How to Style Your Home with Handmade Pottery: Tips from Virginia Beach Artisans
At Jars of Dust, nestled a few salty blocks from the oceanfront in Virginia Beach, the days start with the rumble of motorcycles and the shuffle of two sandy shop dogs. We throw clay with the windows open, handcrafting each ceramic piece that leaves our studio. Our handmade pottery is made to be lived with, not just looked at — so let’s talk about how to style your home with handmade pottery in a way that feels as natural and soulful as the coastal life we live.
1. Start with the Everyday Essentials
Before you even think “shelf styling,” think about what you touch every day: your morning coffee mug, the ceramic bowl you drop your keys into, the pitcher that doubles as a vase. Handmade pottery brings beauty to the basics. Our stoneware mugs and catch-all trays are not just pretty — they’re meant to be used, spilled on, and loved for years.
Try this: Keep a few matching mugs on open shelving in your kitchen, or use our stoneware bowls for your jewelry on your nightstand. It’s functional and beautiful — the best kind of home decor.
2. Let Texture Do the Talking
One thing mass-produced ceramics just can’t touch? The feel of real, hand-thrown clay. Our glazes are inspired by the natural tones of driftwood, seaglass, and dune grass. That raw texture adds warmth and grounding energy to any space — especially important if your home is full of sleek surfaces and minimalism.
Try this: Mix matte and glossy finishes on open shelving. Stack some Sandbar handmade ceramic dinner plates next to a shiny glazed vase filled with wildflowers (or dried sea oats if you’re feeling coastal cowboy).
3. Go Big with Statement Pieces
Looking for a way to make your space feel unique? Add one bold, handmade piece. Whether it’s a tall ceramic vase on the floor of your entryway or a sculptural planter on your porch, pottery home decor is an easy way to make a room feel intentional and artful.
Try this: Use our oversized vases to fill negative space near a console or fireplace. Throw in some pampas or dried eucalyptus and you've got an instant vibe.
4. Style in Layers and Clusters
Handmade pottery isn’t meant to be lined up like soldiers. Layer pieces of different sizes and heights together on your coffee table, bookshelves, or bathroom counter. It creates a story — a kind of visual rhythm that feels casual and lived-in.
Try this: Pair a small vase, a medium planter, and a tall taper holder together on a tray. Add a shell or matchbook you picked up from your last road trip for that personal touch.
5. Reflect Your Lifestyle
We make pottery for real life — beach hangs, sunset beers, messy dinners, and quiet moments. Styling your home with our handmade ceramics means reflecting the kind of life you want to live.
Try this: Use our handmade ceramic mugs for mezcal cocktails during golden hour. Fill our handmade side bowls with late-night noodles after a surf session. Light a candle on one of our handmade catch-all trays and let the day wind down.
Virginia Beach artisans — that’s us — aren’t just about making pottery. We're about crafting objects that hold memory, that feel like home, that echo the sound of waves and the freedom of open roads. So when you're thinking about how to style your home with handmade pottery, remember: it’s not just decor. It’s a lifestyle.
See what’s fresh out of the kiln in our shop!
— The Jars of Dust crew
