Handcrafted Vases & Planters

Vases & Planters Online India - Ceramic, Brass & Bronze | IndianShelf

IndianShelf Vases & Planters are the pieces we use to hold plants, flowers, branches, or sometimes nothing at all because the pot itself looks good enough. The collection moves from Rs. 200 handmade ceramic pots with owl, tortoise, frog, elephant, and duck forms to large brass and bronze urlis priced into the lakhs. There are hand-painted leaves, birds, flowers and abstract patterns too, alongside glazed finishes, cylindrical pots, wide shapes and traditional metal vessels. These pieces bring colour, texture, and a little personality to shelves, windows, tables, balconies, and corners that otherwise feel slightly forgotten.

Types of Vases at IndianShelf

IndianShelf offers different types of vases, pots and planters for homes that like a little colour, texture and character. The collection ranges from everyday ceramic planters to decorative urlis and detailed cloisonn pieces.

Urli

Urlis bring a traditional Indian touch to home decoration. We offer brass and bronze urlis in different sizes, shapes and finishes. Some are made for floating flowers and diyas, while larger pieces can become a strong centrepiece on their own.

Use an urli in the living room, entrance, pooja space or courtyard. A few flowers and some water are often enough. No need to overthink it.

Cloisonne

Cloisonne vases are known for their detailed patterns, bright colours and decorative finish. They work as display pieces even when there are no flowers inside them.

Place a cloisonne vase on a console, side table or shelf where its pattern can actually be seen. These pieces suit homes with Indian, traditional or collected interiors and can sit nicely alongside other decorative pieces.

Ceramic Planters

Ceramic planters are easy to bring into everyday home spaces. At IndianShelf, you will find handmade and hand-painted ceramic planters in white, blue, green, yellow, beige, orange and brown finishes.

Some are simple cylindrical pots with leaf or stripe designs. Others take the shape of owls, elephants, frogs, tortoises and ducks. Prices start from around Rs. 200, so you can add a few without turning plant shopping into a major financial decision.

Use ceramic planters for indoor plants on windowsills, shelves, balconies, work desks or small corners that need some life.

Pots & Planters

Pots and planters are made for both plants and decoration. The collection includes round, oval, rectangular, square and wide ceramic shapes, along with larger copper, brass and bronze planters.

Choose a smaller pot for a shelf or tabletop plant, or go for a larger metal planter when you want the container itself to become part of the room. Hand-painted leaves, birds, flowers, stripes and abstract patterns add detail without making every corner of the house look busy.

Why Choose Vases & Planters from IndianShelf

IndianShelf brings together handmade vases, pots and planters for homes that want more than a plain container for a plant. The collection includes ceramic planters, cloisonne vases, brass urlis and large bronze and copper pieces, with options starting from Rs. 200.

IndianShelf has something for very different kinds of homes. A small Rs. 200 white owl ceramic planter can sit on a shelf or windowsill. A hand-painted ceramic pot with birds or leaves works nicely on a side table. Then there are the big bronze urlis and copper planters when you want the piece itself to become part of the room.

We use ceramic, brass, bronze and copper across the collection. Ceramic gives you lighter, colourful options with hand-painted flowers, stripes, leaves and abstract patterns. Metal pieces bring more weight and a traditional Indian feel. Brass and bronze urlis, especially, work beautifully with flowers, water and diyas during festivals or family occasions.

Many pieces are handmade or hand-painted, so small differences in colour, pattern and finish can show up from one piece to another. Honestly, that is part of the charm. A Rs. 250 ceramic pot with a slightly imperfect painted branch feels a lot more interesting than something that looks like it came out of the same mould as a thousand others.

You can use these pieces for plants, flowers or simply as decorative objects. Because sometimes the vase is the decoration. The flowers are just getting the credit.

Vases & Planters Finishes - Which One To Choose

The finish changes how a vase or planter feels in your room. At IndianShelf, you will find handmade ceramic, painted ceramic, glazed ceramic, cloisonne, brass, bronze and copper pieces. Ceramic gives you colour and playful detail. Metal brings weight and that old-school Indian look. Cloisonn is for when you want the vase to do most of the talking.

Vases & Planters by Room / Use Case

The best vase or planter depends on where youre putting it and what you expect it to do. A tiny ceramic pot can sort out a dull study shelf. A large brass urli can fill an empty entrance without much help from anything else.

Thats really the easiest way to choose.

Dont start with, Which one looks pretty? Start with, Where is this going? A balcony, bedroom, dining table and entrance all play by different rules. Otherwise, you end up with a lovely planter sitting in a cupboard because it was too big, too fragile or simply didnt work in the room.

Living Room

Use statement planters, decorative vases and larger urlis in the living room. You usually have more floor and table space here, so larger pieces dont look completely out of place.

A brass or bronze urli can sit on a console, side table or a suitable floor arrangement. Add flowers, floating diyas or petals when you want some drama. Leave it empty when you want the metalwork itself to do the talking.

For smaller living rooms, ceramic planters are easier to live with. Some books, a lamp or a small plant without making the corner look stuffed.

Hand-painted ceramic pots work well too. Leaves, birds, stripes and simple floral borders add colour without turning the room into a craft exhibition.

And if your living room already has cushions, paintings, lamps and fifteen things you bought because something was missing, skip the giant urli. Your room probably needs less, not more.

Entrance and Foyer

Choose a sturdy planter or urli for the entrance when you want one strong decorative piece. You dont need a whole arrangement greeting people at the door.

A brass urli works nicely on a wide console or in a larger foyer. During Diwali, weddings or family functions, you can add flowers, petals or floating candles and change the whole look in five minutes.

For a smaller flat entrance, use a compact ceramic pot.

Keep the practical stuff in mind too.

If everyone has to squeeze past the planter to remove their shoes, move the planter. No decorative object deserves that much family resentment.

If rainwater reaches your entrance during the monsoon, dont leave a delicate ceramic piece sitting in a puddle. Water around the base can leave marks and make cleaning a pain.

Balcony

Use ceramic planters for balconies when you want individual pots for smaller plants, herbs or simple greenery. They work especially well when you want several plants without turning the balcony into a mini jungle.

Balconies need a little common sense, though.

Indian monsoon weather can be brutal on outdoor decor. Heavy rain, humidity, dust and sudden changes in weather can leave things looking tired very quickly.

If your balcony gets direct rain, keep decorative ceramic pots in a sheltered section where possible. Make sure water can drain away properly.

And dont put a delicate planter right where you hang wet clothes. That drip-drip-drip will test your patience before breakfast.

Bedroom

Keep bedroom planters small and simple. The bedroom doesnt need a giant decorative object demanding attention from across the room.

A small ceramic pot with a leafy plant can sit on a dresser, window ledge or side table.

Painted pots can work too, especially if your bedroom is mostly plain.

Just dont overload the bedside table. You already need space for your phone, lamp, book, water bottle and that charger that somehow disappears every night.

Dining Room

Use an urli or decorative bowl as a dining table centrepiece when you want flowers, petals or floating diyas. The wide bowl gives you plenty of room to spread things out.

A brass urli works particularly well for Diwali dinners, weddings and family gatherings. Add marigold petals or floating candles and you have a festive setup without needing twenty little decorations.

For everyday dining, keep the arrangement low.

A huge vase in the middle may look fantastic in a photograph. Then you sit down for dinner and spend the entire meal leaning left and right to see the person opposite you.

Pooja Room

Choose brass urlis and traditional metal pieces for a more traditional pooja setup. Brass and bronze sit naturally alongside diyas, bells and other metal decor commonly used in Indian homes.

A South Indian Ritual Urli or a traditional Kerala-style brass urli can hold flowers or form part of a festive arrangement.

Keep the piece easy to clean. Flowers, water and oil can leave residue, especially when the pooja area gets regular use.

You also dont need a giant urli for a small pooja shelf. Match the size to the space. Otherwise, the urli becomes the main deity.

Study or Home Office

Choose compact ceramic pots for a study or home office. A little greenery can make a desk feel less dead without stealing the space you need to actually work.

Painted ceramic pots are useful here too. A little blue, green or yellow can break up a desk full of black electronics and white notebooks.

Keep the plant small.

You need space for your laptop, notebook, coffee and the growing pile of papers you absolutely plan to sort out. Tomorrow. Obviously.

Kitchen

Use small ceramic pots for herbs and compact plants in the kitchen. A window ledge or open shelf is usually enough.

Keep decorative pots away from the stove where possible. Oil splashes, steam and food stains are not exactly a dream cleaning routine.

And if the kitchen is already cramped, dont force a planter into it. You need room to chop onions without knocking over a ceramic duck.

Bathroom

Use small planters only in bathrooms with enough ventilation and a dry spot for them. A little greenery can make a plain bathroom feel much less stark.

Ceramic pots can work on a window ledge or dry shelf. Keep them away from places where water constantly collects.

Humidity is already high in most bathrooms. Add a wet planter base and poor ventilation, and grime will happily move in.

So no, you dont need a planter beside every soap bottle.

One small piece is enough.

Hallway and Narrow Corners

Choose narrow ceramic pots and compact vases for hallways because they take up less walking space. A slim planter can work on a console, shelf or ledge without getting in everyone's way.

A cylindrical pot is an easy option. Small round and oval pots can work on wider ledges.

Check the available space before buying. A planter that looks tiny on a product page can feel surprisingly chunky once it lands on a narrow console.

And dont put a fragile ceramic pot somewhere people have to squeeze past every morning.

Someone will knock it over. Probably you.

Outdoor Garden

Choose larger metal planters and sturdy pots for bigger gardens, terraces and verandahs. Open outdoor spaces can handle larger pieces much better than a small hallway or balcony.

The collection includes substantial pieces such as a Copper Planter measuring 22.75 35.5 inches and a Bronze Planter measuring 23.5 32 inches.

These are big pieces.

They need proper floor space. They make sense in a garden, large verandah or spacious terrace. Put one into a tiny passage and suddenly youre designing your walking route around a planter.

Outdoor pieces also need more care. Rain, dust and humidity can affect metal finishes over time.

Give them a regular clean, especially after the monsoon. Dont wait until the dirt has basically become part of the finish.

Festive Decoration

Choose urlis for festive decoration when you want flowers, petals or floating diyas to become the centre of the display. This is where their wide bowl shape really earns its keep.

A brass urli works beautifully for Diwali, weddings, pujas and family functions. Fill it with water and flowers, scatter petals around it or add floating diyas for an evening setup.

A larger urli can also work near an entrance or in a courtyard during a function.

But heres the boring question that saves cupboard space: where will you keep it afterwards?

If you live in a flat and have limited storage, a huge urli can become a very expensive cupboard resident for 360 days of the year.

Buy the size your home can actually handle.

Gifting

Choose smaller handmade ceramic pots for easy gifting, while brass urlis suit larger occasions such as housewarmings, weddings and festive gifts. Ceramic planters are easier to place because they can go on a desk, shelf, balcony or window ledge.

These are useful when you know someone likes plants but have no clue what their living room looks like.

For a housewarming or traditional occasion, a brass urli makes a much bigger statement. It also needs more room.

So think about the recipients home before buying the impressive-looking piece.

Nobody wants a beautiful gift that spends the next three years hiding behind the suitcases because there was nowhere else to put it.

Urli for Festivals

An urli is ideal for festive decoration because its wide bowl gives you plenty of space for flowers, petals, water and floating diyas. One piece can do a lot of visual work, which is handy when youre getting the house ready and already have ten other things on your list.

For Diwali, fill the bowl with clean water and add marigold petals, rose petals or a few floating diyas. Leave some of the metal visible around the arrangement. That little bit of empty space helps the flowers stand out.

Want something more traditional?

Go with fresh marigolds.

Having a puja at home? Fresh flowers work beautifully in an urli. Jasmine, rose and marigold are easy choices, depending on whats available near you. Once the flowers start wilting, clear them out and rinse the bowl. Old flower water gets unpleasant pretty quickly, especially in warm and humid weather.

Wedding and housewarming functions also suit an urli because you can use it near an entrance, on a wide console or in a courtyard. During a crowded function, though, placement matters. Give the bowl enough room around it so sarees, dupattas, children and hurried relatives arent constantly brushing past it.

For an evening function, floating candles or diyas bring a lovely glow to the water. Keep flames well away from curtains, loose fabric, paper decorations and anything else that can catch fire. Sounds basic, yes. Still worth remembering when the living room is full of guests.

After the festival, clean the urli and dry it completely before storing it. Flower residue, oil and dampness can sit on the surface if you simply shove the bowl into a cupboard and forget about it until next Diwali.

And before buying a very large urli, have a look at your storage space. A 36-inch decorative piece needs somewhere sensible to live after the festival is over. Cupboards in Indian homes have a funny way of being full even when youre convinced theres plenty of space.

Pick an urli that suits the celebration, fits your room and can be stored comfortably afterwards. Youll actually enjoy bringing it out again next year.

Vases & Planters: Sizes & Measurements

Check the height, width, length and diameter before you buy a vase or planter. The number shown as the size doesnt always tell you how much space the piece will actually occupy.

A 13-inch piece can be quite wide and low. Another 13-inch piece might be tall and narrow. Same number. Completely different footprint.

Thats where things get interesting.

Small Vases and Planters

Smaller planters are easier to fit on shelves, ledges and compact tables. One of the listed sizes measures 7 cm high 13 cm wide 17 cm long, with a stated size of 6.63 inches.

Look at the width and length too.

A short pot can still spread out quite a bit once you place it on a shelf. If youre working with a narrow ledge, depth becomes the measurement worth checking first.

Measure the available surface before ordering. It takes thirty seconds. Fixing a planter that doesnt fit takes considerably longer.

Medium-Sized Pieces

Medium-sized vases and planters give you more visual weight without needing a huge amount of room. One listed piece measures 12 cm high 25 cm wide 25 cm long, with a size of 9.84 inches.

Here, the 25 cm width matters more than the height if youre placing it on a table or cabinet.

Leave a little space around the planter too. Youll need somewhere to put your hand when watering the plant, wiping dust or moving the pot for cleaning.

Indian homes collect dust. Quickly. Especially near windows and balconies.

Tall Planters

Tall planters need enough floor or surface space to stay steady. One listed piece measures 37 cm high 23 cm wide 23 cm long, with a size of 14.57 inches.

Height changes the whole look of a planter. A taller piece can fill an empty corner or sit nicely beside a larger piece of furniture.

But check the base.

If the planter is going near a passage, doorway or busy part of the house, a stable 23 23 cm footprint is much more useful than simply knowing that the planter is 37 cm tall.

And once you add soil and a plant, the whole thing gets heavier. Obviously.

Wide Vases and Urli-Style Pieces

Wide, low pieces need you to check the diameter carefully because they can occupy more table space than their height suggests. One listed piece measures 11.50 cm high with a 34 cm diameter, with a stated size of 13.26 inches.

Thats a low profile with a fairly broad spread.

Such a shape works when you want flowers, petals or another decorative arrangement to spread across the surface rather than rise upwards.

Heres the kicker: diameter is the measurement that can catch you out. A 34 cm-wide piece needs a decent surface, even though it stands only 11.5 cm high.

Square and Rectangular Planters

For square or rectangular planters, check both width and length because they determine the actual footprint. One listed size measures 22.86 cm high 15.24 cm wide 15.24 cm long, with a stated size of 12 inches.

That makes the base fairly compact and evenly proportioned.

Got a narrow shelf? Measure it first.

Got a cabinet with doors? Check that the planter wont stop them from opening properly. Sounds obvious, but these are exactly the little details that get missed when youre shopping from a screen.

How to Measure Your Space

Measure the place where the vase or planter will sit before choosing its size. Take the width and depth of the surface, then check the height available above it.

For a shelf, measure from the shelf surface to the next obstruction. That might be another shelf, a window frame or the underside of a cabinet.

For a floor planter, measure the available footprint and check how much walking space remains around it.

Youll also want to check the opening of the planter, especially if youre buying it for a real plant. Outside dimensions tell you how much room the pot occupies. They dont tell you how much soil the plant can actually hold.

Choosing a Size for Plants

Choose a planter with enough planting space for the plant youre growing, rather than judging only by the outside size. A broad decorative pot can have a surprisingly small opening.

Check the mouth, inner depth and drainage arrangement where applicable.

A plant also grows. That tiny money plant may look perfectly happy today, but give it a few months and those leaves can start spreading all over the place.

So leave some room around the planter.

Youll need it for watering, pruning and the occasional proper clean, especially during humid weather when dust and moisture seem to form their own little partnership.

Think About Weight Too

A larger planter will usually become much heavier once you add soil and a plant. This matters when youre placing it on a shelf, balcony ledge or lightweight table.

A 25 cm-wide pot filled with wet soil is a different beast from the same pot sitting empty in a shop.

For balconies, check the surface and placement carefully. For shelves, make sure the furniture can comfortably handle the load.

Real talk: size isnt only about whether the planter fits. Its also about whether the place can handle it.

Leave Some Working Space

Leave a little space around your vase or planter so you can clean, water and move it comfortably. Packing every inch of a table looks fine until you actually need to reach the thing at the back.

This matters even more in Indian homes where dusting is part of the weekly routine and balconies get a proper beating during the monsoon.

A few centimetres of breathing room makes cleaning much easier.

Measure first, then buy. Check the full dimensions rather than relying only on the size number, because height alone cant tell you whether a vase or planter will fit your home properly.

Vases and Planters Care and Maintenance

Your vases and planters dont need a lot in maintenance. They need regular wiping, sensible watering and some protection from Indias weather doing what Indias weather does.

Dust settles. Humidity sticks around. Monsoon turns balconies into damp little ecosystems. And somehow, the pretty ceramic pot you bought last month already has a layer of dust sitting on it.

A little care keeps that from becoming a bigger headache.

Wipe Ceramic Vases and Planters Regularly

Ceramic vases and planters are easiest to maintain when you wipe them before the dirt gets properly comfortable.

Use a soft, slightly damp cloth for everyday dust. If there are muddy marks or fingerprints, add a little mild soap. That's enough.

Skip the rough scrubber. Especially on hand-painted pots.

Those little leaves, birds, flowers and borders are part of the look. Scrubbing them every Sunday because clean means shiny is a good way to slowly ruin the very thing you liked.

Dont Let Water Sit Under the Pot

Water sitting under a planter can stain your floor, shelf or wooden furniture.

And Indian homes have enough mysterious water marks already. No need to create another one.

If the planter has a drainage hole, let the excess water drain properly. Keep a tray underneath indoor pots, especially on marble, wood or painted surfaces.

During monsoon, water evaporates more slowly. So check the soil before watering again instead of following some fixed schedule from the internet. Your money plant doesn't know what Tuesday is.

Keep Urlis and Metal Pieces Dry

Brass, bronze and copper urlis need regular dusting and proper drying, particularly during humid weather.

Wipe them with a soft cloth after use. If you've used a urli for floating flowers, empty the water afterwards and dry the bowl properly.

Don't leave flower water sitting there for days.

That isn't decoration anymore. That's an experiment.

For decorative metal pieces, avoid aggressive polishing unless the finish allows it. Some aged surfaces look beautiful as they are. You don't need every brass urli to blind the neighbours when the afternoon sun hits it.

Remove Flowers Before They Turn Sad

Remove wilted flowers from urlis and vases as soon as they start looking tired.

Old petals can make the water murky and leave marks on the surface. In warm Indian weather, things go downhill surprisingly fast.

For festive decoration, change the water regularly if you're keeping flowers or floating diyas in the same urli.

Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, weddings, housewarming functions, all lovely.

Three-day-old flower water? Less lovely.

Keep Soil Off Decorative Surfaces

Try not to let wet soil sit on the outside of your planter.

It can leave stubborn marks, particularly on light-coloured ceramic pots. White planters are gorgeous until somebody spills half the potting mix over them. Then suddenly everyone is busy.

If soil falls onto the rim or outside wall, wipe it while it's still fresh.

Also check the bottom of indoor planters after watering. Excess moisture trapped underneath can damage wooden tables and shelves over time.

Be Gentle With Hand-Painted Pots

Hand-painted planters deserve slightly more care than plain ones.

Wipe painted areas with a soft cloth instead of scrubbing them. Don't soak the entire pot for ages just because you're in a cleaning mood.

For pots with floral borders, birds or detailed patterns, gentle cleaning is the safer option.

And please don't use random kitchen cleaners because the bottle says multi-purpose. A cleaner being multi-purpose doesn't mean your ceramic pot volunteered for the experiment.

Store Decorative Pieces Properly

Store unused vases, urlis and planters somewhere dry and reasonably cool.

This matters during India's humid months. Closed cupboards can trap moisture, especially when damp pieces go straight inside after cleaning.

Dry them first.

For ceramic pieces, leave some breathing room between them. Don't stack delicate pots together like steel plates at a family function.

Smaller decorative vases can be wrapped individually if you're storing them for months. Festival dcor has a habit of spending eleven months in a cupboard and one week being treated like priceless family treasure.

Move Heavy Planters From the Bottom

Lift a large planter from underneath when moving it.

Don't drag it by the rim. Don't pull it across the floor because you're trying to save yourself thirty seconds.

Large planters become very heavy once you add soil and a mature plant. A cracked rim or damaged base can happen surprisingly quickly.

For bigger pieces, get another person to help. Yes, even if you're convinced you can manage it yourself.

Protect Balcony Planters During Monsoon

Balconies take the worst beating.

Heavy rain, wind-blown dust, strong sunlight and constant moisture can wear down decorative planters much faster than pieces kept indoors.

If you have painted or delicate ceramic planters outside, move them under a covered section during very heavy rain.

Check metal planters and urlis for trapped water too. Wipe them down when necessary.

In coastal cities, humidity and salty air can also affect metal surfaces over time. If you live near the sea, regular wiping becomes even more useful.

Check for Cracks Before They Become a Problem

Check ceramic planters occasionally for cracks, chips or loose pieces.

A tiny surface chip on a decorative vase is one thing. A crack running through a planter holding several kilos of wet soil is another matter entirely.

If a large planter develops a serious crack, don't keep shifting it around casually. Get it repaired or replace it.

For smaller decorative damage, a local repair person or artisan may be able to help. Just don't reach for whatever glue happens to be lying in the drawer and declare the job finished. We've all done it. It doesn't always end well.

Follow a Simple Indian-Home Routine

You really don't need a complicated maintenance timetable.

Wipe off dust regularly. Check the base after watering. Remove old flowers. Empty urlis after use. Look for cracks. Keep painted surfaces away from rough scrubbing.

During monsoon, pay a little more attention to moisture.

During summer, watch how quickly your plants dry out.

And when you clean the house before Diwali, don't forget the vases hiding behind the curtains or the planter sitting on that balcony corner you've been ignoring since April.

Five minutes here and there is enough.

Your decor should look lived-in, not neglected. Theres a difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Type Of Planter Is Best For Indian Homes?

Look, theres no single best planter. For balconies, terracotta is a solid choice, while ceramic looks great indoors. Plastic is handy if you keep shifting plants around. Just check the drainage. A fancy pot that drowns your plant is basically expensive nonsense, isnt it?

Do Vases And Planters Need Drainage Holes?

Real talk, planters need drainage holes. Indian monsoons don't exactly do moderation. Water can sit in the soil for ages, especially in humid weather. Got a beautiful pot without a hole? Use it as a cover pot. Keep the actual plant in a nursery pot underneath. Easy fix.

What Size Planter Should I Choose For My Plant?

Go slightly bigger than the plants current pot. Don't suddenly give a tiny plant a bucket-sized home. Too much soil can stay wet for longer, which isn't great. Also check your space. A massive planter on a small Mumbai balcony? Bit much, honestly.

Are Ceramic Planters Good For Indian Weather?

Ceramic planters look brilliant indoors and on covered balconies. For an exposed terrace, though, think twice before leaving one outside through heavy monsoon rain. Check the drainage and make sure you can actually move it. A huge, soaked ceramic pot isn't exactly fun on a rainy morning.

How Do I Care For Planters During The Indian Monsoon?

During monsoon, check the soil before watering. Seriously, don't water plants just because its Tuesday. Rain and humidity can keep soil wet for days. Empty saucers, clear blocked drainage holes and move sensitive plants under cover. Sometimes your plant doesn't need more attention. It needs you to leave it alone.