Candles at Home

December 15, 2019 1:14 PM

I like to light candles when I’m relaxing at home. They have a nice ambience. But I feel like the ambience could be even better! What kinds of candles are good for a casual meal at the table? For sitting around reading or studying or watching tv? Hit me with your best atmosphere-makers, please!

Right now, I just have a couple pillar candles from the craft store that have lasted forever. One is on my bedroom dresser (I basically never light it) and one is on my dining table (I light it when I eat dinner).

I’m interested in candle size, number of candles, candle holders (even lanterns!), candle use — what are your tips for everyday, homey candlelight?

posted by rue72 to Home & Garden (6 answers total)

Off point a bit but I'll offer anyway.

Avoid candles that are scented.

Scents (usually fake, synthetic and chemical-laden) disturb the atmosphere and charm of the candles and their luminosity. The only exception (for me) are candles made from beeswax, which are expensive but worth it.
posted by zenpop at 1:50 PM on December 15, 2019 [1 favorite]

I like a whole bunch of little tea lights. You can get a pack of 100 of them for super cheap at IKEA, if you have an IKEA. You can get candle holders that will hold multiples of them like this (random example, there are different styles).
posted by Weeping_angel at 1:52 PM on December 15, 2019

I'm with zenpop-- artificial candle scents can be overwhelming. I buy my beeswax candles from Salem Candle Works. They burn cleanly and have a natural beeswax scent. At this time of year, Trader Joe's sells inexpensive non-scented pillar candles. (They have scented ones too, but I haven't tried them.)

As to lighting design, usually I'll light a pillar candle and one or two votive/tea light size ones, and also turn on a couple of lamps so that I can read or watch TV. I think it's cozier to avoid overhead lighting.
posted by tuesdayschild at 2:17 PM on December 15, 2019

We have a dinner table candle arrangement that I like. It's a biggish wooden square with pebbles and seashells (place is near the ocean) with three white regular old pillar candles of differing heights. Looks sort of like this. Other things that can be neat include: candles in front of or near mirrors to increase the glow, really nice candlestick holders for the dinner table (slightly wobbly example), tea lights that float in clear bowls of water (example). I do agree that sceneted candles can often be distracting but that is also because so many scented candles are terrible. Look for ones that have interesting or unusual scents (I, of course, like this pack) or think about making your own with scents that are your own special smells.
posted by jessamyn at 2:28 PM on December 15, 2019

My kitchen lights are on a dimmer and when I’m cooking dinner I like to turn them way down low, pour myself a glass of wine, light a candle on the counter, put on some music, and have myself a cozy little bistro cooking time.

I only ever use pure beeswax candles. They’re expensive but they last a long time, they have a naturally sweet smell, and unlike scented candles, they don’t make me feel like I’m asphyxiating. I had to leave a party the other night because I felt like the scented candles had sucked all the oxygen out of the house.
posted by HotToddy at 2:59 PM on December 15, 2019 [1 favorite]

I have some glass punch cups that are a good size to hold tea lights or votives safely, and they look nice clustered on a side table.

If I'm achy and/or cranky, I bring candles and some wine in to the bathroom and have a nice bath with a bath bomb.
posted by theora55 at 6:10 PM on December 15, 2019