Some pieces are practical. Others are there simply because they look beautiful. The best ones manage to do both. A decorative ceramic umbrella stand can bring colour and personality to a hallway, while a large ginger jar can completely change the feel of a console, fireplace or empty corner.
This collection brings together porcelain and ceramic pieces in blue and white, soft colours and more decorative patterns, from tall umbrella stands and classic ginger jars to vases, bottles, bowls and other pieces made for display.
For the Hallway and Beyond
An umbrella stand is one of those everyday pieces that is usually left until last when decorating a hallway. It doesn't have to be. A beautifully patterned ceramic stand can sit naturally beside a console or mirror, giving you somewhere practical to keep umbrellas while adding something decorative to the entrance.
Some of the taller designs can also be used as decorative vessels for branches, foliage or dried arrangements, giving them a second use when umbrellas aren't the priority.
Ginger Jars with Colour and Pattern
Ginger jars have a long history as decorative objects, and their shape still works remarkably well in modern homes. Blue and white porcelain brings a classic feel, while more unusual colours and patterns can add something less expected.
Use a single jar as a focal point on a console or sideboard, place a pair either side of a fireplace, or combine different sizes to create a more collected arrangement. Larger pieces can have enough presence to stand on the floor as well as on furniture.
Mix Ceramics Rather Than Matching Everything
A room doesn't need a complete set of matching ceramics to feel considered. Try combining a patterned ginger jar with a simpler vase, or placing a decorative bottle alongside a bowl and a few smaller objects.
Blue and white pieces work particularly well with natural wood, brass, darker furniture and neutral walls, while coloured and more ornate ceramics can be used to introduce another layer of pattern and interest.
Pieces to Keep and Live With
These are the sort of accessories that can move around the home as your rooms change. A ceramic vase might begin on a dining table and later find its place on a bedroom console, while a ginger jar can work just as well in a hallway as it does in a living room.
Whether you are looking for a decorative umbrella stand, a large ginger jar, a blue and white ceramic piece or something less expected, choose the shape and pattern that catches your eye first. The room can follow from there.
