Using candles in fall decor

September 13, 2009

ideas using candles in fall decorWhen it comes to decorating for fall, there are three things you need for a fabulous result: different textures, layering of the textures and it's gotta smell gooooood

You can't go wrong if you incorporate all of these. I like to take items I already have and change them up for fall. 

For this display, I used a tray I already had: candles in tray for fall decorI had the two larger candleholders, and purchased the three smaller ones for $1.50 each at Hobby Lobby. I placed them so the sizes were layered, and and filled in between with my go-to fall filler:
fall candle decor ideas I got this stuff a couple years ago and it's still my favorite filler for this time of year. It's got glitz, it's got natural, it's got warm. Awesome.


I fluffed it all just so and added my candles -- the large ones were $5 from HomeGoods, the smaller were $3.50 at Hobby Lobby. It took all of five minutes to do. I bet you have items laying around you could use too!

tray with glass candles for fallI wish they had scratch and sniff computers. The scent of cinnamon and apples is wafting through our house.

This is my view while I blog tonight:
decorating for fall with candles
Our family room mantel has been warmed up as well. Last year I found some scrap wood, stained it and it serves as the perch for simple red and brown candles:
corner fireplace with trim work You'll soon realize I am a bit obsessed with these beady things. I think they are GORG. You can find them at Micheal's. (I always get them on sale, they are $7 each before the discount.) I weave them through the candles for texture:
line of warm color candles on fall mantel And wrapped them around the candles in the hurricanes for more texture and layering:
fall candle decor ideas Yum. I could just eat it, it's just delicious. Well, not really, but you know what I'm sayin':
corner fireplace with molding

These candleholders are so fun to fill during the holidays. Funny how I can't figure out what to put in these things most of the year, but from now until early January, I'm golden:
glass candles decorated for fall I fill the bottom of each with leaves in different shades of orange and red: fake leaves in glass candleholder
I get my leaves by finding garland I like, then snipping off the leaves. This is much cheaper than buying packages of leaves.

I add my candles and then my "scatter" -- I love this stuff! This I found at Pier 1 years ago, and I think they still carry something similar:
candle with fall "scatter"Autumn-inspired ribbon is tied around and fluffed just a bit for a final touch.

In the kitchen, I used a pedestal and a clearanced plate from Pier 1:
pedestal with fall candle
I wrapped the candle with more foamy beady things (I used double stick tape on the back to secure them). Again, layering and texturing (word?):
fall beads around candle

Try taking items you already have -- add a candle and then some texture -- whether it be pumpkins, acorns, apples, leaves, whatever! (Just make sure they aren't near the flame and don't leave unattended.)

A tray with candles took less than five minutes to throw together on our new old Craigslist dresser:

dresser with two lamps fall candles

I used the two big chunky candles from the mantel last year in the bigger glass candleholders and I love how beefy they are:

tray with orange fall candles

Because I used what I had, this little display cost me zero, and I love it:fall candles in tray

Take any kind of tray, (check out Goodwill if you don’t have one!), some candles and any kind of filler and you’ll have a beautiful fall glow for your home!

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Comments

  1. Fall is definitley my favorite time of year as well. And your right. I have a specific glass centerpiece on my dining table that I struggle with all year until this wonderful time. Your decor looks delicious and after your discription of the scent I could almost smell the apples too.

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  2. These tips are AWESOME!!!! I cant wait to try the candle/leafy/ribbon and candle/plate/garland/holder. Love it!

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  3. Beautiful! And I can almost smell it. ;) Pumpkin scent is my favorite this time of year.

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  4. beautiful fall decor!!!

    i host a Goodwill party every Wednesday. stop by and join in!!

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  5. I LOVE it! I agree, the *smell* of fall is one of the best parts of decorating for it. Thanks for the post, I'm inspired to start getting some "fall" up in my house!

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  6. Thanks for the ideas. I love fall and candles!

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  7. I too, love fall and all her glorious colors. Your photos are fantastic. Each one is prettier than the next. If I had to pick one it would be the "beady things" on your mantle. I loved them too and thought about buying some but didn't. Now that I have seen your display I am going to take my Sunday coupon and make a little trip.

    Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful week.

    Charla

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  8. LOL ~ a scratch & sniff computer! I'm sure it's not far off! Love the beady things you put around your candles and you made me think of all the scrap wood sitting in my garage. Love the hurricanes on your mantel as well.

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  9. Very Yummy fall decorations! Love how you fill the candle jars!

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  10. This post made me SMILE - I haven't got in the Fall Spirit yet...but your post is inspiring.

    Blessings to you!
    Lana @ ilovemy5kids

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  11. Yumm! Your home is so beautiful and WARM. I love the warmth candles bring!

    Thanks for sharing all those wonderful tips!
    Nori@love-2-create

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  12. Yummy candles! I can smell them now. LOL! I shop at Southern Living. The parties are great! I have that same pedestal and luuurve it too! :)

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  13. I am sure you get this all the time...but, just wanted to tell you YOU INSPIRE ME! I love pouring through your blog!

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  14. Fabulous as usual... no suprise. Your ideas make my heart go all aflutter... BUT... I have to pick your brain... we just bought our home which has a quaint little porch that I can't wait to decorate... fallish... What have YOU done to YOUR porch this fall?? I'm seriously sitting on the edge of my seat to see yours!!

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  15. I too love the warm, fall colors and I especially LOVE candles. I need to steal your ideas!

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  16. It looks fantastic! I'm the same...can't decide what to do with my table, etc. until the fall and on throuh the holidays.

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  17. Now that's what fall's about - warmth and beauty!

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  18. I can't wait for Fall! And I love all your decorating ideas! Thanks for sharing them! Have a great week! Patti

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  19. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!! I have the same tray from southern living home, yeah! Now to fill it and put it somewhere! I also heart fall, like crazy, almost as much as christmas time but not quite!! had the yankee candle pumpkin spice in my hand at BB&B and put it down thinking it was too early, but running back to get it tomorrow since you are decorating! Great post and can't wait to see the dining room center peice!!!!!

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  20. I love the stuffed candles! I would be afraid that I would burn down my house, but they look gorgeous!!

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  21. I am not a huge seasonal decorator...probably because I am still working on my regular decor ;-) But you had me at caramel apple with peanuts. Yumm-o. I want one. I am sorry I forgot about your party last week...I am a loser. I will mark it on my calendar next time...pinky promise.

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  22. I'm sure you hear this all the time (just look at all the comment you're getting and I've never even commented), but YOU ARE INSPIRING! When I found your site a few month ago I went back into your achieves and read every post you've ever written. This place is like a cave with a hundred rooms and in every one is a treasure chest! And I'm not even a big decorator. I like it, but I can't really do it, not like you! I have rescued forsaken and neglected pieces at garage sales and re-done them into something presentable...

    Anyway, I love what you're doing, please keep doing it!

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  23. I just love fall! Thank you for sharing all of the wonderful photos...I am so excited - this is the week to bring our house into the next season :)

    Chelsea

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  24. Beautiful decor and some great ideas!!!

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  25. I love Fall more than...well I don't know, more than everything!

    I have already gotten out the scented candles, but this is beautiful! This week I'm scheduling a Micheal's/Hobby Lobby stop to find some candle clothes! :)

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  26. Wow Wow Wow!! Love it all!!! I love love love fall! It is almost my favorite time of year. You of course did a wonderful job on the warm glow....I know that I felt all warm and fuzzy inside!

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  27. Beautiful and very tasteful fall decor! I love the "smell"
    of fall scented candles YUM!

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  28. I love fall too. Those candles above the fire are gorgeous!!

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  29. Love all of your candle displays. I'm itching to get out my fall decor. Fall is my favorite season. Thanks for sharing,
    Traci

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  30. Simply gorgeous!! Fall is my all time favorite also. I love all the holidays and love even more decorating for all of them!! The weather is perfect not too cold and not too hot:) Your displays are beautiful and I'm like you . . .I love having my home filled with wonderful warm, inviting scents.
    Toni

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  31. Oh I cannot wait to decorate for fall! These ideas are SO inspiring!

    Also wanted to let you know that I moved my blog to a new location and have a few new surprises up my sleeve! To kick things off, I have a free downloadable gift. Stop by if you get a chance. :) The new address is: http://reclaimingthehome.blogspot.com/

    HUGS!

    Kristin

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  32. Gorgeous! (of course). I too love fall decorating. And those beaded garlands are my favorite too. Apparently the Germans like them a lot as well because the stores are all out except for the displays and they will NOT let you take them out of the displays (I asked). Boo. I keep getting told they should be in "next week" buy every time I go back, gone! Drat!
    How do you keep your "scatter" (Germans are very into scatter!) from falling down to the bottom of your jar onto the leaves? Do you have some sort of platform? I NEED to know!

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  33. Love your blog. Love the fall! Just one question: from reading for a while, I know you have a toddler at home. So do I. HOW DO YOU KEEP HIM FROM DESTROYING EVERYTHING??? Just wondering. He must be very well behaved to not touch all this cute, cool stuff! I don't have such luck in my home! :) If you have any tricks short of stringing up the kids from their fingernails as a Halloween decoration, send them my way! :)

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  34. Love seeing fall decorations. Hard to get into fall here since we don't really have a "fall" season -it's still in the upper 90's now! I don't decorate seasonally but want too. I'm still trying to work on getting the house decorated the 1st time into something I'm happy with. Lots of ideas and I love looking & dreaming!

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  35. Fall is my favorite time also. I already have my fall candles out such as pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin spice, harvest time and many more. I love your candles arrangements!

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  36. I love those foam berries as well. I always buy them on clearance after the fall and christmas seasons, so they are like $2.00 each. There's something so homey about them. Thanks for the inspiration to get my fall decorations out!

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  37. Great tips! I am anxious to pull out my fall decor and play around a bit now! :)

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  38. I love your ideas! I do similar things in my home as well. FALL IS MY FAVE TIME OF THE YEAR as well!!! I wish it could be All Year Long! haha. I'm a SLAH Consultant...so I've got the cool French Quarter Tray and the Barley Twist Pedestal as well. :) You give me great props to use for parties as well...THANKS!!!

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  39. I just squealed with glee at this post! I love everything you've put together.

    My boyfriend and I were actually browsing through Kirklands this weekend and he asked me... do people just decorate for seasons? (He wasn't meaning Holidays but seasons). He was intrigued by the pillows and all the fall harvest items. I said yeah, rich people do - joking of course. But I told him that's the main reason I found blogs like yours SO fun because you give us people on real budgets the ability to realize we can change up stuff and not break the bank!!! :) WELL DONE GIRL!

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  40. I would SO Love it if you posted this Wed to my Celebrate the Holidays party. Yu might like the faux colored pumpkins I did too.

    Just checking in A-G-A-I-N
    My blog has been growing like gang busters and while that is great I haven't had much time to visit my blog friends. I decided I needed to make some time for some visits, cuz I just missed everyone too much. Come back over for a visit as well.

    Cheri
    Its So Very Cheri

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  41. Your photography is gorgeous and I love the way you captured your decor! I love fall but, I really love halloween.

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  42. I Love all your ideas! I have just begun decorating for fall....and you have now officially put me in the mood. I am with you. I love the fragrance of fall candles! Oh so yummy!

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  43. So beautiful, warm, and cozy. Makes you want to curl up with a cup of coffee and a good book to read.

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  44. I absolutely love the fall ambiance you've set in your home; fall is my very favorite season too. Question: What do you do if your candles leak wax on to your berries or scatter, is there a special way you keep them from spillingor do you just keep a close eye on them?

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  45. I love your ideas. They do make it feel all warm and cozy. We need to hurry up on our remodel on the double! All these fun ideas and I'm dying to try them out!

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  46. I love that fall ribbon tied around the candles. Pumpkin spice and spiced apple are two of my favorite scented candles. I could use them year round but they just smell better in the fall don't they??
    Where did you get the black iron pieces on your mantle?? I want something for my hallway but can't find what I want or when I find something, it's sooo expensive.

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  47. LOVE IT!
    Fall is also my favorite season (after all, my favorite Holiday falls under it : HALLOWEEN!) Being that I come from a Summer-all-year-round-country, seeing the season changes is a treat.

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  48. Everyone's decorating for fall already! I feel like summer passed waaaay too quickly. But I love what you've done!

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  49. #1 Do you like Fall? LOL! Me too!!! Love the decor - it's beautiful!

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  50. I also love fall! My house colors are already reds and browns and golds! I'm like perma fall decor around here and that's fine by me :) Just throw in an orange here and there and I am set!

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  51. Everything looks so warm and fall-cozy. I've started getting more of my fall decorations out and it's getting me in the mood for cooler weather!

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  52. Fantastic decor and ideas! The smell of fall reminds me of the simple things in life.

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  53. So love all your candles, I think I'll go light my yankee candle Harvest now :) It's another grey day here, and I'm lovin it!
    Have a great day.

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  54. Those pictures are exactly why I love fall. I love the smell of pumpkin and cinnimon. yum!!

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  55. Omg sooo cute!! Here in AZ it won't feel like fall for another, oh, two months. But I'll look forward to adding my own beady things sometime soon!

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  56. Scratch and sniff computers! In this case, I wish!!! You rock. I'm getting really inspired now. When I get home from work I will have to pull out my Rubbermaid fall bins.

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  57. Hi Sarah! Oh, I love all of your fallness! Love how you've displayed all your candles!
    BE a sweetie,
    shelia :)

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  58. Fall is my favorite too, and now you have me envious of all your delicious decor! I can't wait to try some of your tips!

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  59. Pretty, pretty!!! :) I can't smell (ever!), so I have the hardest time with choosing candles in scents. I usually just ask someone if it smells good or not. I love your arrangements!

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  60. I love all the fall decorations especially the pretty rocks in the candle holder.

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  61. I love all your fall decorations. I have NONE!! We just moved into our house and now I am overwhelmed with the need to decorate for the season. Keep the tips coming please!! =)

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  62. I SOOO love your blog. I came across it a couple of weeks ago and have been following ever since. I ADORE your decorating style. Thanks for taking the time to share your awesomeness!!

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  63. I love to see you using the beaded garland. So many people don't seem to know what do DO with it and I just love it. Fall is definitey my favorite season -- probably much because I can start on 1 September and switch on 1 October to fall/Halloween and then back again to fall/Thanksgiving so it's the LONGEST decorating season of the year! :) Thanks for all of your time and love for decorating. It shows!

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  64. Love the candles! Thanks for the tip about Michaels-- I will be off to be getting those! So are you starting to decorate for Fall? I'm chomping at the bit to start but I didn't know if it's still too early!

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  65. I just feel so warm and fuzzy reading your post. Ahhhh. I just feel like snuggeling right now. Fall is my favorite!! I agree with you about the beady garland stuff...it is so wonderful isn't it? I feel like reading your post again!

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  66. I adore fall too, and leave my fall decor up from Sept. to Dec. You did a beautiful job on your home, really enjoyed the close ups of the candles.
    Hugs Dee

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  67. You have got it looking GORG girl! Love all the warm colors and textures. You are inspiring me to get started with my fall decorating too!

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  68. Love it all so much ! I can smell your candles through my screen.

    Smells gooooooooooood.

    :)
    Kate

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  69. Beautiful, Sarah!

    Your guestpost for me will go up on Wed. around noon. Had to move some things around. Thanks again!

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  70. I just found your blog searching on how to spray paint a bed and it linked to you. Oh my, I maybe here all day!

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  71. It looks so pretty, I love it! I bet those candles smell delicious too.

    As much as I love summer (and therefore resent fall!) even I can't help but get in a cozy autumn mood after seeing those photos!

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  72. OMG, I'm so with you...fall is my favorite time of year. I still have to dig out my candles, but you've given me some great ideas to not make them so dull!!! Love all your pics!

    Hugz,
    Michele

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  73. Love the centerpiece you made for your dining room table - and I too love those garlands of yummy fall colored berries/beads!

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  74. I love fall,too.In the summer, I fill my candleholders with a thick base of sand ,top with shells and place candle in the center. In the spring ,I just use cheap jellybeans and a candle. You have really motivated me to get my Fall things out.

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  75. Oh my gawd, this is so beautiful! You've totally inspired me - time for some shopping! ;-)

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  76. I was just wondering how I was going to redo my mantle soon for the next season and was drawing a blank, but I love this! I'm hoping to get to the store next week and find some brown and red candles! :)

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  77. Gave you a shout out today!
    http://johnhoodfamily.blogspot.com/2010/09/more-great-fall-ideas.html

    Love love love your site!!!! and follow you!!

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