20+ Easy Ideas for Vase Fillers

Changing vase fillers is a simple and affordable way to freshen your home decor each season. Here are some easy ideas for vase fillers to get you started.

20+ Easy Vase Filler Ideas for Every Season

Many of these vase fillers can be found around your home or in nature, making them very easy on the budget.

Winter Vase Filler Ideas

Epsom salt – I use epsom salt as “snow” in lanterns and clear vases.

Ornaments – I love using ornaments to fill vases and bowls during the holiday season. Typically I grab the ones that have lost the top and can no longer be hung on the tree. Using ornaments as vase filler is also an easy way to incorporate your holiday color scheme throughout your home.

Berries – I cut up a strand of faux cranberry garland and use the little red “berries” to fill lanterns and vases. Of course, you can get berry vase filler without having to cut garland.

Battery Operated Fairy Lights – fairy lights look so pretty in a vase or jar. They make great luminaries for a mantle, coffee table or a centerpiece on the dining table.

Vase Fillers for the Spring and Summer

Dominoes or other game pieces like scrabble tiles – game pieces are such a fun way to bring the playfulness of Summer into your home.

Sea Glass – sea glass makes a great vase filler, especially when placed around a candle.

Puzzle pieces – Using puzzle pieces as vase filler would a great conversation starter. Grab those old puzzles with missing pieces and use them to fill a vase. You could also scatter some on a tray or in a bowl.

Seashells – You can either use your own collection or buy seashell vase filler. You could add some play sand to the vase first then layer in the seashells.

Sand – Whether you use white sand or layer colored sand, sand makes a lovely vase filler all by itself. Add an extra decorative touch by tucking a candle in the sand.

Wood Tags – Wood tags are a blank canvas. Use them as is, paint them, add text or numbers..For example, you could paint them navy blue and draw an anchor on them. Or stain them, stencil a number on it, then distress it with fine grit sandpaper.

Cozy Fall Vase Fillers

Acorns – Just go outside and gather some acorns for your vase. If you don’t happen to have acorns lying around your yard, you can get bags of acorn vase filler.

Pine cones – I put pine cones out starting in the Fall and leave them through the winter. You can gather them from your yard and then bake them at 225 for about thirty minutes to kill bugs. If you don’t want to do all that, there’s always store bought pinecone vase filler.

Gourds – Buy some from the grocery store, a farmer’s market or buy faux gourds. They make a very colorful Fall vase filler and add lots of texture as well.

Leaves – Real or faux, leaves make a great vase filler. Take your kiddos on a leaf hunt and then let them help you fill your vases or bowls. Leaves look really pretty mixed with gourds.

Sticks – Floral stems are always available. But you can also collect some on a nature walk. You can leave the sticks in their natural state or paint them white, silver, gold, black or whatever color you want. 

Vase Fillers You Can Use All Year

Keys – I love the nostalgic feeling of old keys. Currently, these keys are in a bowl in the foyer as a sign to guests that they have a place to drop their keys.

I’ve also displayed them in a jar on our bookcase.

Coffee beans – This is one of my favorites. And, really I think you can use this one year round, but I particularly love the scent during the cooler seasons. I’ve also seen Lima, Lentil, and Kidney beans used as vase filler.

Coins/Change – A jar of pennies or a small vase filled with vintage coins or even regular old change adds so much interest.

Photographs – Tucking an old photo in a vase is a unique way to enjoy pictures that would otherwise be stored away in boxes.

Wine corks – I’ve read that some people write the date on the cork to commemorate a special occasion before adding to the vase. If you don’t have your own collection of wine corks, you can buy wine cork vase filler.

Cookie Cutters – I love to use my vintage Christmas cookie cutters during the holidays. If you have Easter ones you could use those for Spring. But any cookie cutters will do for year round. You could even display them in a big jar on the kitchen counter.

Fruit – such as apples, lemons or oranges, whatever happens to be in season. You can stock up at the grocery store or use faux fruit vase filler.

I keep my faux green apples out year round and just add seasonal elements to them such as ornaments or pine cones.

Candy – I’ve used candy corns, candy canes, Kisses, M&M’s…just depending on the season. Of course, this one has to be refilled often. 😉

Marbles – marbles are so nostalgic and add a touch it whimsy to your home decor. This is a great idea for an easy going household who doesn’t take life too seriously.

This list could go on and on. There really are no limits or rules on what can be used as vase filler. Just use your imagination, and have fun!

How to Store Vase Fillers

I keep my seasonal vase fillers in baggies. You could also keep them in boxes. Then store the bags or boxes on a shelf in a closet or in a seasonal storage bin in the attic, basement or garage, or tick them in an empty drawer.

For more styling and decorating tips, read:

• How to Hang Pictures at the Correct Height, Every Time
• How to Create a Foyer When You Don’t Have One
• Home on Purpose: Mindful Living in a Hectic World