Home decor luxury: candles

Margaret Ryall

We all have our Christmas rituals and mine usually start December 1st.. I always make something for my entrance first. I am not one to overdo things. I re-use what I have or forage in my garden or the gardens of friends. Then I added some LED lighted twigs and silver balls and a hit of mesh ribbon. The purple connects with my front door. The blown leaves remind me that we are between seasons.

Margaret Ryall

Each year I allow myself one or two new purchases and send at least one small bag of assorted objects to a local charity shop. I'm extravagant this year with two purchases. I've been looking for a plain wreath to change around each year and found this great one with LED lights for 25% off at Canadian Tire. This year the theme is snow flakes and silver... just because.

Margaret Ryall

This year I embraced our new Target ( very near my home) and purchased three dark silver vases that you will be seeing around my house through out the coming seasons. I love repetition in threes as you can see. A little sparkle with red is refreshing.

Margaret Ryall

I have a fondness for trays to corral objects into a composition. This lovely white one was a gift from my husband last year. It has silver leaf leaves and birds on it (see below).

Candles are always a must at Christmas time and I usually arrange those I have on a tray, add in some flowers and ornaments and call it a day. I am still fiddling with this arrangement and I may need to invest in some new candles because these are looking a little worn. There's nothing like a photo to help you refine a composition. The finials are going and I must put in one more pillar for a chubby candle. Love plain white mini carnations because they last forever.

The new version with finials removed. Looking better. Every time I pass by I move something!

That's it until December 14 when I usually add the second layer of decoration and put up the tree.

I hope you are putting a little sparkle in your home.

I love repetition as a statement and it is a powerful vehicle for impact in art and design. As you get ready for the coming season perhaps you would like some inspiration. These images illustrate simple, doable Christmas decor with an emphasis on repetition. Of course Pinterest is the go to site now for ideas of any kind. These and more ideas can be found on my Tis the Season folder.

So simple and effective. I think this works because of its lack of colour and sparkle against the metal tray.

How simple is this? Jingle bells, and white candles on a rectangular white tray. The variations are endless.

Pick your choice with this one. Greenery with candles or bulbs in sets of three or four. I think I would stick to one or the other so it would get noticed more.

Boxwood wreath with slim tapers massed in the middle. These little candles and holders usually in clear glass are often found at dollar stores. You could also drill holes of appropriate size in a piece of wood and cover it with aluminum foil for safety.

While this isn't specifically Christmas decor it offers all kinds of ideas about a similar shelf and a repetition of objects for different seasons.

Love this idea for over a sofa. Using those plastic snowflakes you can pick up cheaply and gluing them in a circle with hot glue. Velvet ribbon is a must for the look.