Cheap and cheerful and really effective if you get the look right… candles are the perfect pick-me-up during the recession!  Studies show we are spending more time in rather than going out of an evening, to save money. 

Set a relaxing, romantic mood in your home with an attractive candle display.  Don’t be afraid to experiment- the images below from Decor8 provide plenty of inspiration.  Have fun!

above: Orange and cinnamon scented candle bowl, £11, Coco Målé      Scented wax is carefully handpoured over a layer of pot pourri in a solid glass orb.

above:  Marrakech Hurricane Holder, £17 Coco Målé    

above: displays by Decor8

above: Gorgeous Helen candle holders by Anke and Katrin are designed in fragile white parchment with cute prints. The set contains three different shades and all you have to do is roll them up, place a candle in a wine glass and cover it with the lampshades.   

Now I know this isn’t a candle but how cute is it!  Just perfect in the bedroom on your dressing table…

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Isn’t it amazing what a difference the little details can make? Even the smallest accessory in your home can have a massive impact on the image you project. With this in mind, here is a selection of a few pieces that can liven up even the most basic and classic of interiors.

Let’s start small, with this pretty reindeer-shaped candle holder. Definitely cute, it would look great on any dining table before, after and even during (if you’re careful!) Christmas dinner.

reindeer candle holder, thisnext.com

I’m actually quite taken with this next interesting vase / candle holder. I love the whole idea of this dual-purpose accessory designed by Harry Allen. It’s cast from his own arm, and can be used to display flowers to dramatic effect…

Harry Allen Bestow vase/ candle holder $75, at designpublic.com

Or to support a candle in a slightly creepy way…

Seriously, can you imagine having only this to light your home during a black-out? That’s got to be scary!

For a more friendly, fairytale-like approach to the old vase, check out this sweet little offering by Jamie Hayon…

I love how the flowers make the horses look like unicorns. And I think it’s so refreshing to see vases that are able to get attention for their own design rather than be overshadowed by the beauty of their flowers. 

Moving on to soft furnishings, this horse head cushion from Kropserkel, is sure to make a statement! Send as a gift-with-a-hidden-meaning to make a point, or better yet an offer they can’t refuse (sorry, I couldn’t resist!) or just pop it into your guest’s bed for some old school Godfather scares!

And finally, for those of us who just want to get back to nature, these cushions, designed by the immensely talented Ronel Jordaan, are just what the doctor ordered…

Horse head pillow $45, kropserkel.com

And finally, for those of us who just want to get back to nature, these cushions, designed by the immensely talented Ronel Jordaan, are just what the doctor ordered…

Stone cushions, at conceptrends.com

The shapes look so clean and earthy, while the material (100% merino wool) makes them a rather luxurious choice.

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Well it’s here again, the most romantic day of the year is just a day away. And in the spirit of the day, we’re having a look at some beautiful and romantic settings.

First up, the fabulously decadent Mayfair Hotel in London…

Talk about co-ordinating… Even the shoes match the cushions! I have to say, I think the colour is just amazing. A paler pink would make it all very sugary. The darkness of this however adds a touch of sophistication.

Speaking of sophistication, I think I might be a little bit in love with the spa in the Watermark Hotel…

It just looks like the perfect place to relax with your partner. The muted colours, the plants, the candles… On second thought, it looks like the perfect place to relax on your own! And while we’re on the topic of bathing away the stresses of the day, check out the bathroom in The Bale hotel in Bali..

Now that is pure indulgence! Once again, it’s all about the candles and the flowers. Is there anything those little things can’t improve?! And fortunately, this little talk of candles brings us seamlessly (ahem…) to this little picture of paradise, courtesy of the Bucuti beach resort in Aruba…

I realise of course that this is not really interior design, but I just couldn’t help myself. This for me, is just the essence of romance. But I should probably stop staring at it and just post this!

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Last week we kicked off our accessories series with some unique and inspiring cushions. This week we’re all about the candles! They create an aura of warmth in any space, they smell great and they give your skin the most beautiful golden glow. With so many candles around at the moment, you are almost certain to find one that will match your every mood.

For a bit of decadence why not try this fabulous rhubarb scented candle by D.L. & Co.

D.L. & Co. candle $35, barneys.com

For understated elegance and sophistication, Philosophy has just the thing: the Amazing Grace candle is infused with the perfume of the same name, and comes with the signature uplifting text on the packaging.

Philosophy candle $36, sephora.com

For an incredibly luxurious gift look no further than Jo Malone’s candle trousseau; a beautiful leather case filled with candles in signature scents.

Jo Malone candle trousseau $595, shop.nordstrom.com

It’s not necessary to buy expensive candles, of course. After all, it’s what you do with them that counts. So here is some inspiration for you from the newmexicophotos.com blog.

from the newmexicophotos blog

I expect it would take quite some time to arrange your candles in this way, but if you have the energy then I definitely think it’s worth it!

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The word ‘candle’ can bring to mind all manner of images. For some of us, the mere mention of candles evokes memories of childhood, blowing out the candles on a birthday cake. For others, the thought of a beautiful romantic candlelit dinner might spring to mind. Some of us (the more pious I guess!) might just think of church candles. In any case, it’s plain to see that candles have many uses.

The one we normally concentrate on in this blog is that of interior design accessory, of course. But I was just thinking that it could be interesting to delve a little deeper into the history of candles and their different purposes.

Did you know for example, that the tradition of putting candles on a birthday cake is said to originate from ancient Greece? Apparently the Greeks used to place candles on a cake and offer it to Artemis, one of the goddesses they used to worship.

The custom of blowing out the candles also has its roots in the olden days, when people used to believe that if they blew out the candle while making a wish, a signal was sent to the god and their prayers would be answered.

Of course, even though the idea of birthday candles is based on superstition, nowadays it’s seen mostly as a tradition and of course, an elegant way of decorating a cake! For children especially, candles are a very important addition to the birthday cake, and it is customary for the number of candles to match the age of the child. For adults (especially those wishing to conceal their age) a single candle is often sufficient, and often preferable. After all, after a certain age, you would have more candle than cake otherwise!

Now, as the talk of cakes is making me really rather hungry, let’s move on to another very important use of candles. I am of course referring to their spiritual applications.

Candles are a prominent accessory in many religions. Christian churches often use candles as their sole source of light. The tradition of Diwali in India is also heavily dependent on candles. The festival of lights is celebrated with the lighting of many candles and lamps, to symbolise finding light in darkness. During the Jewish festival of lights, Hanukkah, one candle is lit on each of the eight nights of the festival. The candles are actually mounted on a special candelabrum, the Menorah. In many other religions also, candles hold a special significance.

Even if you’re not seeking enlightenment and salvation from your candles however, you still can’t help but notice their power. Nothing has the capacity to relax you as much as a hot bath surrounded by a host of scented candles. Well, nothing legal anyway… This could be the reason why candles are considered some of the most important home accessories. And with a choice of hundreds of different colours and scents available nowadays, it is easy to create the exact atmosphere you require in your home.

For a relaxing and calming effect, you could consider some oriental styling and go for simple candles in clean lines and plain colours. To create a more romantic feel, there are plenty of candles around with flower infusions and pretty packaging. You could even make your own candles. There are plenty of sites that will show how to do so. That way, every candle you own could be exactly as you want it!

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