Stone Urlis: The Ancient Indian Tradition Elevating Modern Home Decor
Discover how traditional stone urlis are transforming contemporary homes. Learn 7 stunning ways to style marble and sandstone urlis, from floating flowers to outdoor centerpieces.
Stone Urlis: The Ancient Indian Tradition Elevating Modern Home Decor
Walk into any beautifully styled Indian home today and you'll likely spot one — a shallow, wide stone bowl filled with floating flowers, petals, or candles, quietly anchoring the room with a sense of calm and beauty.
This is the urli (also spelled uruli), and it's having a major moment in modern interior design.
What was once a humble cooking vessel in Kerala's traditional homes has been reimagined as one of the most versatile and stunning decor pieces you can own — especially when carved from natural stone by skilled artisans.
What Is an Urli?
An urli is a traditional wide-mouthed, shallow vessel originally from Kerala, South India. Historically made from bell metal (bronze), urlis were used for:
- Cooking festive meals for large gatherings
- Storing water and grains
- Ritual purposes during temple ceremonies
Over time, the urli evolved from kitchen essential to decorative centerpiece — and when artisans began carving them from natural stone, something magical happened. The weight, the texture, the natural veining of marble and sandstone gave the urli an entirely new dimension of beauty.
Why Stone Urlis Are Trending
Stone urlis have exploded in popularity for good reason:
1. They Bridge Traditional and Contemporary
A hand-carved marble urli feels equally at home in a minimalist Scandinavian-inspired apartment and a traditional Indian haveli. It's one of the rare pieces that transcends design styles.
2. They're Effortlessly Beautiful
Fill a stone urli with water, drop in a few flowers, and you have an instant centerpiece. No arranging skills needed. Nature does the styling for you.
3. They Engage Multiple Senses
A urli with floating candles creates a gentle flicker of light. Add fragrant flowers like jasmine or roses, and the room fills with natural perfume. It's decor that you can see, smell, and feel.
4. They're Built to Last Forever
Unlike metal urlis that can corrode, or ceramic ones that chip, a stone urli is virtually indestructible. Your grandchildren will inherit it looking just as beautiful.
7 Stunning Ways to Style Your Stone Urli
Here's where the fun begins. A stone urli is one of the most versatile decor pieces you'll ever own. Here are our favorite ways to style them:
1. The Classic: Floating Flowers
The most timeless way to style a urli — and still the most beautiful.
How to do it:
- Fill the urli three-quarters with clean water
- Float seasonal flowers — roses, marigolds, jasmine, frangipani, or lotus
- Mix colors for festivals, keep it monochrome for everyday elegance
- Change the flowers every 2–3 days for freshness
Best for: Living room console tables, dining table centerpieces, entryway consoles
Pro tip: A single type of flower in one color (all white roses, for example) creates a more sophisticated, modern look than a mixed arrangement.
2. Candlelight Magic
Transform your urli into a floating candle display for romantic evenings or dinner parties.
How to do it:
- Fill with water
- Float 3–5 unscented tea light candles
- Add a few flower petals around them
- For festivals like Diwali, add small brass diyas instead
Best for: Dining rooms, balconies, puja rooms, Diwali celebrations
3. The Zen Garden
Create a miniature water garden for a meditative corner.
How to do it:
- Fill with water
- Add smooth river stones to the bottom
- Place a small water-safe plant or floating green leaves
- Optional: Add a tiny Buddha figurine at the edge
Best for: Meditation spaces, study corners, spa-style bathrooms
4. Outdoor Courtyard Centerpiece
Stone urlis are naturally weather-resistant, making them perfect for outdoor spaces.
How to do it:
- Place a large urli (24+ inches) as a courtyard or patio centerpiece
- Fill with water and floating flowers for gatherings
- Let rainwater collect naturally between events — it looks beautiful on its own
- Surround with potted plants for a garden oasis feel
Best for: Courtyards, patios, garden seating areas, poolside
5. The Dry Display
Who says urlis need water? Use them as elegant catch-alls or display bowls.
Ideas:
- Fill with decorative stones, crystals, or potpourri
- Use as a fruit bowl on a kitchen island
- Display a collection of small brass figurines
- Pile dried flowers or seed pods for an organic look
Best for: Kitchen islands, coffee tables, bedroom dressers
6. Festival Centerpiece
Urlis are the star of Indian festival decor, especially during Diwali, Onam, and Pongal.
Ideas:
- Diwali: Floating diyas with marigold flowers and rose water
- Onam: Traditional flower arrangement (athapookalam) in the urli
- Pongal/Sankranti: Turmeric leaves and fresh flowers
- Weddings: Large urlis at the entrance with flowers matching the wedding colors
Best for: Festival decorations, wedding venues, housewarming celebrations
7. The Statement Empty Urli
Sometimes, a beautifully carved stone urli needs no decoration at all.
A large marble urli with dramatic veining, placed alone on a console table or pedestal, is a sculpture in itself. The natural patterns in the stone become the art.
Best for: Minimalist homes, gallery-style displays, when the stone speaks for itself
Choosing the Right Stone Urli
Size Guide
| Size | Diameter | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 8–12 inches | Tabletop accent, bathroom counter |
| Medium | 12–18 inches | Console table, dining centerpiece |
| Large | 18–24 inches | Floor display, outdoor courtyard |
| Extra Large | 24+ inches | Grand entrance, garden feature |
Stone Type
- White Marble: Elegant, luminous, perfect for indoor display. The natural veining makes each piece unique.
- Black Stone: Dramatic, modern, makes colorful flowers pop beautifully against the dark surface.
- Sandstone: Warm, earthy, naturally weather-resistant — ideal for outdoor use.
- Green Marble: Rich and luxurious, a unique conversation piece.
What to Look For
- Smooth, even interior — water should sit cleanly without rough spots
- Stable base — the urli should sit flat without wobbling
- Consistent wall thickness — sign of skilled craftsmanship
- Natural stone variations — embrace the unique veining; it's what makes your piece one-of-a-kind
Quick Care Tips for Stone Urlis
- Change water every 2–3 days to prevent stagnation
- Rinse and dry after each use to prevent mineral deposits
- For marble: Avoid acidic substances (lemon water, vinegar)
- For outdoor use: A quick rinse with plain water is all you need
- Natural patina: Outdoor stone develops character over time — most people love this aged look
The Perfect Gift
Stone urlis make exceptional gifts for:
- Housewarmings: A beautiful welcome for a new home
- Weddings: A meaningful, lasting gift the couple will treasure
- Diwali: More special than disposable decorations
- Corporate gifts: Elegant, tasteful, memorable
We offer gift packaging and direct shipping to recipients. Contact us for personalized gift options.
Shop Stone Urlis
Ready to add this timeless piece to your home?
Every urli from Mour Handicrafts is hand-carved by artisans in Rajasthan. Each piece takes days to complete — from selecting the right stone block to the final polish. When you fill it with flowers and water for the first time, you're continuing a tradition that's centuries old.
Mour Handicrafts — Handcrafted stone art from Rajasthan, made for modern homes. Each piece is unique, carved with love, and built to last generations.
Mour Handicrafts Team
Generational artisan craftsmanship from Rajasthan. We share insights to help you find and care for handcrafted stone pieces.