Let there be light — the phrase comes from the third verse of the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew culture. And an American Christian drama named Let There Be Light was released in 2017. And considering the ‘tsunami’ we all were swept by in the first couple of weeks of January, we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel (hopefully, fingers crossed).
What better way to bring light into your life than actually bringing light into your homes — well other than surrounding yourselves with your loved ones, doing things you passionately feel for, spending time with nature and laughing a lot.
While we are all enjoying the last leg of winter in our city, let’s bring out some candles to keep the home warm, cosy and de‘light’ful. Candlelight is representative of many things. Peace, serenity, relaxation and romance are just a few. We are no doubt drawn to candlelight for the same reasons that our ancestors were once drawn to fire. Candles are an easy and elegant way to access our primitive attraction to the flame — yes at the heart of it, all of us are still cavemen, right?
Lets turn your boring candles into a fun, festive winter-looking one. Cut strips of jute or any other rustic fabric and tie it with a jute rope around the candle. Insert a cinnamon stick and some leaves and see the magic you just created. I can almost guarantee that your space will get an instant upliftment and will smell divine with the dashes of cinnamon scent.
I have always been a big believer in ‘opposites attract’ — not so sure about in relationships but in my design aesthetics for sure. This works wonders as it highlights the characteristics of each object so beautifully and makes them stand apart. Take out all your wooden and rustic containers — they could be boxes lying around in your homes, trays or anything else. Decorate these hardy materials with the soft and feminine flowers — trust me they look wonderful. And then just to give the finishing touch, add some candles to the set up. Using a variety of shapes, sizes and colours of candles also help.
One thing that Covid taught me and I am sure many more of us, is to recycle and upcycle. Shabby chic gives you the chance to repurpose things you may not have used before. So I am sure we all have many empty glass jars at home. Let’s look at this wonderful way to turn them into simple yet super effective light decor for your home. Tie them up with burlap string for a more rustic look and attach some flowers and leaves to it. Then all you have to do is throw in a tea light candle and see how your space transforms. Place this set up on a wooden base. In Chinese Feng Shui, wood is a natural foil to fire. Choose dark woods for the most dramatic impact and group them together in groups of three for a pleasing arrangement.
I am sometimes astonished by the beauty of nature. The variety we have in the foliage, the colours, sizes, shapes, goes to show that God is the best artist. So why not use these beauties for our decor? One idea I love is using plant pots along with some flowers on a table. Take out mats of different sizes, display plants and flowers on them and then the candles are the icing on the cake. They give the entire set-up a complete, finished look and make the space warmer.
Talking about plants, something else I feel works wonders is the combination of white and green. Together, they’re a luxe yet minimal centrepiece that brings a bit of mother nature inside where she can help soothe and relax the ambience. Take a rustic-looking small bucket or any other base you like and arrange leaves on an oasis. Leave a centre circle space and place the candle on it — yes it’s that simple and looks wonderful.
See your glassware in a whole new way with these upside-down candle holders. The bases of bar glasses are perfect for pillar candles. Place dramatic flowers or any other decor elements underneath the goblet portion for a huge impact using simple household items. In a matter of seconds, you’ve got a creative, flickering centrepiece.
So next time you feel gloomy, remember there is always light. And most of the time it’s inside you. Dig deep and you will find it. And for those days when you don’t find it, don’t forget to light a candle and see the instant shift in your vibe. Wishing loads of love and light always in all your lives and for videos on how to create these set-ups don’t forget to check out my page @design.on.the.go on Instagram. And always remember — A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.
The author runs her own soft furnishing brand Onset while working with her family textile business. She has taught textiles at the Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology and been a visiting lecturer at Philadelphia University and JDBI, Kolkata
