Candle holders come in four main types, namely candlesticks for dinner candles, plates and stands for pillar candles, votives and holders for tea lights, and lanterns or hurricanes that shelter a flame. Choose the type for the candle you like to burn, then the material for the room.
Our first pieces are on their way. We are choosing them one by one from European workshops and makers. Tell me when they arrive.
Buying guide
Candles are one of the cheapest ways to change the light in a room in the evening. The holder decides how safely they burn and how the light looks, so it is worth getting the fit right.
Dinner candles vary slightly in diameter, so check the cup size of a candlestick and the base of your candles. A little candle adhesive or a rubber collar holds a loose candle upright. Pillar candles need a flat plate or stand wider than their base to catch drips. Tea lights and votives sit in a glass or ceramic cup.
Brass and other metals look warm and develop a soft patina. Glass reflects the flame and suits tea lights, especially in coloured or textured designs. Ceramic and stone feel calm and matt, and stay cool around the base. Good quality shows in weight, stability and a smooth finish.
Group candles in odd numbers and different heights along a table or a mantelpiece. On a dining table, keep flames below or above eye level so guests can see each other.
A glass hurricane over a pillar candle protects the flame from draughts, which makes it the best choice by an open window, on a terrace or on a busy table. Lanterns with a handle can move from shelf to floor. Candle holders of this kind also keep small fingers away from the flame.
Never leave a lit candle unattended. Keep flames away from curtains, shelves above and draughts, and leave at least 10 cm between candles. Trim wicks to about 5 mm before lighting.
Put the holder in the freezer for an hour, then lift the wax out. For glass, pour in hot water to soften the wax, then wipe clean.
Freeze it for an hour and the wax lifts out. For glass, hot water softens the wax so it wipes away.
Glass reflects and shows the flame, which suits tea lights. Ceramic is opaque and matt, giving a softer glow around the candle.
It feels heavy for its size, sits flat without rocking, has a cup that fits the candle and a smooth, even finish.
Rooms:Living roomBedroom