vases that not only serve as an appealing permanent display but are also versatile and can be filled with seasonal blooms, ensuring that the mantel maintains a fresh and attractive look throughout the year.

2. Inside the Niche

Image courtesy of: indigolotos

Image courtesy of: towfiqu98

Craft an eye-catching arrangement in a contemporary living space by adorning the niches with an artisan-crafted ceramic vase in abstract or transparent forms, artistic finishes, and even vibrant hues.

3. Brighten the Entrance Foyer

Image courtesy of: Mint_Images

As the entrance foyer forms the initial space that greets any guests, this space forms the most appropriate place for displaying vases that overflow with fresh flowers. In the entryway, a console table or sideboard becomes a vital inclusion that can be embellished with decorative vases and other artful objects, cherished family photographs, and one can introduce a touch of nature through strategically positioned plants.

4. Add Volume to Empty Spaces

Image courtesy of: StudioVK

Exceptional vases should be displayed to enhance empty corners by employing a set of two vases, either with similar or contrasting shapes, and filling them with dried flowers. This method not only adds character to the vacant space but also provides volume and an appealing design element.

5. Beautify with Bud Vases

Image courtesy of: Aeril01

Single stems in small vases can be equally as striking as a grand centerpiece and truly highlight the beauty of each bloom. One can employ bud vases for swift and sophisticated table arrangements, ranging from single stems to a combination of petite bouquets. Being lightweight, these vases can be easily relocated when it’s time to serve food, and there’s no need to be concerned about them toppling over due to their size.

6. Create a Centerpiece

Image courtesy of: bluejeanimages

Enhancing a center table or dining table with seasonal blooms or artificial flowers is a delightful way to infuse a room with both color and fragrance. Moreover, they serve as ideal accent pieces to adorn and enhance the interior decor. Note that while it’s always pleasant to have a vase on the dining room table when hosting, one can also adorn the sideboard with a few vases.

7. Colorful Vase Display

Vibrant vases provide an enchanting method to showcase lively blooms, crafting a vivid arrangement while also serving as a practical solution for hiding messy stems.

Image courtesy of: Rawpixel

A cluster of differently-sized and colorful vases creates a pretty display and makes a characterful addition to the interiors.

Image courtesy of: kathkarnowski

To create a breathtaking display, place a collection of them on a windowsill where they will sparkle in the sunlight.

Image courtesy of: annakhomulo

Various vases from the same series, featuring different colors and heights, come together to form an intriguing composition. Their slender necks look elegant but can hold only a limited number of flowers.

8. Arrange Sculptural Vases on the Table

Image courtesy of: svitlini

When curating the interiors with decorative vases, create rhythm and balance by incorporating vases of varying heights. Consider a single-color palette or opt for pieces with captivating sculptural shapes and textures. Alternatively, one can go for pieces from the same family but in different colors for a cohesive look.

9. A Tall Vessel for Artistic Branches

Image courtesy of: timofeevavalentina_foto

When enhancing your indoor spaces one can effortlessly craft a captivating sculptural centerpiece using just a few leafy branches. In this example, the tall vase has an earthy vibe and it is complemented with wheat spikelets.

10. Playful Pieces

Image courtesy of: natanavo

Vibrant hand-painted or unique-shaped vases form a beautiful display on the mantel, shelf, or side table. One can mix and match vases in various styles and materials to create an eye-catching arrangement. Whimsical vases can add a cheerful and playful touch to any interior making it a characterful addition.

11. Pair Vases with Different Heights

Image courtesy of: voronaman111

Go for floor vases in different heights just as in this image. For the spring and summer season, go for ceramics in nature-inspired textures and soothing tones like shades of blue or cream. Additionally, one can mix and match designs of different heights as the tall and short pieces impart a visually pleasing look.

12. On the Bedside Table

Image courtesy of: alinabuphoto

In this bedroom with a minimalist aesthetic, the bedside table incorporates a vase and transforms into a warm and inviting space.

13. On the Open Shelves

Image courtesy of: mariiaplosh

Enhance your open shelf with wall-color-matching vases by placing a vase on a lower shelf to add color and vibrancy to the interiors. For a longer-lasting arrangement, choose dried flowers, especially if the room lacks natural light. Hence one does not have to hide flower vases in a utility cabinet and can display them on open shelves or in a glass-fronted cabinet for an appealing and easily accessible presentation.

14. Add Tactility

Image courtesy of: liudmilas

These vases feature a three-dimensional pattern on their surfaces, introducing a tactile element to the interior decor. The timeless turquoise blue in a three-dimensional Criss cross design when paired with vibrant green plants, breathes life into the space.

15. Hanging Vases

Image courtesy of: Dimaberlin

Enhance your wall with multicolored hanging planters, creating a form of wall art that’s ideal for empty walls, adding character to them. The earthy hues of these planters can complement the decor, especially if it follows a nature-inspired color palette.

16. Add Pattern

Image courtesy of: kostiuchenko

The lively vase incorporates a design that adds visual appeal to a neutral environment. Make sure it complements the interior’s color palette to craft an energizing presentation. Unfilled vases can form striking arrangements, particularly when they boast charming hues, intricate sculptural shapes, and captivating textures.

17. Introduce Biophilia

Image courtesy of: Olesya22

This vase brings a touch of biophilia into the interior by incorporating vein-shaped patterns and a tactile quality on the golden vase. Leaf fronds further enhance the overall aesthetic.

Image courtesy of: avanti_photo

Just see how these vases, with assorted leaf-shaped designs and sizes, also imbue the interior with a biophilic atmosphere.

18. Infuse Tactility

Image courtesy of: oleksandrsh

Vases can introduce a tactile dimension to the interior, as seen here with the textured appearance of three distinct vase designs. While they exhibit variation, they share a common design theme.

19. Dual Color Vase

Image courtesy of: stockfilmstudio

A two-toned vase introduces color to the decor while harmonizing with the color scheme.

20. Metal Vase

Image courtesy of: ammarant

A metal vase not only adds a touch of luxury to the decor but can also function as a decorative object, and by adding branches, you can ensure they remain upright in tall vases.

These ideas will surely help you decorate your home with flower vases, a timeless decor accessory that has remained fashionable for centuries. Whether you’re aiming for a sleek and modern setup or a vintage one, you’ll always find a vase to match your personal style.

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3D vases pop up from this book to add some minimal geometric designs to your home decor

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Flowers are things of beauty, whether it’s a single stem or a dozen heads. They have a naturally enchanting appearance that almost makes them feel like they come from a different world, one that’s filled with color, magic, and dreams. Those are the things that fairy tales are made of, so it’s not surprising that flowers often play an important role in these literally fantastic stories, even if just to create that mystical atmosphere. It may just be fiction, but you can bring a bit of that magic to your home with this elegant book that transforms into an enchanting pop-up vase that makes it look like your flowers are magically growing from the book, creating an atmosphere of awe and wonder at every turn of the page.

Designer: Hideaki Miyauchi

Click Here to Buy Now: $39

A vase is traditionally made of glass, ceramic, clay, or even plastic, basically any rigid material that creates a stable vessel for flowers to stand in. These are also naturally water-resistant since the plants will need water to survive longer. The last thing you’d expect is for a vase to be made out of paper, let alone one that pops out from a book like one of those kids’ fairy tale books, but that’s exactly the enchanting story that this Flowery Tale vase wants to tell.

When you turn over the cover, you’re immediately greeted by a 3D silhouette of a vase cut out from the pages of the book. Turn the page and you’ll behold yet another vase design, equally graceful and beautiful as the first. A third design awaits you on another page, giving you the power to choose how you’d like the day’s floral arrangement to be. Even better, you can turn the book upside and it will still work as a proper vase, which means you have six possible variations to choose from.

The magic behind it is actually the glass tube that you insert into the spine of the book to hold the flower and the bit of water to keep the plant alive for a few more days. The tube can be inserted right side up or upside down and it will work just fine. All vase designs, however, have a narrow silhouette on the “top” and a larger shape at the “bottom,” so you can choose which side to use depending on the volume of the flowers you intend to place.

The pages of the book are made from 100% natural pulp paper, but you don’t have to fret about accidentally splashing it with water thanks to the “OK Rain Guard” water-resistant coating applied to the material. Whether you want to highlight a single flower or impress with a bouquet, this creative Pop-up Book Vase will set the perfect stage for your design and the epic story that is your life.

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