Beautify and Add Fragrance to Your Home Decor with Candles

Candles create a warm beauty in your home like no other home decor accessory. They light up the room and set the mood with colors or scents of flowers, foods, or spices. They illuminate the seasons or holidays with delightful smells. Let's explore some creative ways to spruce up your home decor with candles.

Create Multi-Dimensional Focal Points in a Room

Candles come in a variety of sizes and heights. There are wide, short, tall, thin, and medium sized candles of all different colors. You can arrange candles of different heights and sizes to create dimensional focal points on a table, fireplace mantle, mirror shelf, or wherever candles will fit. Place the candles from the smallest to the largest in groups of three to five candles to create an appealing display.

Use Candles to Enhance Other Decor Items

Floral arrangements, photos, paintings, and figurines seem to come to life when a candle is nearby. Light the candles in the evening to illuminate special centerpieces. Taper candles, pillar candles, or globe candles work great for highlighting other eye-catching items of your decor.

Set the Mood with Candles

In a romantic setting, add votives around a hot tub, bath, or bedroom to set the mood. For best results and longer burning times, always use votive holders. Use multiple votives of the same or various colors to create a more elaborate candle setting. For holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, set the mood for your gatherings with scented candles. Some great scents for the holidays are cinnamon, vanilla, apple, cranberry, cookies, and other holiday delights.

For parties, buy scented or unscented candles that are colorful and fit for the occasion. Brighten an anniversary party with white, green, or beige candles, which are decorative without drawing too much attention. Use pink or blue candles for kids' parties. Red, orange, green, white, or beige candles work well for the holidays. For a poolside party, use floating tealight candles to light up the pool and dazzle your guests.

Crafty Candles

If you enjoy decorating your home with homemade crafts, candles can also be used to create your own crafts. You can decorate plain candles any way you want. You can also tie ribbons around several candles to bind them in a decorative pose. Use saucers, flowerpots, old lanterns, and so forth to create your own unique candleholders. Create the type of decor you want in every room with a little creativity.

Candle Safety Tips

Before lighting a candle, be sure the candle is in a proper holder for burning. Also, never set the candle on a wood or plastic surface. Candleholders can become extremely hot after burning a while. Place burning candles on a metal surface if possible. For a safer way to enjoy scented or unscented candles, use a candle warmer. Candle warmers melt the candle while giving off its maximum scent. Warmers also enable you to use the candle longer without burning it up. Just make sure the warmer is placed on a non-flammable surface such as metal. Keep an eye on candles and never leave them unattended for long periods of time. Also, never place a burning candle too close to flammable objects such as silk flowers, cloth or clothes, or a hanging coat.

Blend colorful, sweet smelling candles throughout your decor to add beauty to every room of your home. You can find a variety of scented candles, unscented candles, votives, tealights, globe candles, taper candles, and pillar candles online to suit your needs.

1. Christmas trees were first lighted with actual candles, which presented a fire hazard. As a result containers filled with water

7. The shortened form Xmas for Christmas has been popular in Europe since the 1500s. It is believed to be derived from the

Greek word 'Xristos' which means Christ.

8. According to the National Confectioners Association, for 200 years candy canes were only made in the color of white and

it wasn't until in the 1950s that a machine was invented that could automate the production of candy canes.

9. The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day in England and it is a national holiday. Several stories exist for the

origination of the name. It is believed to have originated from the practice of boys who would be about collecting money in

clay boxes. Another thought is that the term is derived from a custom in the Middle Ages, about 800 years ago, when

churches would open their 'alms boxes' and distribute the contents to poor people on the day after Christmas. Alms boxes

are boxes in which donations of gifts and money would be placed. Yet another belief is that it comes from a custom of

masters giving their servants Christmas presents in boxes on the day after Christmas.

10. Evergreen trees had special meaning in winter to people, particularly in Europe, before Christianity started. Ancient

peoples would hang evergreen branches over their doors and windows because evergreens were believed to ward off

witches, ghosts, evil spirits and illness. For worshipers of the sun god, evergreen plants were a reminder of all the green

plants that would grow with the return of summer and the sun god being strong again.

11. In ancient times, many people worshiped the sun as a god in December because they thought winter occurred yearly

because the sun god had fallen into ill health. They therefore celebrated the winter solstice because it was a sign that the

son god would begin to regain strength and return to good health.

12. Legislators in Congress did business on Christmas Day in 1789, which was the first one to be observed under the country's

new constitution. The reason for the Congressional session was because it had become unpopular then to observe and take

part in English customs following the American Revolution. And when Christmas celebrations were barred in Boston

earlier in 1659 to 1681, it became a costly thing to be seen participating in any event or activity related to Christmas.

Anyone caught doing so had to pay five shillings.

Making Hand Dipped Candles

Making candles is a great hobby or business endeavor. Once you get the hang of it, the process is quite simple. For those who have the basics down cold, consider experimenting with the art of making hand dipped candles. While these lovely creations take more time, they are stunning. You can use several colors on each candle giving it a unique color scheme.

There are basic tools you will need to make hand dipped candles. Most of them you already use if you have experience in making candles. You will need a large amount of paraffin wax, wick, and a double boiler to melt it in. Other utensils include wooden spoons, bowls, and a good quality thermometer. The colors available for hand dipped candles are too many to name. These colors come in various forms including cakes, chips, powder, or liquid. If you choose to add scents to your hand dipped candles you need to make sure it is pure oil that does not have a water or alcohol base to it.

You will prepare your wax for hand dipped candles that same as you do for regular candles. Let it continue to heat until it reaches a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Once it does, turn the heat down very low to keep the wax in liquid form. Add the color to the wax, using a small amount at a time until your reach the color you want. Add a small amount of scent the mix at this time if you desire. Use scents moderately as you don’t want to have too powerful of a smell. Using too much fragrance can also result in the candle not burning properly.

Next, cut the wick for your candles, keeping it just a bit longer than the candle length you want. If you are making sets of the candles, it is important to cut the wicks exactly the same length. You will want to dip the wicks into the candle wax making sure to coat it properly. This is how you will “build” your candle. After the wicks cool, dip them again. Each time you do, the candle will grow in size. If you want different areas of the candles to be different colors, you will be able to do so by simply having more than one color of wax ready to use. Once your candle is close to the desired thickness you want, shave it with a soft blade, giving the top a pointed look. Dip your candles a few more times to give them a smooth finish.

Creating hand dipped candles is a great hobby or business venture. The process is time consuming, but the creations are beautiful. Learning to make hand dipped candles can be tricky. This is not a good type of candle for beginners to try to learn with. They will quickly become frustrated. To practice without wasting supplies, melt down the wax from the candles you are building and use it over and over again until you have the process perfected.

To make particular designs on hand dipped candles, consider purchasing a book. Most will offer you great color photos with step by step directions for making each hand dipped candle. You will also be able to obtain great color charts for obtaining the best color for your candles. The internet is also a great place to get ideas for the colors of your hand dipped candles.

Soy Candles

Making your own candles is very popular. It has always been done with paraffin wax or beeswax. Soy candles are starting to emerge on the market as well. Soy candles are made out of 100% natural soy wax without any additives. Candles made of soy wax will have a wonderful aroma without having any type of fragrance added. Expert soy candle makers know how to mix the soy wax in several ways that give the natural scent a bit of a difference as well as make in fainter or more powerful.

Soy candles can be made with or without wicks. Those with wicks are used the same way as any regular candle out there. Soy candles without wicks work with electric candle warmers. The candle sits on the warmer plate and the warmer is plugged into the wall. There is no flame to cause a fire. Wickless soy candles are a great choice for dorm rooms, apartments, offices, and anywhere that there is a potential of a candle being left burning that can cause a fire. Many offices and dorm rooms have put a ban on burning candles for this reason, but they often do allow the wickless candles using the burners.

Most candle makers who have tried soy wax are very happy with the results. It has a wonder natural scent and the texture of the melted wax makes candles that are very glossy and smooth. It is not necessary to add additives to soy wax as you often have to with paraffin and beeswax. The additives for those types of wax are for hardness and gloss. Soy wax offers both on its own.

Soy wax is cheaper than other types of wax as well. If you want to make candles on a tight budget, this would be the way to go. You will save money on the wax and you won’t need to purchase additives or scents. If you are planning to make soy candles to sell, you can make a higher profit because your costs are lower. If you aren’t sure, you can purchase a soy wax candle making kit online for less than $20. It comes with all the supplies you need to make five candles, including the jars and lids.

Many people enjoy the scent of a burning candle, but find the smoke from them can be irritating. This is especially true of individuals who are on oxygen, have bronchitis, or even allergy sufferers. Since soy wax is all natural, there is no smoke or irritates in the air from it. This makes soy wax candles a great alternative for many who otherwise wouldn’t be able to enjoy using candles.

Candle making is an excellent craft that many individuals enjoy both as a hobby and as a home business. Soy wax is not used as commonly as paraffin or beeswax, yet it works just as well for candle making. Since soy wax is less expensive and very easy to work with, consider trying it. Soy wax melts faster as well, reducing your overall production time. Soy wax is not carried in all craft stores, but you can easily purchase it on line in amounts from three pounds to fifty pounds. The more you buy, the less you will pay per pound, giving you additional savings.

Use Old Crayons to Make Candles

If you have children in your home, chances are you have an abundance of worn down crayons that don’t get used much anymore. Before throwing them out and buying new ones, consider using them to make candles. This can be a great way to turn them into something new and bright again. Most children will love the idea of creating candles with you and enjoy knowing their old crayons helped create them. Making candles out of crayons can also be a great gift giving idea.

Before you get started, discuss safety with your children. Since the crayons will have to be melted at a very high heat, they will not be able to participate in that portion of the candle making process. Assure them that there are many other aspects of the candle making that they can be a part of. To start, gather your supplies. In addition to the crayons, you will need a wax cartoon. This can be from milk, fabric softener, or orange juice. You will also need paraffin wax, two full ice cube trays, a double boiler, and white packing string. If you don’t want to use your double boiler an old coffee can and a saucepan will work just as well.

Trim the top off of the wax carton, leaving it approximately six inches high. You will want to cut the string at least 8 inches long. You will later cut the wick to fit the holder. To ensure a wick that burns easier take three pieces and bread them together. Use smaller pieces of string to tie the ends together. The holders for your candles can be anything you desire as long as they are non-flammable. Pretty vases, glasses, and jars work nicely.

Melt about three pounds of paraffin wax in the double boiler or coffee can. To help it melt faster, cut it into small chunks. The melting process with take about fifteen to twenty minutes. While the wax is melting, peel the papers off of the old crayons. You and your children can choose to separate the colors by lights and darks to have a mix that melds well or you can mix it all together and see what the color ends up being.

For best results, only add the crayons to the wax after it has completely melted. After the crayons and wax have both melted together, immediately remove the mixture from the stove and pour into your candle holders. If you would like to make scented candles try adding a splash of cinnamon or vanilla to your hot wax mixture.

It is important that the candles by left alone to completely harden. Make sure you have an area this can be done without disruption. It is also important to make sure small children can’t reach them, as out of curiosity they may want to check on their candles. The wax will stay hot for several hours and can scold the skin.

Making candles out of old crayons is a great way to spend the afternoon creating a neat project with your children. This process can also be done at schools and childcare centers with old crayons as presents for parents. Simply allow each child to decorate the outside of their candle holder while adults complete the rest of the process.