How Do You Decorate With Votive Candles?
Votive candles are small candles typically in glass containers that are designed to burn for 5-8 hours. They have become increasingly popular in home decor due to their versatility and ability to enhance ambiance. Votive candles get their name from the Latin word “votum” meaning “vow” or “wish”, originating from their use in churches to represent prayers. Today, votives are used in a variety of settings to create mood, accent decor, and add personalized style to any space.
Choosing Votive Candles
Votive candles come in a wide variety of types, shapes, sizes, colors and scents to suit different decorative needs and preferences. Some of the most popular options include:
Types:
- Glass votives – elegant and sophisticated, allow light to shine through (https://www.keystonecandle.com/votive-candles/)
- Wax filled votives – traditional votive encased in a metal cup
- Soy wax votives – made from soybean oil, natural and biodegradable
- Beeswax votives – all-natural, non-toxic, pleasant honey scent
Shapes:
- Round – classic votive shape to provide ambient lighting
- Square – modern geometric look
- Heart – romantic accent for special occasions
- Star – festive shape for holidays
Sizes: Standard votives are approximately 1.5 inches tall with a 1.25 inch diameter. Mini votives are around 1 inch tall for small accents.
Colors: Clear, white, ivory, and colors like red, blue, green, etc. Pick colors that coordinate with your decor.
Scents: Votive scents include floral, fruit, spice, seasonal, and clean/fresh. Consider scent diffusion when positioning votives. (https://www.traditionalcatholicpublishing.com/Candles/Votives/)
Groupings and Arrangements
Votive candles create a beautiful, warm glow when grouped together. There are many options for how to arrange votive candles for maximum visual impact. Here are some ideas:
Create intimate vignettes on tables, mantels, bookshelves, windowsills, or stair landings by clustering 3-5 votives together. Use candles of varying heights, and mix glass votives with metal or ceramic ones for more texture (Source: https://www.pinterest.ca/ledcandles/candle-vignettes/). You can dot these small vignette groupings throughout a space to create little glowing accents.
Arrange 10-15 votives in rows on a table for a striking centerpiece. Alternate candle heights, containers, and colors for diversity. Keep the center of the table open to encourage conversation and access to food or drinks (Source: https://www.pinterest.com/Lbrudevold/create-a-vignette-candles-candleholders-and-other-/).
Place votives on mantels or shelves in asymmetrical groupings for an organic, casual look. Try scattering them at different heights and nestling them between books, vases, or other decor.
Line an entryway, staircase, or hallway with a row of votives to warmly light the passage. Position them along one side or alternate sides.
The options are endless when grouping votive candles in pleasing arrangements! Let your imagination wander.
Using Votives to Create Focal Points
Votive candles can make excellent decorative focal points in a home. Their small size and warm glow naturally draw attention. Strategically placing votive candles around a room can help highlight important furniture pieces, architectural elements, or entryways.
For example, clustering votive candles along the mantle of a fireplace or on the hearth can accentuate this built-in focal point. Arrange candles in groups of three, five, or seven for visual interest. Vary heights by including pillars or cylinders alongside traditional votives.
Entryway tables are another ideal spot for grouped votives. Welcome guests by lining the edge of an entryway table with a row of flickering candles. For extra flair, nestle votives amongst seasonal decorations like pinecones, flower petals, or seashells.
Candles used along a buffet, sideboard, or dining table help anchor these furniture pieces as decorative focal points too. Creating a balanced arrangement of candles helps draw attention to the beautiful wood and finish of quality furnishings.
No matter where they are placed, a collection of votive candles can help illuminate prized possessions, beloved furniture, or architectural details in an elegant, eye-catching way.
Creating Ambiance with Votive Candles
Votive candles are a wonderful way to set the mood and ambiance in any space. The soft, flickering glow creates an inviting atmosphere that can be cozy, romantic, or relaxing depending on the setting. Strategically placing votive candles throughout a room can transform the space and make it more welcoming.
For a cozy feeling, cluster votive candles on the coffee table, mantel, or side tables in a living room. The warm lighting will make the room feel more intimate and snug. To create a romantic ambiance, place votive candles around the bedroom or dining room. Putting candles on the table and around the room will set the mood for a romantic dinner or evening.1 For a relaxing vibe, arrange votives in the bathroom to create a spa-like atmosphere. The candlelight coupled with scented candles can be very calming.
In addition to the lighting, pay attention to the candle scents you choose. Florals and vanilla can be soothing, while spices like cinnamon have a cozier feeling. Fragrances can evoke particular emotions and environments that complement the ambiance you want to achieve.
Votive candles offer a simple yet stunning way to cast any room in just the right light. Their versatility allows them to be used in endless ways to produce the perfect mood and ambiance for any occasion or everyday life.
Seasonal Decor
Votive candles make for easy and inexpensive seasonal decor. Their small size allows you to create fun themed arrangements and displays. For Christmas, line staircases with rows of red and green votive candles or arrange in groups of three on mantles and tabletops for a festive flair. Frosted votive holders in winter shapes like snowflakes, trees, and ornaments add to the seasonal appeal. For Halloween, orange and black candles create a spooky glow. Flicker flame electronic votives add motion for an extra creepy effect. Scatter votives inside carved pumpkins to make jack-o-lanterns glow. On the Fourth of July, votives with red, white, and blue holders bring patriotic cheer to picnics and backyard barbeques. Groupings of red and green votives make for easy Valentine’s Day decor as well. With votive candles, a simple change of color and holder is all you need to transform your decor for any season or holiday.
Sources:
Safety Tips
When using votive candles, prioritize safety with proper placement and monitoring. According to Votive Candles & Fire Prevention, avoid placing votives near drafts, vents or air currents, as this can lead to uneven burning and dripping. It’s also critical to never leave votive candles unattended, even for a short period of time. As Candle Safety Tips explains, you should extinguish votives before they get too close to the holder or container edge to prevent potential fires.
Choose an appropriate non-flammable holder for votive candles, like a glass or metal container. According to Candle Burning Guide, plastic and resin holders can potentially crack from the heat of votive flames. For safety, trim the wick to 1/4 inch before lighting to prevent excess smoke and rapid melting. With proper care, votive candles can create atmospheric lighting safely.
Scent
Scent can be an important factor when decorating with votive candles. You’ll first want to decide whether to use scented or unscented votives. Unscented candles allow you to layer other fragrances in a room without competing scents. Scented votives infuse spaces with lovely aromas like vanilla, pine, or lavender.
When selecting scented votives, opt for lighter scents that won’t overwhelm. You can also mix scented and unscented votives for visual variety. Grouping different scented candles together lets you create a custom blended aroma. Just be sure not to combine too many competing fragrances. Stick to 2-3 complementary scents for best results.
Some popular scented votive options include:
- Cinnamon
- Lavender
- Ocean breeze
- Vanilla
- Pine
- Peppermint
Experiment to find your favorite scented votive candles and combinations. The possibilities are endless when you decorate with these handy candles.
DIY Votive Projects
One fun way to decorate with votive candles is to make your own homemade votives, holders, or luminaries. This allows you to customize your decor to suit your style and color scheme.
A simple DIY votive project is to make your own candles. You can purchase plain glass votive holders, then fill them with soy wax flakes, essential oils, and dried flowers or other additions to create unique scented candles. Refer to this guide from Martha Stewart on how to make homemade votive candles.
You can also craft homemade votive candle holders to complement your decor using inexpensive, easy-to-find materials. Try covering plain glass votives with lace, burlap, or wrapping paper for a quick update. Or make votive holders from twigs, seashells, or terra cotta pots. Check out this article from Farmhouse Chic Living on 15 DIY votive holder ideas to try.
Votive candles can also be used to make luminaries by placing them inside paper bags. Cut designs into colored paper bags, add sand or weights for stability, then top with a votive. The light will shine through the cutouts to create a beautiful effect. Luminaries can be used to line an outdoor walkway or light up a front porch.
Crafting your own votives, holders, and luminaries allows limitless possibilities to create decor that reflects your personal taste and works with your existing style.
Conclusion
In summary, votive candles offer a versatile, beautiful way to enhance your home’s decor in any season. With their small size, votives can be grouped into stunning arrangements or used individually to create focal points and ambiance. Their portability and affordable price make experimenting with votives for decor easy and accessible for any budget. Whether used to accent a mantel, create mood lighting, or dress up a tablescape, votive candles inject warmth, ambiance and style into a space. Just be sure to follow basic safety precautions and find placement options that work for your home’s size and style. With proper care, votives will elevate your everyday decor and instantly make any space feel more inviting.
