Looking for cylinder vase decor ideas that go beyond a bunch of flowers? Floating candles, bright citrus and little twinkling lights give you plenty to work with.
I especially love the arrangements that leave the stems showing through the sides.
You can keep things simple or go all out with a seasonal display. These pictures include table centerpieces, little corners of the home and a couple of different vase shapes worth borrowing ideas from.
Pretty ways to decorate with cylinder vases
floating candles and greenery
We’re starting off strong with these gorgeous floating candles. I love the different heights of the clear cylinders, with little votives tucked around the bottom.
Try a loose trail of greenery around your own grouping. Keep it low like this so the candles stay in view.
orchids inside tall vases
How pretty are these orchids? The bright magenta flowers are my favorite, but the pale yellow-green ones are just as lovely.
Instead of having the blooms spill over the top, this arrangement keeps them inside the tall cylinders. Choose a single color for each vase or mix the flowers like the one on the right.
a stack of yellow lemons
Don’t want to add flowers? No problem!
This tall, straight-sided vase holds a stack of whole yellow lemons in water. The bright color is enough on its own.
Try a similar arrangement as a little accent on your kitchen table. I’d leave the area around it simple.
pale roses and pillar candles
I am obsessed with this candle grouping. The pale peach roses look so pretty beside the ivory pillars, with green leaves trailing over the bark-edged base.
Read also: 20 Empty Candle Jar Ideas for Storage and Pretty Little Displays
For your own version, choose flameless pillars and keep the flowers outside the cylinders. You still get that lovely mix of tall candles and low blooms.
bare branches and white filler
If you are looking for something simple, this one is for you. Bare branches spread out above a clear cylinder with a layer of white filler at the bottom.
There’s no ribbon or extra decoration here. I’d keep it that way and give the branches plenty of space.
a vase filler work in progress
This picture is a work-in-progress rather than a finished centerpiece. A blue foam cylinder sits inside one vase while another piece is being cut beside an empty one.
The finished candle arrangement isn’t shown, so I wouldn’t treat this frame as a complete tutorial. If you experiment with foam filler, keep it away from flames and use a flameless light instead.
pinecones and tiny lights
How cute is this pair? The pinecones fill both cylinders while tiny lights wind through the gaps and around the outside.
Try battery-powered LED string lights for your own version. You don’t need to add bows or ornaments when the pinecones already look this pretty.
red berries and evergreen sprigs
I love the red berries scattered between the evergreen sprigs. A white floating candle sits above them in this rounded vase.
The sides curve more than a classic cylinder, but you could borrow the red-and-green combination for a straight-sided vessel. Keep any greenery below and away from the flame.
white roses and candlelight
If you love an all-white centerpiece, then this one is for you. Single roses sit in little clear bottles between taller candle cylinders.
The black napkins are such a pretty finishing touch. Try the same black-and-white pairing if you want your table setting to feel a little dressier.
big leaves and a tall plume
This may just be one of my favorite arrangements here. I love the broad split leaves with that tall beige plume rising behind them.
The slender vase leaves the green stems and twisting branches on show. No need to hide them with filler.
black vases and beige plumes
Don’t want clear vases everywhere? This pair gives you another direction to try.
Beige plumes fan out from a tall tapered black vase beside a shorter round one.
Read also: 20 Vase Decor Ideas Without Flowers, Plus a Few Looks to Adapt
Neither is a straight cylinder, but the black-and-beige color combination would look lovely in one. I’d keep the taller arrangement on the floor with plenty of room above it.
turquoise ornaments and pinecones
The turquoise ornaments are so cute in this holiday display. There’s a mix of white, silver-colored and darker blue decorations tucked between pale-tipped pinecones.
Use different ornament sizes if you want to try this look. The little baubles fill the spaces around the larger ones.
seashells in three heights
If you have shells you’d like to display, this is such a pretty idea. Three cylinders hold a mix of spirals, ridged shells and little rounded shapes.
I especially love the large shell facing forward in the tallest vase. Place a favorite near the front rather than hiding it in the middle.
pink tulips on the counter
Sometimes a vase of tulips is all you need. These pink blooms have darker red edges, with plenty of green leaves gathered underneath.
The clear cylinder keeps the stems visible right down to the bottom. Try this on a kitchen island if you want a little color without a whole decorative setup.
blue hydrangeas above and below
How gorgeous is this blue hydrangea arrangement? The big flower head sits above the rim while smaller clusters appear below the waterline.
I love that the decoration continues inside the vase instead of stopping at the top. Borrow the pale blue color palette even if you prefer to keep all your blooms above the water.
eucalyptus beside the mirror
If you’re looking for a simple bathroom arrangement, go with a few eucalyptus stems in a narrow cylinder. The round green leaves look so pretty against the white counter.
Leave a little space between the stems like this. The mirror reflects the arrangement without needing a second vase.
fall berries and glowing lights
This is another lovely way to use little lights, but with more fall color. Red and orange berry-like decorations wind around branches above a pinecone and a layer of small stones.
I love the orange leaves tucked throughout. Choose battery-powered LED lights rather than an open flame for a filled arrangement like this.
tiny white flowers underwater
I am obsessed with these delicate little flowers. Their branching stems show through the water beneath white floating candles, with clear decorative pieces gathered at the bottom.
Read also: 20 Large Dough Bowl Decor Ideas for Every Season
The three cylinder heights look so pretty on the round wood slice. Keep that staggered arrangement if you want to try a similar centerpiece.
green stalks and clear beads
Don’t want flowers or seasonal decorations? No problem there!
This narrow vase holds leafy green stalks with clear round filler around their lower ends.
The long leaves spread out well beyond the rim. I’d give this one its own little corner rather than crowding it with other decorations.
pink grapefruit slices
Last but definitely not least, we have this bright grapefruit arrangement. I love the pink centers and yellow rinds showing through the clear sides!
The overlapping slices fill the vase with color. Try this as a temporary table accent when you want something a little different from flowers.
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And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Isabella