My New Year's resolution? Work out how to style out my compact and bijou (tiny) kitchen-living room space so that it's inviting for guests, all so that I can *finally* have the chic wine get-togethers of my dreams.
As a result, my January has been spent finding the best homeware bargains that elevate a small space without overwhelming it - adding refinement, and texture, and a general air of 'I've got my life together, thank you very much'. From cushions in trending olive green to oh-so-sophisticated scalloped edge plates.
Top of the list? This Zara vase, which is simply too chic to gatekeep. Coming in two sizes, one priced at £12.99 and one priced at £15.99, the vase is made from terracotta and is painted a blue-green, then finished with a shiny glaze.
The paint has a cracked, antiqued effect so that whenever anyone asks you where you bought the vase from, you can just say, oh-so-nonchalantly, 'This old thing? I picked it up at a ceramics market in Lisbon.' (Just because I'm not gatekeeping, doesn't mean you can't).
The best bit? The vase isn't just ornamental, it also holds water, so can be used to house any blooms or bouquets. But, then again, who can be fussed with changing water every few days? So, consider also filling your vase with dried flowers, currently a huge interiors trend, and much more low maintenance.
I see this vase working as a minimalist centrepiece when filled with dried flowers and placed on a kitchen or dining table, giving a certain put-together flair while positioned on its own on a bedside table, or working in contrast with its smaller counterpart to create an ornamental display on a living room sideboard.
See, the options are limitless!
Megan Wallace (they/them) is Cosmopolitan UK’s Former Sex and Relationships Editor covering sexual pleasure, sex toys, LGBTQIA+ identity, dating and romance. They have covered sexuality and relationships for over five years and are the founder of the PULP zine, which publishes essays on culture and sex. In their spare time, they can be found exploring the London kink scene and planning dates on Feeld.
