Decorating With Candles At Christmas
Candlelight adds a beautiful and warm glow to our Holiday home. Here are tips and ideas decorating with candles at Christmas.
Decorating with candles for Christmas is one of the most beautiful things you can do during the holiday season. Now that the evenings are darker and longer, there are so many ways to use candles to create a golden magical glow in your home! Here are 5 easy ways to decorate with candles now.
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A FEW IMPORTANT TIPS
I love the pretty glow of candles, especially during the Christmas season! Here are general tips when using candles…
- as you all know, but we can’t say it too often, do not leave a real flame unattended
- when using real candles keep things away from the flame
- the wick of a real candle should be trimmed before relighting so it does not create a big fame or lots of smoke
- a battery-operated candle with a flickering flame is a fabulous investment
- try to find a battery-operated candle that has a remote control
- when storing candles keep them in a cool place and take the batteries out of them
Now that you know these important tips, here are 5 ways to use those pretty candles during the holiday season! And a BTW, I’m giving you a little sneak peek at my Christmas decorations this year.
SCATTER VOTIVES
I think a dozen votives and some pretty votive holders should be in every home decorators arsenal of must-have decor. Especially at Christmas.
Votives are the quintessential way to decorate with candles for Christmas!
They are best used en masse, grouped together or scattered across a table, mantel or tray! And used liberally!
When you use votives keep other decor low lying so the candles aren’t hidden.
I go through real votive candles quickly here at the Tanglewood house! They are always part of my decor no matter what time of year! These little candles make everything more festive!
ADD CANDLES TO A CHRISTMAS VIGNETTE
One of the best things about many candles is you can put them on tall candlesticks. And when added to a vignette they can add that element of height that makes a vignette so interesting.
Here’s a tip to remember when adding tall candlesticks with candles to a vignette…
VARY THEIR HEIGHT
Varying the height of tall candlesticks adds so much more interest to a vignette than if the candlesticks were both the same height.
The candles above are the same height so I tucked a small white painted book behind the big container of greens and put one of the candlesticks on it.
Just that little variation makes a huge difference!
If you look very carefully you can see the book. But I bet you would have never noticed it if I did not point it out.
USE HURRICANES WITH SNOW
When thinking about decorating with candles for Christmas, think about hurricanes!
This is such a simple, easy idea. Glass hurricanes are wonderful decor items to collect. They are immensely useful all year round!
And at Christmas, they can become a lovely, just barely noticeable part of your Christmas decor.
One way I use them every season is to add snow and a candle to them. I love this look! You can see my favorite FAUX SNOW HERE.
And here’s last year’s Christmas decor in the dining area. The hurricane candle is flanked by tapers.
USE ONE BIG CANDLE IN A BOWL
Here’s another way to add candle glow to your Christmas home and it’s so so easy!
Put a fat candle in a glass hurricane and put that into a big shallow bowl. Add some pretty greens and pinecones and you have a gorgeous centerpiece!
This centerpiece takes literally minutes to put together. Don’t you love to decorate like that?
Just think of all the variations you can create with a candle, glass hurricane, a bowl and some Christmas things.
DECORATE FOR CHRISTMAS WITH CANDLES ON YOUR MANTEL
Here’s a little look at my Christmas mantel this year, although it is not finished yet.
One of the most beautiful ways to decorate a mantel is to leave plenty of room for candles!
The candles on our mantel, like most other candles in our home, are battery-operated! I don’t have to light them! They turn on when it gets dark and stay on for five hours!
There’s something so beautiful about the candle glow amidst the greens!
I’m adding a few more glass candles to each side of the mantel in varying sizes but I had to order more and they don’t arrive until tomorrow.
But you get the idea.
Did you notice the mercury glass votives? They go across the front of the mantel for more pretty candlelight!
You can see the “O Come Let Us Adore Him” sign HERE.
There you go, friends! Decorating with candles (5 ways) for Christmas! Simple, beautiful, and warm!
Do you have any candle ideas? Please leave them in the comments below. Thanks!
MORE CHRISTMAS POSTS TO ENJOY
EASY AND BEAUTIFUL 20 MINUTE CHRISTMAS ARRANGEMENT
SNOWY WHITE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE IN A CLOCHE
THE MAGIC OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS TREE
HOW TO DECORATE A TABLETOP TREE
I love to see candle lit lanterns in outdoor spaces. It just seems to make the nighttime more magical.
I agree! And especially around Christmastime!
Did you know that Lumina makes battery operated (5 hr timer) votives that has the real flame effect? So easy and much safer! They are bit pricy, but I was able to use a coupon at Bed, Bath and Beyond.
Yes, isn’t that wonderful? I’ve had Lumina for years and they are worth the price!
Love your “O Come Let us Adore him” sign above your mantel. Would love to know where you got it.
This sign is so well made. You will love it! See it here: https://rstyle.me/+SFeE1mRaXBfhQ5wye0Gfrg
I have several lanterns with candles in my home,all with timers.They create such a warm glow at night.Your mantle looks beautiful,I just love the natural look.
This year’s Christmas decor has a very natural look
Gorgeous and Pinned!
Thanks, Miche! I LOVE my pinners! That helps me a lot!
Yvonne! Wonderful reading today….I’m so excited about using some of your suggestions using candles!! Have a wonderful day!!
Oh, so glad you hear that Barbara!
As a Realtor, I am constantly surprised how often homeowners light a candle and leave the home for me to show clients. DO NOT do that! Not safe for your home and not safe for my clients that have children -and are trying to focus on the home. There are plenty of safe options.
I’m glad you mentioned that in this Post.
Hi Dana,
Before battery-operated candles and diffusers you don’t know how many times I left the house to turn around and see if I remembered to blow out the candles. UGH! Great reminder!
Yvonne, Since I found faux candles with timers and some with remotes I have been a believer! I love to use hurricane and cylinder clear glass holders and fill the bottom with seasonal items like shells, acorns,clear marbles ect and of course faux snow and greens like you suggest at Christmas. I also like to put faux candles under cloches and in lanterns which make the house feel so cozy in any season. My Christmas decor has been simplified as I get older but these candles will always be a part of my decorating plan for the season. Have a lovely holiday season.
I love candles on timers too!
I go nuts over candles and candle holders! I constantly peruse stores for chunky wood, ceramics, glass, etc and I am now loving the hurricanes! Going to look for some on my outings tomorrow. I love the idea of elevating a candlestick holder on top of books. I will definitely try that one out!
Yvonne,
Another inspiring post for a beautiful Christmas!
Happy Holidays,
Judith
I also use Lumina candles. They are perfect with the timers and all. They look so real!