Gifts for Grandma

Looking for a gift for grandma, a colourful vase is a safe choice she'll actually enjoy. At Dims Studio you'll find a wide range of vases and pencil holders in stoneware, ceramic, dolomite and glass, many shaped like animals, fruit or faces, from brands like Quail and Kersten. Here's a guide to types, materials, sizes and brands, so you can easily find the right gift for grandma, whether it's for Christmas, a birthday, or just because.

Gift ideas for grandma: find the right vase

The range of gifts for grandma at Dims Studio is built around colourful vases in many different looks. Below you'll find the recurring types, so you can quickly spot the gift that suits grandma's style.

Animal vases

By far the largest group is vases shaped like animals. Quail is behind a large selection, including vases shaped like elephants, giraffes, koalas, zebras, leopards, owls, sheep, badgers and various dog breeds such as pugs, Westies, border terriers and cavaliers. Several of them also work as pencil holders, so grandma gets both a vase and a place for pens and pencils. From Kersten, Rice and GiftCompany you'll also find fish vases in several colours, and from Bloomingville and Creative Collection there are fish vases under names like Irving, Ariella and Harvey.

Wall vases

Many of the animal vases from Quail also come as wall vases, including motifs of a cow, giraffe, parrot, zebra, owl, guinea pig, puffin, pike, tiger and lion. A wall vase is an obvious gift if grandma likes to decorate a wall with a single flowering branch or twig without using floor space.

Fruit and face vases

From Selected by dims studio you'll find a series of handmade Italian ceramic vases shaped like lemons with faces, known as Testa di Moro, in several sizes from 30 to 50 cm and in yellow, red and orange. There are also jug- and jar-shaped vases with fruit motifs, such as a tall lemon vase and a large ceramic lemon vase. This type of vase is a bold, colourful eye-catcher that's hard to miss on a shelf or windowsill.

Glass vases

If grandma prefers a simpler look, we also have glass vases, including gradient vases from &Klevering in several sizes and colours, a rainbow vase in ribbed glass from GiftCompany, and a yellow Limone vase in glass from Creative Collection. Glass vases suit fresh cut flowers well and give a lighter look than the stoneware and ceramic vases.

Pot covers

If grandma has a green thumb, a stoneware pot cover from EJA is an obvious gift. They come in several colours with details like bows, and one model from Bloomingville is shaped like a cheetah. A pot cover is a practical gift that also hides an ordinary plastic pot.

Types compared

Type	Look	Suits well for	Examples in the range
Animal vases	Playful and characterful	The shelf, the desk	Elephant, giraffe, koala, pug, Westie
Wall vases	Decorative without floor space	The wall, the hallway	Cow, giraffe, parrot, owl, tiger
Fruit and face vases	Colourful and bold	Eye-catcher on shelf or table	Testa di Moro, lemon vases
Glass vases	Light and simple	Cut flowers	Gradient vases, rainbow vase, Limone
Pot covers	Practical and colourful	Green plants	EJA pot covers

Materials: stoneware, ceramic, dolomite and glass

The material affects both look and durability. Most vases in the range are hand-painted, which means colour and pattern vary slightly from vase to vase.

Stoneware

Stoneware is the most common material among the animal and wall vases from Quail. It's a densely fired, sturdy type of ceramic well suited to everyday use on a shelf or desk.

Ceramic

Many of the vases, including the fish vases from Kersten and Rice, as well as the Testa di Moro series, are made in ceramic. Ceramic gives a hand-painted, often Italian-inspired look, with each vase varying slightly in colour and pattern.

Dolomite

A few vases, such as the Hotdog vase and the Ande vase from Kersten, plus the meerkat and pufferfish vase from GiftCompany, are made in dolomite. Dolomite is a mineral-rich clay that, like stoneware, gives a sturdy, heavy vase with a matte surface.

Glass

The glass vases from &Klevering, GiftCompany and Creative Collection have a smooth, transparent or coloured surface that stands out clearly from the ceramic and stoneware vases. Glass is a good choice if grandma will mainly use the vase for cut flowers.

Polyresin

A few of the more sculptural vases, such as the Toucan vase and the Flower Lady vase from Kersten, are made in polyresin. Polyresin allows for more detailed shapes than pottery allows.

How to care for the vase

• Hand wash hand-painted stoneware and ceramic vases to protect the glaze and keep the colours looking their best.
• Avoid sudden changes in temperature, such as pouring ice-cold water into a vase that's been sitting in the sun.
• Wipe glass vases with a soft cloth to avoid scratching the surface.
• Do not put vases with metal details or bows in the dishwasher.

Materials compared

Material	Look	Durability	Examples in the range
Stoneware	Classic and sturdy	Very sturdy	Quail, EJA
Ceramic	Hand-painted and varied	Good for everyday use	Kersten, Rice, Selected by dims studio
Dolomite	Matte and earthy	Sturdy and heavy	Kersten, GiftCompany
Glass	Light and transparent	Needs careful handling	&Klevering, GiftCompany, Creative Collection
Polyresin	Detailed and sculptural	Good for everyday use	Kersten

Gifts for grandma's living room, windowsill and desk

Where the gift will stand at grandma's matters for which type and size you should choose.

For the shelf and living room

For the living room, a bold vase, such as one of the Testa di Moro vases or a large stoneware animal vase, is a good choice. It works as a standalone eye-catcher, even without flowers in it.

For the windowsill

A smaller glass vase or a small animal vase suits a windowsill well, where the light can play in the glass or bring out the colours in the glaze.

For the desk

If grandma still uses a pen and a notepad, one of the pencil-holder vases from Quail is a gift that's both fun and practical. They come in many animal motifs, so you can pick one that matches her favourite animal.

For the hallway

A wall vase in the hallway is a decorative detail that doesn't take up floor space. Combine it with a single branch or twig for a calm, natural look. See also our expensive vases for more motifs.

For the bathroom or guest toilet

A small, moisture-resistant vase in ceramic or glass can also work well in a bathroom or guest toilet, where a single green twig or a dried bouquet gives a cosy feel without needing daily care.

Combine several vases into one gift

If you want to give more than one thing, you can combine two or three smaller vases, such as a small animal vase, a glass vase and a pot cover, so grandma can choose where to put them herself. Choosing vases in the same colour family, for example several in yellow and orange or several in blue and green, gives the gift a more considered, cohesive look, even though it's several different products. You can also combine a vase with something from our other gift ideas if you want to make the gift a bit bigger.

Sizes: from small vase to large eye-catcher

The vases in the range span from small table vases to large floor and shelf vases. Measurements and variant names are always listed under each vase.

Small vase

The small vases, such as many of Quail's mini and wall vases or the smallest glass vases from &Klevering, suit a single flower or work as a pencil holder on the desk.

Medium vase

The medium size covers most of the animal vases in stoneware and ceramic, which suit a small bouquet or can stand alone as decoration.

Large vase

The large vases, such as the Testa di Moro series up to 50 cm, the large lemon vase or the large animal vases from Quail, are meant to stand as a standalone eye-catcher on the floor or a large shelf.

Sizes compared

Size	Typical use	Placement
Small	Single flower, pencil holder	Desk, windowsill
Medium	Small bouquet, decoration	Shelf, side table
Large	Standalone eye-catcher	Floor, large shelf

How to choose the right gift based on grandma's interests

If you're unsure which vase to choose, it can help to start from what grandma is already interested in, rather than guessing at her taste. If she loves animals, an animal vase or wall vase from Quail is a safe bet, because the range covers so many species that there's almost always a motif that matches her favourite animal, whether it's a dog, a bird or something more exotic like a rhino or a meerkat. If she has a soft spot for cooking or fruit instead, one of the fruit and face vases from the Testa di Moro series makes good sense, as they combine a colourful, handmade look with a clear theme. If she lives in a bright, modern home, a glass vase will often fit better than a vase in heavy, colourful stoneware, while a home with lots of plants and natural materials calls for a pot cover or a vase in dolomite.

Brands behind the gifts for grandma

The range brings together several brands, each with its own look. Here are the names you'll come across among the gifts for grandma.

Quail

Quail is behind the majority of the animal and wall vases, often with a playful, detailed look in stoneware and ceramic. Many of the models also work as pencil holders.

Kersten

Kersten makes colourful vases in ceramic, dolomite and polyresin, including fish vases, fruit vases and more sculptural shapes like the Flower Lady vase.

&Klevering

&Klevering is behind several of the glass vases, including the gradient series and the striped rhombic vases in stoneware, known for a simple, graphic look.

GiftCompany

GiftCompany contributes both glass vases, like the rainbow vase, and dolomite vases shaped like animals, such as a meerkat and a pufferfish.

Rice

Rice is known for colourful ceramics, and is behind several animal vases as well as the 'We believe in red lipstick' series in several sizes.

Bloomingville, Creative Collection and EJA

Bloomingville and Creative Collection, part of the same house, make fish vases and the Limone glass vase, among others, while EJA is behind the stoneware pot covers.

Selected by dims studio

Under Selected by dims studio you'll find the handmade Italian Testa di Moro series, where each vase is shaped like a face with a fruit motif and painted by hand.

Which gift should you choose for grandma? Our recommendations

Situation	Our recommendation
Christmas gift for grandma	A large, bold vase like Testa di Moro or a large stoneware animal vase from Quail
Birthday gift	A colourful glass vase from &Klevering or GiftCompany for fresh cut flowers
Grandma who loves animals	An animal vase or wall vase from Quail in her favourite animal
Grandma with a green thumb	A stoneware pot cover from EJA
Grandma who uses pens and pencils	A pencil-holder vase from Quail
A small token, not a big gift	A small vase or mini vase in stoneware or glass. See also more gift ideas

Frequently asked questions about gifts for grandma

Which gift suits grandma best?

It depends on grandma's style and home. An animal vase or wall vase in stoneware is a safe gift if she likes a playful look, while a glass vase or a Testa di Moro vase suits a more classic or colourful home better.

What can you give grandma for Christmas?

A large, bold vase, for example from the Testa di Moro series or one of the large animal vases from Quail, is an obvious Christmas gift, because it's both decorative and gets used all year round.

Which brands do you sell gifts for grandma from?

We carry vases and pencil holders from, among others, Quail, Kersten, &Klevering, GiftCompany, Rice, Bloomingville, Creative Collection, EJA and Selected by dims studio.

Are all the vases identical, since they're hand-painted?

No. Each vase has small variations in colour and pattern because it's painted by hand. That's exactly what makes the gift feel unique.

Can the vases be used as pencil holders?

Yes, several of the animal vases from Quail are designed as pencil holders and work just as well for brushes, flowers or other small items.

Can you wash the vases in the dishwasher?

Hand washing is recommended for hand-painted stoneware and ceramic vases to protect the glaze and keep the colours looking their best over time.

What's the difference between stoneware and dolomite?

Both are sturdy clay types, but stoneware is the most common in the range, while dolomite often has a slightly more matte, earthy surface. Both handle everyday use well.

What is a pot cover?

A pot cover is a decorative outer pot that an ordinary plastic pot with a plant can be placed inside. It's a practical gift if grandma has lots of plants.

What size vase should I choose?

A small vase suits a single flower or works as a pencil holder, a medium vase suits a small bouquet, and a large vase, for example from the Testa di Moro series, works as a standalone eye-catcher even without flowers.

Are there gifts that suit both grandma and the other grandma?

Yes, many of the vases suit most people. See also our gifts for grandma if you're looking for more inspiration for the family.

What can I give if grandma already has lots of vases?

Choose a vase with a different look from the ones she already has, for example a glass vase if she mostly has ceramic, or a colourful animal vase if her vases are mostly neutral. See also our fun vases for more ideas.

Where can you buy gifts for grandma?

You can buy gifts for grandma online at Dims Studio, where you'll find a wide selection of colourful vases and pencil holders in stoneware, ceramic, dolomite and glass.

When is a gift idea for grandma too casual?

It depends on grandma. A playful animal motif from Quail can easily work for an ordinary birthday, while a more classic vase, for example from the Testa di Moro series, often suits a milestone birthday or a bigger family celebration better.

Can you get a vase gift-wrapped when you buy it at Dims Studio?

Always check the gift-wrapping options in the cart at checkout, as they can vary. Either way, a colourful, hand-painted vase is a lovely sight on its own that doesn't need much wrapping.