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Add Sizzle to Your Surroundings
By
M J Plaster
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Is your home décor lacking
that extra something that spells the difference between
comfortable and vibrant or between comfortable and
tranquil? Candles might be just the polish your décor
needs. Take advantage of the sparkling colors, rich
textures, and fresh scents of candles without draining
your decorating budget.
Some candles are best unadorned, but candleholders offer
an additional opportunity to highlight their presence and
beauty. You don't have to burn the candles; you can use
them as objects d'art, incorporating them into displays,
floral arrangements and centerpieces—alone as an accent
piece, or in a grouping as a focal point.
Typical candles no longer exist—they belong to a bygone
era. Tapers gave way to thick and varied heights long ago.
Today, you'll find square candles, heart-shaped candles,
fruit and vegetable candles, gingerbread candles, floral
candles, Christmas tree and ornament candles, and candles
with artistic free-flowing shapes. Within that variety of
shapes, you'll find an endless array of adornments, such
as beads and glitter, straw, botanicals embedded in the
wax, still life scenes, etc.
Color, Shape and Texture
Today's candles come in a wide variety of hues and shades,
and many add the dimension of shape and texture to their
composition. Marbled, frosted, and sculptured candles are
widely available in a selection of sizes, shapes and
prices—ranging from votives to thick, oversized candles.
If your living areas are frozen in time with a
monochromatic color scheme—you know the rooms we mean,
they looked oh-so-good on paper until you lived in them
for a month—use candles to rescue you from the monotony
without the expense of redecorating. Marbled candles are a
quick and easy way to work complementary or harmonizing
color into the room.
If your home utilizes color well, but lacks excitement,
accessorize with textured candles to add pizzazz to the
room. Position the candles to create a focal point or to
add just the right accent. Marbled candles incorporate
several hues and shades of the same color, and variegated
candles can tie all of the colors in your décor together.
Sculptured candles provide a warm substitute for expensive
knickknacks and require a minimum of space. Add smaller
sculptured candles to guest bathrooms along with guest
hand towels and guest soaps. It's the attention to detail
that rolls out the welcome mat for guests and creates the
ambiance of a memorable stay.
If you've never used anything but wax candles, try one of
the new gel candles. Gel candles are translucent and their
shimmering glow is irresistible to the eye. You'll find
gel candles ready to display in their own attractive glass
containers.
Candles and Fragrance
Scented and aromatherapy candles make an excellent choice
for the kitchen, bedroom or bathroom. Consider
odor-neutralizing scented candles a necessity for the
kitchen when you entertain. They serve triple duty by
quickly neutralizing cooking odors, adding a pleasant
scent and a touch or warmth. Larger scented candles often
include interesting texture, shape and color variation.
Candleholders and Display Options
If you use your patio as a three-season outdoor room,
float citronella votives in water on the patio for a
lily-pads-in-the-pond effect. You'll scare away the
mosquitoes and other flying irritants at the same time.
Place all citronella candles a few feet from the table so
that you don't run off the guests along with the insects.
Votive holders have blossomed into every imaginable shape,
including butterflies, bejeweled beveled glass holders,
and seascape holders. Many of the votive designs are
ideally suited for an outdoor environment.
Hurricane lamps add light and atmosphere to the outdoor
table in the evening. Eve lights can produce harsh
lighting, and hurricane lamps provide enough light to see
without detracting from the atmosphere. When selecting a
candleholder for outdoor use, it's important to select one
that shields the flame from the wind, and hurricane lamps
provide ample protection from the wind.
If you haven't seen the newer tea lamp candleholders,
you're not going to believe your eyes. These candleholders
are every bit as elaborate and intricate as their
electrical counterparts. If you prefer the formal look of
a chandelier, consider a chandelier candleholder for a
soft, diffused light. The next time a storm or tornado
blows through your area, leaving you without electricity,
tea lamp, hurricane and chandelier candleholders will be
ready and waiting.
Whatever your décor, imaginative use of candles and
candleholders allows you to change your décor as often as
you change your mood.
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