I love candles and use them all year but at Christmas they seem to take on an extra sparkle. Maybe it’s the holiday twinkle in my eye that sees candles just a bit differently – but somehow their glow is extra special this time of year.
Candle Safety
Before sharing some of the ways I’m using candles in my home this season I want to remind you that candles are an open flame and require caution. Please follow the three very basic but very important safety rules from The National Candle Association:
1. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
2. Never burn a candle on or near anything that might catch fire.
3. Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets.
Candles In My Home
I had a spot for a white candle but the small pillar just looked too plain on the simple glass holder I wanted to use. My solution? I dug out a handful of gold metal star studs from my craft supplies. The candle was too hard for me to push the studs in easily so first I dropped them into a mug full of very hot water and let them sit for a couple minutes. Then, one by one, I removed them from water and inserted the hot prongs into the candle wax.
Make a plain white pillar holiday ready by adding gold star studs from the craft store.
This metal floor lantern stands near my entry year ’round. For a simple holiday look I placed an extra long gold bead garland in the glass container holding the candle.
A gold bead garland piled around the pillar adds holiday sparkle to this floor lantern.
White tea lights in simple glass holders highlights a homemade Santa.
Inexpensive votives spotlight a handmade decoration.
A candelier in the breakfast room goes glizty for winter with sparkling hanging snowflake votive holders. Iced branches inserted in the candelier wreath above visually ties the votives and candelier together.
Snowflake votive holders hang from a candelier.
Terrie gave me this great candle holder several years ago and it’s been in use continually ever since. It’s easy to change it to match any season. For Christmas I simply placed gold pinecones in the bottom and a gold pillar in the top of the holder.
Gold pine cones and a gold pillar dress this holder for the holidays.
I brighten a corner of my kitchen with a coffee scented votive candle in a black cup and saucer while a Santa plate and Santa serving desert stand nearby.
A coffee scented votive in a black cup and saucer partner with Santas to decorate a kitchen corner.
Mirrors double the impact of candles as demonstrated by the three brass votives below on small gold framed mirrors.
Brass votive holders on small gold framed mirrors add a holiday glow to a table top.
A holiday sparkle results from a mix of clear glass votive holders reflecting light off a silver tray.
Mix or match glass votive holders on a silver tray for lots of sparkle.
Every window in the front of my house has an electric candle in the window. From the street at night each window glows with a single point of light…very welcoming.
An electric candle glows in each front window of the house.
Just as it wouldn’t be safe to use real candles in my windows, I have a very high mantel (it starts at 6′) that would make it a bother as well as unsafe to climb up to each evening to light candles. I solved the problem with battery powered candles – real wax, real scent, actually flicker and they come on each night at the same time (thanks to a built-in timer) and later they automatically turn off at a pre-set time each night. Easy and safe!
Battery powered candles make it easier and safer to use these candle holders high above the fireplace mantel.
I hope my candles have sparked some ideas for using candles in your home. Send me a note and a photo about how you brighten your holidays with the warm glow of candlelight.
Win This Pillow
Get your name in the drawing for this 16″ x 16″ French burlap pillow slip! All you need to do is send us a photo of a tree ornament you love and a brief note about why it’s special to you. Email your message and the photo as an attachment to solutions@yourdecoratinghotline.com and you’ll automatically be entered in the contest. Each email and photo puts your name in the drawing – enter as often as you like from now through December 22.
Win this French burlap pillow by sharing a photo of a favorite tree ornament.
Thanks to Michelle at Petit Coterie, ETSY Store, for the pillow slip prize!
Hope your holidays are cheery and bright!
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Mia, I’m glad you like my candles – like you I have them in almost every room and I use them. I know some folks set them out for decoration but I use them to set a mood, romantic, celebration, relaxing (sometimes I light one just for me to sit near and unwind). Your wreath suggestion would be great with an evergreen this time of year and a grapevine wreath in the spring. Thanks for commenting!
Yes, candles are definitely a big part of holiday decor and the idea of a surrounding them with a wreath is great. Thanks for sharing.
These are some great ideas with candles. I take most of my gourmet candles and place them in about every room in my house this time of year. It’s also nice to throw a small wreath around them as well.