How to Make Table Centerpieces Using Candles

The soft light of burning candles lends a gentle aura of elegance, sophistication and beauty to any decor. This is especially true when entertaining a party of 20 or a party of two.

A candle centerpiece also costs far less than a professional floral arrangement and, unlike a centerpiece of cut flowers, the components can be used for more than one occasion, even when the second occasion takes place months after the first. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Choose your candles. Pick candles that will compliment your table linens and dinnerware, or candles to fit the occasion (e.g. red and green for Christmas Eve dinner). Consider choosing different shades within a limited color palette, or the same color candles but in different heights and widths.

2

Add candleholders -- or not. Clear glass, crystal-looking candleholders are relatively inexpensive, as are tall ones made of brass or wood. Make sure the candleholders also reflect your table linens and/or dinnerware for a polished look. A cluster of matching candleholders, each a different height, makes an interesting centerpiece.

If you've chosen pillar candles of varying height, consider foregoing the candleholders, but set a layer of wax paper or foil underneath to catch any wax drips. Cut flowers, greenery or some complimentary-patterened ribbon can be artistically arranged to hide the drip-catching material.

3

Float the candles. Small candles floating in water in a clear glass or crystal bowl, perhaps with a few rose or other flower petals added to the water, can look quite elegant. "Floating candles," small flat votives, can be purchased pretty much anywhere candles are sold, including Wal-Mart and Hobby Lobby.

4

Add props. For Christmas, place a few ornaments around the base of the candles or candleholders. Plain or colored glass ball ornaments look particularly festive. For Valentine's Day, cover the centerpiece area of the table with rose petals.