Styling By Candlelight

Nothing quite compares to the warmth and beauty of a space that has been adorned with candles. The gentle, golden glow invites a feeling of peace, relaxation and elegance.

I love to group candles en-masse; their flames twinkling and shimmering together bestows an element of magic to the home. You’ll see candles or string lights in almost all of my shoots.

If you’re entertaining, using fragranced candles can add complementary layers to your event. The combination of candlelight along with nuanced perfumes can have the ability to subtly transport your guests. I prefer to avoid faux perfumed candles; like faux flowers, there is nothing natural about them so they can tend to lack the atmosphere that the genuine article can offer. My favourite scents are pine, orange, citrus, cyprus and Christmas notes.

I’m smitten with The White Company Winter and Fir Tree candles and love to cluster them in many sizes, they encapsulate the smell of Christmas to me. 

Cire Trudon also makes the most divine fragrances. They release beautiful seasonal offerings each Christmas, issuing glass jars in different colours annually, so often I wiIl tuck these into displays to add colour and depth.

When setting the table, I often feature my Kosta Boda snowball candle holders, using a minimum of 8-10 on the table and opting for a non-fragranced tea light due to the close proximity to the guests and food being served.

Many of the votives I have collected over the years are from French Country Collections here in New Zealand. I simply put an unscented votive candle inside and create displays with them.  I adore the look of candlelight dancing amongst the golden, gilt finishing.

Outside, I use a range of lanterns which I purchased from Pottery Barn.

Candles enhance the aesthetic of any home and Christmas is the perfect time to add a little extra shine and luminosity, wishing you a season that is Merry and Bright. 

Sandra xx