How Do You Arrange Christmas Candles?

Candles are an extremely popular Christmas decoration. According to the National Candle Association https://candles.org/facts-figures-2/, approximately 35% of all candle sales in the US occur during the Christmas holiday season. The warm glow of candles helps set the mood and create holiday ambiance.

The goal of this article is to provide tips and ideas for arranging Christmas candles around your home. From mantel displays to dining table centerpieces, properly placed candles can add festive flair. By following a few simple guidelines, you can create beautiful and safe candle displays this Christmas season.

Select Candles

When selecting candles for Christmas decor, it’s best to use a variety. Varying the height, shape, and size of candles creates visual interest and depth in your arrangements. Tall taper candles make great focal points, while short votive candles can add warmth clustered in groups. Pillar candles in different widths provide height and structure. Mixing all three shapes throughout your decor provides pleasing cohesion.

Opt for natural wax candles made from soy, beeswax, or paraffin over artificial candles whenever possible. The natural wax will burn cleaner and emit a warmer glow. However, take safety precautions with open flames. Never leave burning candles unattended. Use flameless LED candles near children or pets or on surfaces like carpets and blankets where a fire hazard could arise. But place traditional candles up high on mantels, shelves, and tables.

Refer to Balsam Hill’s wide selection of Christmas candles, holders, and scents to inspire your holiday decor.

Create Focal Points

One of the most important aspects of arranging Christmas candles is creating attractive focal points. To create an eye-catching focal point:

• Arrange 3-5 candles of varying heights together. Put taller candles in the back and shorter candles in the front for visual interest and dimension.
• Group candles on a tray, pedestal, or cake stand to bring them to varying heights.
• Mix candle colors, styles, and sizes together for contrast.
• Incorporate greenery, pinecones, or other seasonal accents around the candles.
• Place the focal point on an entry table, mantel, dining table, coffee table, etc. Allow enough space around focal points so they stand out.

Focal points with grouped candles in staggered heights create ambiance and a decorative accent for any Christmas decor. Follow the guidelines above to design eye-catching groupings perfect for the holidays. For more inspiration, check out these ideas for Christmas focal points.

Use Candle Holders

Candle holders provide stability and help protect tabletops and other surfaces from wax drips and scorching. They also enhance the visual appeal of a candle display. There are many styles of candle holders to choose from:

Pedestal candle holders raise candles up to create height and drama. These freestanding holders come in a variety of heights, shapes, and materials like glass, metal, and ceramic.

Hurricane candle holders surround a candle with glass to protect it from drafts. The glass catches melted wax and creates a soft glowing effect.

Votive candle holders are small holders meant for tea lights and votive candles. Using multiples creates a striking arrangement. Display them in clusters on trays or scatter them down table runners.

Candlesticks provide an elegant and traditional look. The tall, vertical form draws the eye upward. Pair a few together or get creative mixing heights and styles.

Candle rings are circular frames that encircle a pillar candle to catch drips. They come in materials like metal, wood, and terra-cotta. Choose a neutral frame to showcase colorful candles or go for a style that complements the candle color.

No matter what style you choose, always make sure candle holders are stable and placed on a heat-resistant surface. This will prevent tipping and damage.

Add Accents

Adding accents like pinecones, holly, and ribbon is an easy way to make your Christmas candles look extra festive. Try tying ribbons around the bases of candle holders or directly onto candles. To make a classic bow, cut a length of ribbon and make a loop with the ends facing away from you. Take the left end over the right and pull it through the loop. Repeat with the right end, pulling it over the left and through the loop. Adjust the loops to form the bow shape you want, then trim the ends. Secure the bow to your candle holder or candle with a dot of hot glue or a festive ornament topper.

You can also tuck sprigs of holly or small pinecones around candle arrangements. The bold colors and textures pair beautifully with the soft glow of candlelight. For more inspiration, see the pinecone and ribbon accented candles featured on Christmas Traditions.

Arrange Throughout the House

You can place candles in almost any room in your house to spread the holiday cheer. The entryway is a great spot to welcome guests with the warm glow of candles. Place a row of votive candles on a table or console. You can also place larger pillar candles on the stairs. Just be sure to keep them away from curtains or railings (Stone Gable).

The living room is ideal for creating cozy arrangements. Try placing candles on the coffee table, side tables, mantel, and shelves. Groupings of 3-5 candles of varying heights work well. In the dining room, use candles as the centerpiece on the table. Opt for taper candles in holders or pillar candles of different heights (Southern Living).

You can even place candles in the bedroom for a relaxing atmosphere. Just be very cautious of any flammable fabrics. Keep them away from bedding, curtains, and upholstered furniture.

Coffee Table Arrangement

The coffee table offers a smaller focal point to incorporate Christmas candles and decor. Choose lower profile candles and holders for the coffee table to keep them safe from accidental knocking or tipping. Mini votives or tea lights work well for coffee table displays.

Arrange 3-5 candles in complementary Christmas colors on a decorative tray for a simple yet festive look. Mix pillar and taper candles of varying heights for visual interest. Scatter pinecones, mini ornaments, and holiday greenery around the candles to tie the arrangement together.

For easy ambient lighting, nestle tea lights inside mercury glass votive holders or colored glass hurricane vases. Dot them around a large glass bowl filled with shiny Christmas balls in red and green. The glow of the candles will provide awarm light to gather around.

Refer to “25 Best coffee table Christmas decor ideas” on Pinterest for more inspiration on stylish coffee table candle vignettes. Keep the arrangement low and centered on the table so it doesn’t obstruct conversation or TV viewing.

Mantel Display

When decorating a mantel for Christmas, it’s important to create balance by placing decorations on both ends of the mantle. This could include Christmas candle holders, garlands, wreaths, poinsettias or other holiday accents. According to Pinterest, varying the heights of decorations creates visual interest on the mantel. For example, you could place tall candlesticks on the ends and lower holiday figurines in the middle.

Crate & Barrel recommends using Christmas candles in a variety of heights and sizes across the mantle to add warmth and ambiance. Clustering 3-5 candles together in candle holders makes a pretty focal point. Just be sure to leave enough space between candles and other flammable decorations to prevent potential fires. Battery-operated candles are a safe alternative to real candles on the mantel as well.

Sources:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/50-creative-christmas-mantel-ideas–242561129902378419/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/christmas-mantel-decorating-ideas–91620173647417748/

Dining Table Centerpiece

A beautiful candlelit centerpiece adds ambiance and romance to any dining table during the holidays. For the most functional dining table display, keep the height low enough that dinner guests can easily see and converse over it.

Coordinate candles, flowers, and other accents with your overall tablescape. For example, pick up the colors of your table runner or coordinating napkin rings in fresh floral elements. You can incorporate evergreen sprigs, holly berries, poinsettias, and pinecones for seasonal touches.

As a citation from Lynch Creek’s Holiday and Candle Centerpieces [1], “Celebrate the season with a stunning holiday centerpiece. Our candle centerpiece holders for floating candles & pillar candles bring more Christmas light to your table. Choose from traditional red and green, snowy whites & silvers, or dramatic deep jewel tones.”

Safety Tips

When lighting Christmas candles, it’s important to keep safety in mind. According to the National Candle Association, the top causes of home candle fires are leaving burning candles unattended, combustible materials kept too close to the flame, and children playing with candles. Here are some tips to enjoy your holiday candles safely:

Don’t leave burning candles unattended. Extinguish all candles before leaving a room or going to sleep. According to candles.org, “Placing them up high and out-of-reach is your best bet. This will also help to make sure they are not toppled over if you many people moving around a room.”

Keep candles out of reach of children and pets. Lit candles should be kept at least 12 inches away from anything that can ignite, including kids and pets according to Widener Insurance. Supervise children around candles.

Have a way to extinguish flames nearby. The National Fire Protection Association recommends keeping a fire extinguisher in your home in case of emergency. You can also have a box of baking soda or damp towel ready to smother flames.

Use stable, nonflammable holders. According to Ludela, “We recommend placing your candles in holders that cover the entire base of the candle, are made from nonflammable materials like glass, metal or ceramic, and are sturdy enough to resist being knocked over accidentally.”