February 2010 - Selection and arrangement of home decor candles
I'm sure all of us have a few candles sitting around at home. Whether used for relaxation purposes or to create soft light to dine under, few can say that we don't love candles. This article seeks to suggest ways to select and arrange your home decor candles to maximise your enjoyment.
Selecting Candles
Before you choose your home decor candles, have a think about what you want to get out of them. If you want your home decor candles to be an aid to relaxation then scented candles may be just the ticket. I can think of nothing more relaxing then sitting back in a hot bath with candle soft light projecting across the bathroom and the smell of a favourite scent filling the warm air.
If you are looking for home decor candles to decorate a table for your dinner guests then scented candles may not be your best bet. If the scent is strong you would not want your guests to be distracted from the lovely smells of your carefully prepared dishes! As such, one would probably go for a non scented tapered candle. These are classic and elegant and elevate the level of sophistication at any social gathering.
Depending on your taste, you can use home decor candles to be a mood enhancer or you can use home decor candles to act as a talking point and focus for you table decorations. While the classic tapered candle is elegant and sophisticated it tends not to draw too much attention from your guests. An unconventional set of candles can be a good talking point and one to get the conversation going in the right direction during those all important first few minutes after taking your place at the table. Unconventional candles some in all shapes, designs and colours and the more unusual the more likely it is that your guests are going to talk about it.
Arranging Candles
For self relaxation purposes, you can pretty much arrange your home decor candles as you want as long as your method is safe. I'm a big fan of having a few tea lights sitting on the side of my bath, for example.
For formal gatherings, you would probably want a set of matching home decor candles placed at even intervals along your table. Depending on the type of candle you are seeking, you may also need a candle holder to support you wax wonder. A favourite arrangement is to have home decor candles arranged as trios and placed on the table at regular intervals. On a practical level, this allows for an even distribution of light. On a decorative level, a trio of home decor candles makes quite a bold statement and acts as nice focal points for your table decorations. Of course, that suggestion is fairly conventional. Depending on one's tastes, you could use mismatched candles on the table. Like using mismatched furniture in the home or a restaurant, a set of mismatched home decor candles can look great and very unusual.
The nice thing about home decor candles is that you can say quite a lot about yourself and make a statement about your event without saying a word! Home decor candles are one of those decorative items which stand out and everybody notices. Of course, the more unusual your selection and arrangement of candles, the more likely your guests are to say how much they appreciate them.
