Christmas Table Candles: A Styling Guide

Christmas table candles do more work than almost any other piece of festive styling, because they sit at eye level throughout the meal and set the mood for however long the table is in use. At Maison de Lumière, our hand poured soy wax pillars and decorative candles are made to be styled as a centrepiece, whether you want something quietly elegant or a fuller, more layered arrangement.

The easiest starting point is a single strong shape, kept simple. A Three Sphere, Swirl or Tornado Swirl in the centre of the table, on its own tray, gives you a defined focal point without a lot of styling around it. If you prefer a lower profile arrangement, the Round Swirl or Sphere Bubble sit closer to the table and work well in an unlit display alongside taller decorations. Keep any burning candle well away from greenery, place settings and other combustible decorations.

For a fuller centrepiece, grouping two or three pillars in different forms but the same colour keeps the display coherent even as it grows. A Medium Bubble, a Swirl and a Round Swirl together, all in one shade, read as a considered arrangement rather than a collection of separate candles, and you can vary the heights simply by choosing different pillar shapes rather than needing extra props.

Colour is where the table can take on its own character for the season. Beige and sage green sit close to a traditional Christmas palette of gold and green without competing with it, and both work comfortably alongside cutlery, glassware and most table linen. Purple and blue lean into a colder, more evening led mood, suited to a dinner where the room is dimly lit and the candles are doing most of the visual work. Pink is worth keeping for a lighter, more informal table, perhaps a family lunch rather than a formal evening, since it reads as softer than the rest of the palette. Whichever colour you choose, our pillar and decorative candles are also available with an Other option on the product page if you have a very specific shade in mind for the day.

Decorative pieces earn their place on a Christmas table as accents rather than the main event. A Seashell or two, or a small cluster from the Small Tulip candles, displayed unlit between pillars, adds a bit of texture and shape variation without pulling attention away from the main candles. The Small Greek Figures work well at each place setting rather than in the centre, giving each guest a small, considered detail of their own.

Scent is worth choosing deliberately for a table setting rather than leaving to chance. Cocoa and Patchouli, warm and evening led, suits a candle placed away from the food itself, perhaps on a sideboard or at the ends of the table, where its depth can fill the room without competing with what is being served. Fresh Linen is a lighter option for a display, but fragrance preferences differ. Consider leaving scented candles unlit during the meal and lighting them away from the dining table afterwards. Mademoiselle, softer and more romantic, suits an evening sitting once the plates have been cleared and the table becomes more about conversation than dinner. Lime, Basil and Mandarine, bright and fresh, works well earlier in the day, for a lunch rather than a dinner setting.

Safety matters more on a Christmas table than almost anywhere else in the house, simply because there is more on the table to catch, from crackers and napkins to greenery and place cards sitting close to an open flame. Trim the wick to five millimetres before lighting, keep each candle on a stable, heat resistant surface such as a tray, and never leave a burning candle unattended, particularly once a meal is under way and attention is elsewhere. Keep candles away from draughts, children and pets, and do not burn any candle for longer than four hours at a time, as set out in our full candle care guide. Our Oval Bubble Tray, Oval Simple Tray and Circle Bubble Tray are decorative accessories for unlit displays. They are not advertised as heat-resistant candle holders. Use a separate suitable holder when lighting a candle, and keep all wrapping, ribbons and decorations away from the flame.

To choose your table pieces this Christmas, browse the pillar collection.