Outdoor Decorating Ideas with Candles

Whether you are planning a lavish outdoor event or looking for ways to spice up your outdoor space, candles are a great decorating choice. Outdoor candles tend to be relatively inexpensive and can help add ambiance to intimate situations, as well as visual splendor to larger spaces. Of course, the hard part can sometimes be choosing the right type of candle for your event; you may wonder what kind of candle to use for a pool party versus a wedding, or a low-key dinner party, all while staying environmentally friendly. Luckily, there are many different kinds of eco-friendly candles that are great for all of these occasions.

For environmentally friendly lighting, you can find candles made of soy or beeswax. Soy wax is long-lasting, non-toxic, made of a naturally occurring products and renewable resources, and is biodegradable. It is also water-soluble, so is very easy to clean. Most companies tend to make these candles without chemicals or synthetic compounds. Beeswax candles can also be infused with essential oils to add great and lasting aroma to your events, while still burning clean and dripping less.

If your event takes place at a pool, near water or some other place surrounded by water, a great option is a floating candle. Floating candles can be made of soy or beeswax too, and are designed to float on water surface. Made with a flat, stable base, you can place them in small bowls around your space for a fun look, or even place them in fountains or your pool to create a mystical visual experience. If your pool is being used at your event, you should be careful to not place the candles where people will be swimming, as you do not want your guests to swim too close to the flames. Also, soy candles will liquefy as they burn, so the pool may not be the best place for them. For beach themes, luminaria candles are another great choice. These candles are specifically created for outdoor use, and are placed in containers full of sand. This can bring your beach theme to life and if you add some pebbles and sand, your party will be a total success.

Another great option for outdoor spaces is a specialty candle. Specialty candles can also be made of soy or beeswax (find out more) and are made specifically for decorative purposes. You can find these candles in any shape or design that matches the theme of your event. For example, if you are planning an outdoor wedding, you can get specialty candles in the shape of wedding bells or flowers. When using these candles, you want to make sure to place them on non-flammable surfaces and do not put them near dry leaves or anything that can catch fire easily. One thing to be aware of is that specialty candles lose their shape once lit. If you would like to keep the shape of the candle, it would be best to keep an eye on it while lit to make sure it doesn’t melt completely.

If your outdoor event is taking place in a heavily wooded or dry space, your best option may be flameless candles. These are a great choice for when flammability is an issue, as they do not actually give off heat. Most are battery operated and can be turned on with a flip of a switch. There was once a time when flameless candles looked a little too fake for special events, however, manufacturers these days have been coming up with more and more realistic looks that suit even the fanciest of weddings. There are flameless candles that look like lanterns, and can feature colorful designs for a fun look. There are also flameless candles that are made to look more like real candles, so you can have the look of natural candles without the hazard of the flame.

Photo by Cedward Brice