Floating Candles

There are many things that can be used as a centerpiece for a table. These are usually up to preference and occasion, as a vase of flowers may not convey the same message as a bowl of fruits. Candlelight, however, has been a mainstay for not just as a decorative piece for a dinner table, but for surfaces all around one’s home or garden.

The mood set by the placement of candles is a unique one that is often unexplainable. The kind of light emitted from a candle has an undeniably different aura than a light bulb or florescent light, but is more than often than not desirable for certain occasions.

Both versatile and inexpensive, a floating candle centerpiece can provide an ambience of homeliness and romance. The kinds of floating candles available are diverse, ranging from simple combinations of candles floating in a glass bowl filled with water, while some come floating in ornate marbles or rocks, the possibilities are endless.

What are Floating Candles?

As an ideal way of creating a relaxing and serene atmosphere in any space, floating candles also serve well to create an aura of intimacy and romance. Floating candles, which are tiny candles made to float in a bowl of water while they are lit. A floating candle has a characteristic broad surface with a rounded bottom, as the wide surface area prevents the candle from turning over into the water.

Usually the size of a votive candle, a typical floating candle ranges from 2 to 3 inches in diameter. This makes putting up to two or three inside a bowl easy and manageable. These candles also come in many shapes and sizes like tiny, bowl-shaped candles or flowers. Floating candles that are larger in size may even have several wicks, making lighting up a larger body of water such as a swimming pool or fountain ideal. Natural wax is the most common material for floating candles, though some come in different materials, colors, and scents. Mix up different sizes of candles inside a bowl to spice things up a bit: a variety of smaller candles surrounding a dominant floating candle holder can look particularly lovely.

The kinds of things that you can use to hold the candles in are endless. Bowls that are specifically made for the purpose of floating candles in water typically work best. A bowl made of a clear, transparent material should be used so that the light your candles emit can be projected across the room clearly. Bowls can come in many different shapes and colors, so pick the one that suits the theme or ambience you are aiming for. Candle bowls should have a wide enough mouth to facilitate the easy maintenance of the candles and water, as well as keeping the edges of the bowl mouth from blackening. Crystal is an ideal material for a bowl, but a plain glass one should be fine too.

You aren’t just limited to bowls to put your candles in either, as even a small martini or wine glass can add a unique spin on a floating candle display. Any clear container that looks even remotely aesthetically pleasing can be the foundation for a centerpiece; brandy snifters or even a glass vase with crystals in the water can be placed on a mirror so that the light flickers around the room better.

The Many Kinds of Floating Candles

You can very well make your own floating candle bowl yourself. Pick out a suitable bowl, and then add water. Carefully place the candles in the water with the wicks facing upward. Be careful not to get the wicks wet, then light them up. You can spice it up a bit by adding flower petals or little leaves to make a more interesting floating candle centerpiece. Crystals, sparkling rocks and water gems also make for wonderful decorations. Additional ornaments inside the water may help keep the candles from bunching up too close together.

While adornments such as beads can be added into the water where the candles float, decorating the bowl or glass that the candle is contained in can add to the decorative possibilities of your floating candles. Adorning the rim of the glass with a ribbon or fine colored string can add that touch of class to your centerpiece.

Placing a mirror under the bowl and adorning it with flower petals or beads can make for a wonderful decorative touch to an already vibrant piece. Mirrors placed under your floating candle arrangements can reflect all the flickering light emitted from your candles. Craft stores often have mirrors in different shapes and sizes made for more applications than just floating candles.

If you are still clueless about making your own floating candles, they are available as ready-made pieces in many places. Online shops and retailers as well as interior design stores, gift shops, furniture stores and even dollar stores sell these special candles. Craft stores also have a variety of materials and adornments relating to floating candles, if readymade ones are not available. These stores can also sell complete floating candle centerpiece kits for a variety of occasions and themes. Prices can range from the inexpensive miniature kits to full-blown luxury centerpiece kits with bowls made of the finest crystal and candles made of expensive wax. Making your own floating candle centerpiece at home can save you some money, though, and can even be a fun and creative way to spend your spare time.

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