10 Creative Ways to Use Your Ceramic Vase After Painting It

Painting your own ceramic vase is such a joyful, mindful activity — and with ArtyPax’s nature-inspired paint your own pottery kits, you get the satisfaction of creating a beautiful piece of décor without needing a kiln.

But once your vase is painted and proudly dried, you might be wondering…

“What can I actually use it for?”

Great question! Because ceramic bisque vases aren’t watertight (unless you use a glass insert or paint with ceramic glazes and kiln fire them), they’re best suited to non-liquid decorative uses — but luckily, there are plenty of gorgeous, creative possibilities.

Here are 10 inspiring ways to use your ceramic vase in your home, as a gift, or as part of your seasonal décor.

🌼 1. Display Dried Flowers or Dried Grasses

Dried botanicals are incredibly popular in UK homes right now — from pampas to lavender to eucalyptus.

Your painted vase makes the perfect dried flower holder, especially when decorated with nature-inspired patterns. No water required!

🍬 2. Fill It with Candy Canes at Christmas

A festive favourite! Pop a handful of candy canes into your vase for a cheerful Christmas decoration. It works beautifully on:

• mantelpieces

• festive tablescapes

• office desks

• hot chocolate stations

  
  

Plus because the sweets are wrapped, your vase stays clean and display-ready.

✏️ 3. Use It as a Desk Pen Pot

Your vase becomes a mini organiser for:

• pens

• pencils

• paintbrushes

• scissors

• craft tools

Perfect for adding personality to your workspace, especially if you’ve painted it in colours that make you smile.

🌿 4. Faux Flowers & Artificial Stems

If you want fresh-looking florals without them wilting or having to remember to water them. Then artificial flowers are your best friend.

From realistic stems to whimsical foliage, your vase becomes a long-lasting decorative piece that never wilts.

🎨 5. A Brush Holder for Your Craft Space

Your vase can be a dedicated place for:

• paintbrushes

• sculpting tools

• crochet hooks

• knitting needles (shorter ones!)

A lovely reminder of your creativity every time you sit down to craft.

🕯️ 6. LED Candle or Fairy Light Holder

Use your vase as a cosy ambient light by placing inside:

• an LED candle

• a string of battery-powered fairy lights

LED lighting works beautifully and adds a magical glow.

🎄 7. Mini Festive Arrangement (No Water Needed)

Create a simple Christmas display using:

• faux holly

• pine cones

• cinnamon sticks

• artificial berries

• miniature baubles

Your vase becomes a seasonal centrepiece you can reuse year after year.

🪴 8. A Home for a Small Potted Plant (With Liner)

Want real plants? Pop a tiny jam jar, small glass, or inner plastic pot inside your ceramic vase to safely hold water or soil.

This is perfect for:

• small succulents

• baby ferns

• mini roses

• propagation cuttings

Just remember: the vase itself can’t hold water — the insert does all the work.

🎁 9. Fill It as a Gift Jar Alternative

Your vase makes a charming reusable gift container when filled with:

• wrapped chocolates

• tea lights

• herbal teas

• bagged bath salts

• beauty minis

• affirmation notes

It’s eco-friendly, thoughtful, and extra personal because you painted it. Add an extra special touch with a ribbon & your own handwritten note for that heartfelt gift with a difference.

💍 10. A Decorative Accent for Shelves & Side Tables

Sometimes the best use is simply to display it proudly. A hand painted vase can become:

• a pop of colour on a bookshelf

• a nature-themed accent in the hallway

• a talking point in the living room

• a calming, mindful object on your bedside table

Handmade décor brings warmth and individuality into your home — and your finished vase is uniquely yours.

🌸 A Final Note: Using Your Vase with Water

If you want to use real flowers or foliage in water, simply pop in a small jam jar, spice jar, or glass insert. This protects the paint and keeps your vase dry and safe. Plus it makes it easier to change the water.

Alternatively, the vase can be glazed and kiln-fired if you have your own kiln or take it to a pottery studio — but our paint-your-own kits are designed so you don’t need a kiln to enjoy them.

🌿 Inspired By Ways To Use Your Ceramic Vase?

ArtyPax ceramic vases are the perfect blend of:

• creativity

• mindfulness

• home décor

• and nature inspiration

Whether you're crafting for yourself or gifting someone special, a painted vase is both beautiful and functional.

Explore our collection of paint-your-own ceramics in the UK and find your next creative project today.