Nothing changes the mood of a room faster than candlelight. It's warm, flattering and makes even a quiet Tuesday feel considered. But a few candles dotted around at random can look cluttered. Here's how to use them well.
Know your candles
- Taper candles: tall and slender, made for the dining table and the mantel. Always in a holder.
- Pillar candles: wide and steady, good on a tray or in a fireplace that's no longer used.
- Scented jar candles: for scent first, light second. One per room is plenty.
- Tealights: small and cheap, best in groups or in a burner with oil.
Our picks for each: the Cera tall taper candles for the table, the Colonna ribbed pillar candle, which looks like a little sculpture even unlit, the Tropea soy candle in a real coconut shell for scent, and the Essenza ceramic burner for tealights with oil.
Use odd numbers and different heights
Three candles look more natural than two or four. Mix heights — a pair of tall tapers beside a low pillar — so the light sits at more than one level.
We chose the Sanremo ribbed glass taper holders because they come as three, in different heights, so the work is done for you. The Calice tall glass tealight holders do the same for tealights, and the Lucerna glass oil lamps give you three staggered flames down the table.
Group them, don't scatter them
One cluster on a tray or a table looks intentional. Five single candles in five corners looks like a power cut.
A tray makes grouping easy: the Oro gold-tone tray adds warmth, the Rotondo wooden tray keeps it natural. Add the Fiamma ribbed glass tealight holders, which scatter the light into soft rays.
Pair candles with soft lamps
Candles alone can leave a room too dark to read or cook. Combine them with one or two low, warm lamps. Cordless lamps are useful here: you can put light exactly where you need it, no outlet required.
We selected our cordless lamps for exactly that freedom: the Bellagio cordless table lamp for the dining table and the Riviera cordless lamp with its fabric shade for the living room.
Choose one scent per room
Layering three different fragrances in one space is overwhelming. Pick one scent you love for the living room and keep the dining table unscented, so nothing competes with the food.
For a steady scent without a flame, the Giardino reed diffuser works quietly in the background, and the Lume candle warmer lamp releases the fragrance of your jar candle without lighting it.
Stay safe
- Never leave a lit candle unattended.
- Keep candles away from curtains, throws and anything flammable.
- Trim wicks short before lighting to avoid smoke and soot.
- Use a stable holder sized for the candle.
Two small helpers: the Smorzo candle snuffer puts the flame out without smoke or spattered wax, and the Faro hurricane holder shields a tealight from drafts. Kids or pets at home? The Stellato flameless LED candles give the glow without the flame.
Read next
- How to Set an Italian Table at Home — the cloth, the glasses and the candles for an easy Italian dinner.
- How to Make Your Home Feel Cozy This Fall — seven Italian-inspired ideas for warmer evenings at home.
