Candles have become an essential decorating item in countless homes and the proper way to display candles and decorate them is to use a candle holder.
Safety is one of the main reasons to select a properly fitting candle holder for the style of candle you want to use. A candle holder keeps the candle standing stationery while it is burning and adds weight so that it cannot easily tip over. Candle holders are also designed to safely collect the wax that drips down the candle while it is burning and avoid having it run over onto a tabletop or tablecloth, causing a fire or ruining the surface of the table or cloth. Candle holders can also serve to protect the candle from wind or breezes that might extinguish the flame or cause it to transfer to other materials and catch fire
It’s important to match the style of candle to the proper candle holder. Tea lights are the smallest type of decorative candle and tea light holders can be designed to safely hold one lone tea light or numerous tea lights to create dramatic lighting. Wrought iron, ceramic and glass are among the many materials used to make tea light candle holders.
Votive candle holders are the next largest in size. Usually these are available in glass in a variety of colors so that when the lighted votive candle begins to burn down, there is a lovely glow of color emanating from the holder. Votive candle holders are most popular in glass, although they can also be made from opaque materials such as ceramic.
Pillar candles use candle holders that are round or square plates of glass with a bit of a lip on the circumference to prevent melted wax from overflowing the holder and a sharp spike in the center to anchor the candle. For an old-fashioned decorative effect, hurricane candle holders can be used to cover pillar candles. The open-ended bell-shaped clear glass dome fits over the candle as it rests on the candle holder bottom, allowing the candle to be in full view while it burns, all the time protecting it with a glass coverage that shields the flame from wind and moisture.
Wall candle holders are sconce’s that attach to the wall and have a tight socket into which the candle is inserted to stand upright. Some wall candle holders can also have clear or frosted glass hurricane covers that slip over the standing candle.
One of the most elegant ways to display taper or dinner candles on a dining room table is using crystal candle holders. The cut of the crystal glass nicely reflects the candle light and adds a warm glow to the room throughout the dining experience.
Floating candles, designed to float atop water, don’t sit in traditional candle holders, but can be placed in glass bowls of assorted sizes designed for floating candles. Fill with water, place pebbles or glass marbles at the bottom, then add the floating candles, along with flower blossoms for added effect.