Candles: Making and Decorating

Have you noticed the days are getting shorter?  It’s sad but true.  The nights are getting slightly cooler too. I’m not quite ready to decorate for fall, but I do enjoy using candles this time of year. Actually, I burn them year-round. We have kitties and I find candles burn pet odors out of a room better than any air freshener, so I use them all the time. But I especially enjoy them when the nights get longer. Today, I’m sharing a roundup of DIY candles along with ideas for decorating with candles.

Decorating with Candles

Votive candles create the appearance of fire in a fireplace. This is a great option if you don’t want to burn actual wood, or if your fireplace is no longer in working order.

Photo by Anchor Builders

 

Pretty lanterns line a hallway, adding a touch of warmth.

Photo by Colin Cadle Photography

 

White candles look pretty winding their way up a Mediterranean stone staircase. During the holidays, I like to create this same effect on my stairway.

Photo by Alexander Waterworth

 

Candles surrounded by greenery create a pretty, late summer centerpiece.

Photo by Garden Studio

 

Making Candles

If you feel inspired to make your own candles, I have a few tutorials for you to try. I encourage you to give it a shot. They’re easier to make than you might think. Plus it’s fun to give them as gifts. Glass jar candles are the easiest to make, in my opinion. I made these citrus-scented candles using embossed jars.

 

My favorite are the DIY lavender candles I made. They smell fabulous!

 

Janet at Shabbyfufu shares how to make beautiful oil lantern candles.

 

I absolutely must make these citrus rind candles by Patti at Garden Matter.

 

Floating tea light candles are easy to make and you can place them in a pretty bowl of water with almost anything that floats, like flowers.

 

For fall, take any store-bought candle in a jar and glue twigs around the outside to create rustic candles.

I hope you’ll give candle-making a try.

Personalize them with fragrance and decoration, and then use them throughout your home.