Thursday, March 19, 2009

Candles: Wicked Delights

By Gizelle Bennit

It's interesting to note candles' play in history. Before Christmas trees were adorned by colorful ornaments, candles were already in the picture. The first Christmas tree only had candles as its decorations. For centuries, before the invention of electricity, candles were the source of light of every home. They were a necessity and have only become decorative materials when electricity was introduced. Candles may have a serious purpose of giving off light but they have fun variety in size, shape, pattern, design and even material as not all candles are made of wax. They are also an array of colors and candle containers such as bowls, decorative cans and jars.

Using candles to decorate your space is a lot harder than it sounds. Depending on the space you are looking to decorate, you will need to take some time deciding amongst all the varieties of candles. If you have a bare fireplace mantle in need of sprucing up, you can add elegance and color by purchasing tall, wrought iron candelabras and affix short, thick candles to the tops. The choice of color depends on the color theme you currently have in your living room. If you are a decorating novice, keep in mind that white candles go with anything.

Decorating is not only for the eyes but for the sense of smell as well. Make use of scented candles and fill your place with aromas so rich and pleasing to the senses. Transform your home into a flower shop, the countryside or a fruit stand in an instant.

Large open spaces are the perfect places for large candles in large candle holders. Smaller spaces are ideal for small candles. If you want to expand from the simple candle and candle holder, you can purchase a fish bowl, fill it with water and brightly colored decorative rocks, then set floating votives inside. This creates a center piece for your coffee table or a table decoration for a bridal shower.

There is no need to worry about finding your dream candle. Every department store, specialty shops, boutiques and online stores carry a candle line in their selection. Two brands you will always see are Yankee Candle and Glade, the most popular candle makers. Although Glade is a bit more expensive, both do give you your money's worth. So whether you scrimp or splurge, you'll definitely get the good stuff.

With the wide assortment to choose from, making your home and office look relaxing, romantic, warm, sophisticated, calm, or whatever image you envision can be done. Choosing the right color, design, container and scent will give your space your desired effects. Candles can also be paired with other decorative items like area rugs. There's no need to go to an expensive restaurant when you can have candlelight dinner with the luscious scent of the candles and the cozy feel of your area rug in the comforts of your home.

Once lit, candles are more than just pretty piece of art in your house they become beacons of light when the power goes out, or, as written above, when you want an evening of romance with your loved one, or when you want to celebrate a birthday. A caveat regarding candles; when lighting candles be careful. Try not to set fire to the family heirloom rug that you inherited from your Grandma Georgina. - 15252

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