Lighten Up

Nothing sets the mood for a social gathering more than a handful of candles. Use them to create drama, inject a dose of romance or just add alluring aromas to the room. And, the best news is that candles are one of the simplest and most affordable ways to punch up the ambiance. Here are some of our favorite ultra-cool ways to light up your next bash.

• Pour dry white or colored rice into an oversized display bowl and set four to five candle pillars of different heights in the center. Make sure they're secure. Get different looks by using a rustic wood bowl, wild rice, and orange-toned candles for a rich, autumnal, or earthy vibe... or a white ceramic bowl, white rice, and pale blue candles for an elegant, muted feel.
• Personalize a pillar candle (with your initials or a decorative symbol) by embellishing it with a wax seal. Hold the candle on its side, light a stick of sealing wax, and drip it onto the side of the candle until it's about the size of a nickel. Then press the metal stamp into it and let it dry.
• Group several candles on a large mirrored tray amidst an array of rocks or colored glass.
• Place a grouping of pillars on a straw or bamboo placemat and sprinkle an array of fresh flower buds and petals around the base of the candles.
• Glue tiny seashells all around the bottom rim of a candle and nestle it in a shallow bowl or tray filled with sand.
• Arrange 10 to 12 long taper candles in short silver candleholders in the center of a coffee or dining room table for a simple yet dramatic effect.
• Place a single glass votive at each guest's plate and wrap a piece of thin velvet ribbon and a tiny sprig of rosemary around each one.

**As always, use caution and never leave a burning candle unattended.