Not so very long ago, candles were essential to daily life. Before kerosene (and later electric lights) transformed the way people lived, candles weren’t thought of as particularly romantic or luxurious–merely functional.
Today, of course, it’s only during the rare power outage that we light candles to guide our way. Instead, we appreciate them for the quiet beauty and almost magical warmth that they provide: There’s no faster or more effective way to transform the mood of a room than to switch off the electric lamps and light a few candles.
While standard tapers are always at home on the dining-room table, you don’t have to stop there. A visit to any candle shop will reveal the variety of styles, shapes and sizes of candles available. Try lighting solitary candles in unexpected places, amassing them on a mantel or even setting them on the floor to light the room from below. You can get as creative as you like in decorating with candles–as long as you always keep safety in mind.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Candle stand
Large pillar candles make a statement wherever they are used. Set them atop a mirror, however, and their glow becomes even more dramatic.
To make a mirrored candle stand, buy an inexpensive prefabricated wood picture frame and remove the matting. Paint the inside of the frame to cover any exposed wood, since this part will be visible once the mirror is installed.
Have your local glazier cut a piece of smoked mirror to fit inside the frame. Cut a piece of foam board to the same size to serve as backing. Set the mirror and the foam board into frame and secure them by pushing diamond points (available in framing shops) into the frame using a flathead screwdriver.
Beeswax pillars
A grouping of beeswax pillar candles can be lovely, but they will burn down very quickly. For the best of both worlds, try wrapping traditional pillars in a single sheet of translucent, waffle-textured beeswax (available in candlemaking shops).
Cut the sheet of beeswax to the height and circumference of the pillar you want to cover. If the wax is stiff and brittle, soften it by briefly warming it with a hair dryer. Wrap the sheet around the pillar and press the edges to seal. Be sure to hide the seam in the back when you set your candle out for display.
Mirrored shelf
A burnished mirror in an antique frame doubles beautifully as a sconce when fitted with a shelf just large enough to hold a candle. Hang it by a bed, on a dining-room wall or in an entry hall as a quiet greeting for arriving guests.
First find a vintage frame you like. Cut a piece of 1/2-inch paint-grade plywood 4 inches deep and a little less than the width of the frame. Create a lip around three sides of the shelf by cutting strips of stock molding and mitering the corners; stop the molding short of the back of the shelf, allowing space for the frame to sit on top. Glue the molding in place.
Mix acrylic or latex paints to match the color of the frame and paint the shelf. When it is dry, drill three holes through the rear of the shelf bottom and three matching holes into the bottom of frame. Use wood screws to anchor the shelf to the bottom of frame.
Set a restoration mirror (available from glass-supply stores), cut to size, into the back of the frame.
Votive border
To create an inviting glow for a special occasion, try lining a room with votive candles with their flames well shielded in glass holders, footlights style. The number of candles and holders you’ll need will depend on the size of your room; just be sure to set them close enough to the wall that they are out of the way of traffic and keep them free of any hanging upholstery or curtains.
Light the candles just before guests arrive so they will shine all evening.
Glass chimneys
Protect votive candles from breezes and give their flames a soft, diffused warmth by using vintage glass lampshades as hurricanes. Look in flea markets and antiques shops for small, inexpensive shades (many can be found for less than $15) in clear, colored or frosted glass. Set a votive on a small plate or saucer, light the candle and cover with a glass shade. Arrange them down the center of a table or anywhere you want a little extra glow.
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Martha Stewart welcomes letters. She cannot reply individually, but you may write to her in care of the Chicago Tribune, Home&Garden section, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611. Or send e-mail to home&garden@tribune.com.
