Your house may be your castle…but it doesn't have to remind you of a dungeon!

Get out of the dark ages…

Decorate with candle light in those dim corners!

Add a touch of warmth and ambience to your cold rooms!

Replace that stuffy smell with a subtle, refreshing fragrance!

By using different candles and accessories to decorate your home, you can create, or in this case re-create, vision, interest and style... All that, even before you light the candles! Now dim those lights and light those candles to add instant warmth, ambience and a touch of aromatherapy!

There are about as many candles and candle combinations as there are reasons and places to put them. With that in mind, we have decided to simply give you some guidelines to implement as you encounter each individual area you would like to enhance with candles (candlescaping):

So don’t punish yourself any longer, read on…

1. Technically, there is no wrong way to design an area using candles…as long as you follow safety guidelines and love the results when you are finished. One other thing to keep in mind when placing your candlescape, remember not to place it in direct sunlight, as the colors may fade and a slight melting of your candles could occur.

2. Make sure to choose quality candles from a reputable company. They may cost a little bit more, but a 'cheap' candle will not perform for you in the areas of safety and scent throw. A quality candle will have superior, lead-free wicks made in the USA under strict code. Safety wicks that self extinguish at a certain level and cool wax are two more safety issues to be regarded when purchasing a candle. Another concern would be the scent throw. The fragrance must be poured throughout the entire candle in order to maintain the same aroma from start to finish, not just poured on top.

3. Experiment with different shapes, sizes and texture. It is best to keep a candlescape at an odd number of candles as it has proven to be more interesting while an even number creates too much of a balance to the piece. It is also recommended to use candles with varying heights as this allows the eye to travel from one place to another and not get stuck on one level. You can achieve this with different size candles or simply by using candlestands, or both. I love mixing types of candles such as displaying pillars with accents of tealights around the base. The pillars can be atop candlestands or on a platter.

4. There are no hard and fast rules for using colored candles. You can follow the same color scheme that the room already has, or use complimenting or neutral colors. Try picking varying shades of the same color or alternate between the two prominent colors.

5. Try combining candles with a different fragrance to your arrangement or between the different candlescapes within the room. A mix of two or more complimenting fragrances can add another dimension to the overall effect. For instance: An evergreen scent would go nicely together with a citrus fragrance. A careful blending of fragrances will create it’s own aromatherapy to renew your body, mind and soul!

6. The use of candle holders can be especially fun to incorporate into a candlescape. Try using a holder with just one of the candles to bring extra attention to it or incorporate the use of candlestands to vary the height of your arrangement . Keep in mind that tealights, votives and tapers must be used with a holder. Remember all candles must be set on a flat non-flammable, heat resistant surface and is considered to be a holder in itself.

7. Accents and embellishments can be anything you can think of. Keep in mind, we are looking for a hint of that special something to enhance the arrangement not overpower it. For example; glass gems, beads, and marbles or natural or polished stones, seashells, gravel and sand. Try silk flowers and leaves; loose, as a swag or made into candle rings. Mirrors add an elegant touch and reflect not only the dimensions of your arrangement but also the mystery of the flame when the candle is lit. In addition, you may also consider using copper, pewter or silver platters as a backdrop to your candlescape or simply place underneath to contain a grouping. Glass and tile work nicely too. You can also incorporate framed photographs of family and friends. You can add accents to blend, compliment or be the focus of any area. Note: Do not use flammable material near the flame.

8. Pick a theme, something about you that would make it special and personalized. It could be your favorite color, hobby, pastime, indulgence, or be in celebration of your favorite holiday; or simply just a matter of bringing the great outdoors – in. You can create a candlescape around any theme.

9. Experiment with grouping your candles on a platter, place them in a short row or run them down the length of your table. Then place your accents in or around your candles holders. As a rule of thumb, if the table were oblong your candlescape would be oblong as well. In addition, place your candles at least three inches apart from each another. This is so they can’t melt one another or collectively create their own drafts that cause improper burning.

10. Floating candles are unique in their own special way as only fire and water could be. Candles can be floated in a variety of decorative items to create a striking display. Use the punch bowl and cut glass vases and anything in-between. Spruce these up with adding your pick of the accents mentioned in item 6 above or add fruit (unpeeled, slices, etc), cranberries seashells, rose petals or holiday ornaments, then slowly add the water. Use of bottle water is preferred as tap water may leave rings of mineral deposits on the holder. Get crazy and color the water if you want to (food coloring). Keep in mind to use specialty candles that are made for floating or use tea lights with a floating candleholder. This type of display is especially nice at the dinner table.

11. When using candles at the dinner table, whether entertaining or simply jazzing up the evening meal, be aware that people might reach for or pass plates and bowls of food. As they do this, their hand, cuff or sleeve may come too close to the flame. Consider keeping the tallest candles in the center and low ones in the surrounding area. Use the same theory for a two sided buffet table. At a buffet table that is to be against a wall however, you might want to place the candles along the back of the table and closer to the wall. Preferably, unscented candles are burned at the dinner table so there is no other conflict with the aroma of the meal.

Decorating with candles and creating your own candlescapes isn’t as torturous as you might have thought. Go ahead, light up your home and lift your spirits with your candlescapes! You will thank me for it with every compliment you get.

Susan Brown is an independent demonstrator for Gold Canyon Candles~Body~Home.
For candle tips and decor tricks go to http://GiftaCandle.blogspot.com
For special deals and discounts go to www.GiftaCandle.com Read more!

Candles have become one of the top five gift items people love to give and to get; and with good reason: They are beautiful to look at, lift your spirits when lit, give off incredible fragrance, are great for guys and gals of all ages and admit it, they sure come in handy when the lights go out!

With over 2-billion sold annually, candles are quickly becoming routine in 7 out of 10 US households. With popularity on the rise, so should be...the regard that a lit candle is fire.

Please make these safety factors routine while enjoying your scented jar candles!

1. Always keep a burning candle within sight. Extinguish them when leaving the room and before falling asleep. Make sure the wick is not glowing. Consider putting them in an open place where it’s easy for you to see them and remember to put them out.

2. Trim candle wicks to 1/4 inch each time before burning. The long wicks may create too much heat on the area of glass without the protection of wax, potentially causing the glass to shatter.

3. Use a wick dipper to extinguish the flame, rather than blowing it out or smothering it with the lid. With the wick dipper, the wick is pushed into the liquefied wax pool and immediately lifted and straighten. This will not only extinguish the flame but also the potential glowing ember.

4. Burn candles in a draft-free area. Drafts can cause the candle to burn too fast, unevenly and improperly. Keep away from an open window, fans, heat and air conditioning registers, vents and high traffic areas. Also be aware that the same draft that is messing with your flame, just may blow flammables nearer. Watch those stacks of papers and curtains.

5. Always use a candleholder specifically designed for candle use and appropriate for the size and type of candle being burned. Place the candleholder on a stable and level surface.

6. Keep the wax free of debris. Wick trimmings, matches and dust are flammable.

7. Burn candles away from anything that could possibly catch fire. Furniture, curtains, bedding, carpet, books, shelving, paper, etc are all flammable.

8. Always allow a candle to cool before you touch or handle it. The jar gets too hot and may burn. And never pick up a candle by the lid as it could pop off and break the glass.

9. Candles must be kept out of reach of children and pets. The flame is enchanting to them too.

10. Extinguish the flame if any of the following occur: If the flame comes too close to the jar or holder, if it smokes, flickers wildly or becomes too high. The candle isn’t burning properly. Let it cool, trim the wick and then check for drafts before relighting.

11. Discontinue burning when 1/2 inch of wax remains at the bottom of the jar. Burning the candle below 1/2 inch can cause excessive heat on the glass, potentially causing the glass to shatter.

12. Place candles at least three inches apart from each another. This is so they can’t melt one another or collectively create their own drafts that cause improper burning.

13. Remove decorative accents before lighting candles, even around the jar itself.

A great many pleasures come with safety concerns. If you are enlightened and handle them responsibly, candles are a joy to behold and you can safely transform, not only your mood but your home as well. Go on, enjoy the incredible fragrance of a quality candle!

Above and Beyond Safety features of the Gold Canyon Candle
Cool burning wax that will not burn the skin.
Safety wicks will self extinguish when ½ inch wax remains at the bottom of the jar to prevent excessive heat on the glass. (GC adds ½ inch of wax to make up for this awesome safety feature).

Get Lit For The Smell of It !!
Susan Brown is an independent demonstrator for Gold Canyon Candles~Body~Home.
For candle tips and decor tricks go to http://GiftaCandle.blogspot.com
For special deals and discounts go to www.GiftaCandle.com Read more!