1. Embrace Them as More Than Just Candle Holders

Instead of treating hurricane vases as simple vessels for pillar candles, design experts are filling them with layered natural materials, seasonal accents, florals, and even functional household items, making the arrangements look more personal and collected. “My favorite styling trick is a ‘vase-within-a-vase’ approach, where a smaller vase sits inside the hurricane, while fillers like citrus, herbs, carrots, or seasonal objects are layered around it,” says Mackenzie Biehl, a design and hosting expert.

Biehl also suggests using hurricane vases in more unexpected ways, including styling them with coffee beans in kitchens, rolled washcloths and eucalyptus in bathrooms, or fairy lights woven throughout greenery for added glow. In some cases, she even flips the vase upside down to create a pedestal-style display.

Totah says oversized florals and branches—such as olive or magnolia stems—can create arrangements that feel simple, organic, and visually impactful while still allowing the vessel itself to stand out. Lavender, rosemary, bay leaves, pomegranates, cherries, basil, driftwood, and dried botanicals also work well.

“Arrangements should engage multiple senses and tell a small story through texture, scent, and color,” says Ferguson. “Avoid decorative beads, vase gems, and overly artificial fillers, which can make arrangements appear dated rather than layered and collected.”

2. Use Sculptural Shapes, Smoked Glass, and Mixed Materials

Some of today’s hurricane vases look noticeably different from the traditional glass cylinders many people remember from years past. Designers say newer styles lean more sculptural and layered, with softer silhouettes, oversized proportions, and tinted and thicker glass.

Biehl points to mixed-material combinations—such as glass paired with wood, stone, or metal bases—as a growing trend, as they promote warmth and texture. Subtle amber and smoked-glass finishes are especially popular, she says, since they create depth and reflect light beautifully.

Totah adds that larger-scale hurricanes and pedestal-style silhouettes are becoming increasingly popular, particularly styles with warm, slightly textural finishes that help spaces feel layered and lived-in rather than overly polished.

Ferguson agrees and says she’s drawn to taller, elongated silhouettes with a slightly architectural feel, along with ribbed and fluted designs that appear softer and more refined than older, ornate styles. “Bases in brushed brass or aged bronze also help elevate the overall arrangement and make hurricane vases feel more decorative and intentional within a room,” she says.

3. Leave Some Breathing Room

While today’s hurricane vase arrangements can feel more layered and collected than traditional styles, designers say restraint is still what keeps them looking elevated instead of cluttered. The key, says Ferguson, is allowing enough open space for light to move naturally through the vessel rather than filling every inch.

To achieve this, Biehl suggests starting with grounding elements such as sand, stones, coffee beans, moss, or wood beads. Next, layer additional texture and finish with a single focal point. “Those small open pockets of air are what separate ‘styled’ from ‘stuffed,’” she says.

4. Style Multiple Vases Together

When styling multiple hurricane vases together, designers say the goal is cohesion, not perfect matching. The most successful arrangements typically share a common thread, whether that’s a similar material, finish, color palette, or overall mood, while still incorporating enough variation to keep the grouping feeling relaxed and layered.

A mix of varied proportions creates the most natural-looking arrangement, according to Biehl. “Odd-number groupings tend to feel more natural and visually dynamic than symmetrical pairings,” she says. Scale and proportion also play a major role in helping groupings look balanced.

Ferguson suggests thinking in thirds by combining a tall, medium, and short hurricane vase. She also advises clustering them rather than spacing them evenly in a straight line, then grounding the arrangement with a tray, runner, or defined surface area.

To keep collections from coming off as too uniform, Carmona likes mixing vintage-inspired hurricanes with cleaner, more modern silhouettes.

5. Look to Other Rooms

While dining tables remain one of the most popular places to style hurricane vases, designers say they work almost anywhere in the home. One reason designers love them is that they instantly add warmth, softness, and ambiance without requiring a major styling overhaul, making them an easy way to elevate both everyday spaces and entertaining areas.

Biehl suggests using the vases on kitchen islands, fireplace mantels, patios, and entry consoles. Totah places hurricane vases in entryways and bathrooms, where even a single oversized vessel can create a sculptural focal point and bring softness to a space.

Functional spaces can benefit from them as well. Carmona says she frequently styles hurricane vases in offices, open kitchen shelving, and bathroom counters. Ferguson gravitates toward powder rooms, nightstands, and poolside ledges. “Hurricane vases remain practical outdoors because they help shield candle flames from wind,” she says.