Have you started decorating for the holidays yet? I look forward to it all year long, and have been having a great time getting our home decorated!
I love using scented candles and wax warmers in my home in general, but during the holidays I always take it up a notch. 🙂
>> Are you a candle fan? Then here’s a TIP… read to the bottom of this post and enter to win FOUR FREE scented candles! <<
Today I’m sharing some of my go-to tips for holiday decorating.
Let’s go on a little tour….
ENTRY WAY
I’m loving how warm and cozy our entry table way table is feeling, and love that it’s one of the first things people see when they enter.
To get this look, I took a pre-lit strand of garland and laid it out over the length of the table.
Once I was happy with the layout I gathered some decor: two retro sunburst table stands, two DIY hurricane candles, one of my bottle brush tree filled hurricane vases, a handful of pinecones, some faux snow, some gold painted sticks, and one of my favorite scented candles (Emerald Woodlands).
TIP: I placed the hurricanes and sunbursts first since they are the largest, and once they felt right, I added in the rest of the smaller items. I usually try to create movement in my table decor. I like different heights and textures, and adding in candles ALWAYS makes it feel so pretty and cozy.
TIP: I used unscented votive candles to get the pretty lighting effect and warmth, and made sure I used only ONE scented candle. This helps not to overwhelm your home with too many different scents. This one candle makes our entryway and surrounding rooms smell so fresh and festive.
DINING ROOM
Our dining room is still a work in progress, and the dark walls and trim still need to be painted and brightened up, but I’m not gonna lie, I’m sorta digging the dark walls with the holiday decor right now.
Although the rest of the house is feeling more holiday each day, I decided to leave our formal dining room feeling more Thanksgiving since we’re hosting a dinner (and it was just too sad to put my fave fall decor away).
To get this simple look, I shopped my backyard for a handful of pinecones, and spray painted a few of them in metallic gold hues (leaving a few of them natural). I placed them inside my trusty cloche and paired it with my pretty glass pumpkin placed on top of one of my DIY wood slices, and yet another deliciously scented candle, which smells like I started baking my Thanksgiving pies early. Who am I kidding, I don’t bake, ha!
TIP: I usually try to keep my decor groupings in odd numbers, usually three or five, but of course there are always exceptions to my rule. Odd numbers usually just feel right in my opinion. In this look three items work well together.
I love the way the lights from the candle and pumpkin reflect off of the mirror and onto the wall. I could sit at the dining table and stare at it for longer than I care to admit. I’m weird like that. 🙂
LIVING ROOM
The living room is the hangout spot of the entire crew each evening (including two big dogs), so you can imagine a few lingering dog odors here and there. I LOVE warmers and wax melts because I can leave them on unattended, and they really help mask unwelcome odors.
TIP: I usually keep two to three warmers placed throughout the room since it’s on the larger side, but I always use the same scent to keep it consistent. I swear by scented wax melts during the fall and winter months. My fave scent is Spiced Apple Crumble. Soooo good!
I like to add some holiday decor near the warmers to play up the holiday look, so I once again shopped my back yard.
I found a handful of smaller sticks and spray painted them a metallic gold. Once they dried I placed them around the warmer in a circle so they gently stacked (making sure to leave at least a couple of inches away from the warmer), and then added a handful of faux snow and a few glitter pinecones for even more sparkle.
I love the simple, yet unexpected feel the gold sticks add. I’m a sucker for shimmer I guess.
One lucky winner will receive:
Good luck. I look forward to hearing from you!xoxo
Audrey
I use candles all over the house to create that cozy ambience. Pillars, jars, votives…..I love them all!
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I use candles all over, love the lighting they provide and love a good holiday scent to make it really festive.
I really like to use tea light candles for my holiday decor! stacymadrox at yahoo dot com
I use candles all over the house – on the mantle, the table, the kitchen counters, etc etc. vera khule at gmail dot com
I mostly use mine for smell, but love them as part of a set or a small accent. For a long time I didn't use them very much because I didn't trust Aubrey around them, but have started re-incorporating them. 🙂 [email protected]
I love candles, but I don't usually do anything special with them, just use them for a nice lighting or for smell, I have two cats!
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i always have candles on my mantle with xmas lights around them! dtdady at gmail dot com
I have candles all around our house. We often light candles on our dining table and also on our living room!
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I love candles on my fire place makes my apartment smell so nice.. Love the way they look with Christmas lights
I put candles on my dining rom table
– Judith
I like to display them in a tray on my coffee table. I also add fun things with them as the seasons change. Right now, I have pine cones scattered on the tray.
I'm hoping to use tapers in black/gold/white with my brass candlestick collection from thrifting on my mantle! Paired with faux garland it will be simple and bright! Thanks Audrey! xo
Putting candles near the Christmas tree gives it such a wonderful look! (If this giveaway is internationally open, please count me in!) Thank you.
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I agree!! Thanks for entering. Good luck! 🙂
Decorating my mantel above the fireplace adds a nice cozy touch especially around the holidays 🙂 diannehall777@gmail dot com
I agree. Thanks for stopping by, Dianne! Good luck!
I love placing candles on my entry way table! thank you. [email protected]
I love placing candles on my entry way table! thank you. [email protected]
Thanks for stopping by and entering, Susan! Good luck!!
I love using them on my mantel, especially at night time to give that warm cozy feeling.
dlatany at gmail dot com
I totally agree! Thanks for stopping by to enter. Good luck! 🙂
I love to use candles in my holiday decorating. White or cream are so versatile, and they are so fun to accessorize. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
Erin
ErinLoves2Run at gmail dot com
I agree!! Thanks very much for stopping by and entering to win. Good luck! 🙂
Candles (my favorite scents) are always a plus for gatherings and adding the warmth of fragrances to my home. You did a beautiful job of decorating your home. Thanks for sharing! [email protected]
Thanks so much Anne!! Thanks very much for stopping by, and good luck! 😀
Since kids and cats, I just use mine for SMELL!!! I am a total smell person! And the holidays are a perfect time for that! My favorite scent is either a cranberry or cookie for winter. But, this has given me some inspiration, IF I can keep the cats from destroying it! LOL!!! I would love to try your favorite scent! [email protected]
I hear ya!! I need the smells too! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and entering. Good luck!
I definitely don't do anything nearly as pretty as this, but we do like to get a pine scented candle or two and burn them throughout the holiday season. It just makes the house feel so cozy & happy. 🙂
Ha, a basic candle does the trick on it's own most of the time, Joanna. 🙂
Tanks for stopping by and good luck! xo
Also, Joanna may I please get your email incase you are the winner? Thanks!
Candles are my favorite holiday decor — both for the smell and the soft light. I use them in hurricanes at Christmas with fake snow. 🙂 Thanks for the contest!
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I agree with you, Rhonda!! Thanks for stopping by and good luck. 🙂 xoxo
Hey!
I love how you used your candles! I use mine all throughout the apartment with garland and fake snow wrapped around the bottoms of them! 🙂
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Thanks, Kate! Candles make everything better. 🙂 Thanks for entering! xo