Where to Put Candles in Your Home for Cozy, Stylish Decor

Not sure where to put candles in your home for the best effect? Arranged thoughtfully on trays, shelves, or tables, candles can make a room feel cozy, highlight your decor, and instantly create a welcoming atmosphere.

Always place them on stable surfaces and away from flammable items to enjoy their cozy glow safely.

In this guide, you’ll discover practical candle placement and decorating ideas at home, including tips for living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, and more.

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Best places to put candles in your living room

Family get-togethers are much cozier with candle lighting in the living room. 

• Add colorful hand-blown glass candles that coordinate with your lamp and a planter. They add a special touch to an otherwise bare table.
• Coffee tables are also great places for candles. Stack some of your favorite books or magazines and top them with a candle for height.  Instant decor!
• Another easy idea is to place a set of candles on a decorative tray. This tray will be functional in the living room, but it can be quickly moved to give a different look in another room.
• Other candle decoration ideas at home include placing them on bookshelves and mantles to dress up bare areas.

Depending on the style of your living room, candles can add more than just additional lighting. They can add mood, warmth, and an additional touch of whatever your decorating style is.

Where to place candles in the bedroom

The bedroom is a place for relaxation and romance.  Of all the rooms in the home, the bedroom is where candles emit the coziest feel.  

• Light candles on a bedside table to add a touch of warmth when you retire for the night.
• Set the mood for romance with multiple candles placed on dressers, side tables, and armoirs.
• Create some bedroom candle decor on your dresser by placing candles next to a metal tray with perfumes. Dried flowers, a wall print, and a small plant create a natural look.
• Use candles in glass containers in the bedroom for safety, keeping them away from flammable items. 

In the bedroom, the question is often not “where to put candles” but “How many should I use”?

Bathroom candle decor ideas

One of my favorite decorative candle ideas is to place them in the bathroom.

• Match your candle colors to your bathroom and towel colors, and you’ll be transported to a spa day!
• Arrange candles on a bath tray with a glass of wine, a book, and get ready to sink into bliss. You can move the tray to another area of the bath when you are done soaking for a decorative look.
• Place candles near sinks or tubs for safety, instead of on shelves near towels and other flammables.
• For small spaces, you can use flameless candles to decorate without worrying about fire.

Decorating with candles in a reading nook

For me, using candles means using flowers. They go so well together on a tray in a reading nook area of the home.

• Display long-lasting flowers such as hellebores and coordinate them beautifully with a similarly colored glass candle on a pretty tray.
• Add in a dish of your favorite chocolates, your favorite book, and you are set for some reading time in style.
• Hand-blown art glass candles often have a burn time of around 40 hours. You can read the whole book while the candle burns!

Where to put candles in the dining room

One of the most often used ways to decorate with candles is in the dining room. It sets a mood for entertaining guests or for a romantic dinner for two.

• Candles on a dining room table create a relaxing mood and can be used to improve the ambiance of the room
• Subtle lighting is both relaxing and beautiful.
• An unscented candle is a better choice in a room where you’ll be eating.
• A centerpiece with silk flowers, a glass candle, and a long box can be created in just minutes!

TIP: Raise a candle om a centerpiece by placing an upside-down glass filled with heads. This gives height to the candle and also ensures that nothing in it can catch on fire.

How to place candles in your entryway

Your entry is the first place that guests will see. Decorating with candles here adds a quick, stylish accent.

• Place a trio of candles just waiting to be lit for any occasion. Their refreshing scents and warm glows make this one of the easiest ways to say hello!
• Add decorative candle boxes and upside-down bowls under the candles to add height and give a more balanced look to the trio.
• Be sure to incorporate something from my garden into the vignette.  This time, it is the dried stalks of Japanese silver grass and hardy succulent flowers that have dried naturally. They complement the color of the candles.

How to decorate with candles on the patio

Using candles does not just mean enjoying them indoors.  

• Place candles on an outdoor table, so they can bring a touch of the indoors outside and extend your living space.
• A bonus is that candles keep bugs away when you burn them outside!
• Any outdoor gathering area gets an instant uplift with a lit candle. They are perfect to set the mood for an outdoor alfresco dinner.
• Place candles on side tables for a fun look while having tea with your friends.
• You can even match the candle color to your patio cushions!
• If it’s windy outdoors, candles in hurricane glass holders set the mood without being blown out.
• Another tip is to use candles to light your steps when you have guests arriving for an instant mood-setter.

Making a candle gift basket

If you know someone who enjoys decorating candle ideas,  a candle gift basket is a simple way to share the cozy charm of candle displays.

• Line a pretty basket with coordinated table napkins
• Add a colorful candle that complements the napkins.
• Include a pair of champagne flutes to hint at a romantic evening.
• Arrange everything neatly so the candle display looks inviting and stylish.

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✨ Not sure where to put candles in your home? 🕯️ Make every room feel cozy, stylish, and welcoming! From living rooms to bathrooms, these candle placement ideas will inspire your next glow-up.💛🏠 Get tips for candle decorating on The… Share on X

✨ Not sure where to put candles in your home? 🕯️ Make every room feel cozy, stylish, and welcoming! From living rooms to bathrooms, these candle placement ideas will inspire your next glow-up.💛🏠 Get tips for candle decorating on The Gardening Cook. #HomeDecor #CandleDecor #CozyVibes #DecoratingIdeas

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