Candles: My Top Must-haves in Home Accessories

 

I am going to let you on a secret; candles are one of my weaknesses and yes you guessed it, I have lots of candles in my home to the point that I had a comment from a friend that my house is a fire hazard. Needless to say I paid little attention. I love how fabulous they look and smell especially when I light them.

Candles create a warm and attractive effect in any space. They're often associated with romance and are a great way to create a mood of relaxation and calm. 

 

Candles bring light and you can turn them into focal points in the living room, dining, bedroom and even your bathroom.

Candles can be inspiring, energizing, beautiful, elegant, and soothing and simply smell great. So you definitely can change the mood of your home depending on the scent of your candles. 

The name candle comes from the Latin candere meaning "to shine." The earliest candles were created by rolling sheets of papyrus and dipped them in melted tallow (a byproduct of beef fat rendering). Due to its smell the tallow was eventually replaced by beeswax, whale oil and then paraffin. Soy and vegetable-based candles such as palm wax are also available. 

Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, is known for its use of candles and there are also references to candles in the bible. Many Buddhists light candles at their shrines, where the candle's light represents the enlightenment they seek. In Wiccan religions, candles represent gods and goddesses and are common during religious ceremonies 

Candles can be incorporated into your home in many forms, from collections of small candles to large pillars in their own decorative holders. 

Even when not lit, candles complement your home's decor simply because of their colour and design.

  

Ideas:

о   Groups of the same colour candles of various shapes and sizes will deliver a great visual impact.

о   A large amount of floating candles in a pool will be very attractive and create an interesting effect in an evening party. 

о   Three or five candles clustered in front of a mirror or a cluster of candles in a mirrored tray, either of these methods will give an extra glow due to the reflection from the mirror.

о   Floating candles with flowers i.e. water lilies, rose petals, will create a serene look.

о   Several sets of candles in different colors will allow you to change the look of the room and can be used for seasonal decorations.

 

Keep sets of candles in different colors to change the look of the room and for seasonal decorations. 

Tips:

  

о Always smell the bottom of the candle when buying scented ones. If you only get a strong scent from the top, they have probably only been dipped in scent; so if you are looking to get that lovely scent every time you burn the candle when you get to the bottom the smell won't be there.

о If you have a special candle you want to last a long time, just put it in the refrigerator one hour before using and it will burn slower and last longer. 

  

And while I love real candles, there is another option; especially if you dread dripping hot wax on your furniture or your flooring. 

Created by a company called Enjoy Lighting they can be purchased online. The light sparkles from the inside from three flame-mimicking lights that flicker randomly. With the room lights off or dimmed, these battery-operated candles are nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. The outside of each candle is made of real wax; some are textured, others are smooth and some even emit a fragrance. 

They are either operated manually or they can be programmed to light up at desired times and the batteries last for days. 

So whatever your taste or desire do get some candles, add a bit of spice to your home and have fun decorating.

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Pictures via alittlethingspicy.com, ericaduham.com, candles.lovetoknow.com, zoomdecor.com, dolezal_BobDiningRoom_lg trend-dir.net, cottagehomedecorating.com, sndgems.com, enjoylighting.com, outdoorlightinglamps.com, thecoolgadgets.com, interiordesignstyle.co, trendirs.com.