How To Burn A Candle The Right Way

October 23, 2017

I’ve always loved to burn candles but for years I was burning them the wrong way. It wasn’t until I started working in the home decor industry that I learned the right way to burn a candle.

Are you one of those people who burns a candle and finds half the wax still in the jar once the wick has burned down? Well, you’re not alone. There a lots of people who don’t know how to burn a candle the right way. Today I’m sharing candle burning tips so you can get the most out of your favorite candle scent.

Candle Burning Tips & Tricks

Trim the wick

This is one of the most important things you can do when you’re burning any type of candle. Trimming the wick produces a cleaner burn and prevents soot build-up around the jar opening. An untrimmed wick can result in smoke and the wick flaring and mushrooming at the tip. For the initial burn and before every burn thereafter, you want to trim the wick to 1/4 inch long.

Burn the wax all the way across the top

The first time you burn your candle is the most important since it will determine how the wax will burn for the life of the candle. For the first burn, burn the wax all the way across the top of the candle. The wax should be liquid from edge to edge. It may take several hours for the full melt to occur so be patient. If you fail to let the wax melt all the way across the candle, the wax will create a tunnel in the center of the candle. The diameter of the ‘tunnel’ will not increase over time and all of the wax beyond the outer edge of the tunnel will be wasted.

tip: it takes approximately 1 hour of burn time for every 1” inch in diameter for the entire surface of a candle to become liquid

Don’t over-burn candles

In most cases, candles should not be burned for more than 4 hours at a time. Extended periods of burning can result in a flared wick and soot build-up. Once your candle has burned for a few hours, blow out the flame and let it cool for 2 to 3 hours before trimming the wick and re-lighting it.

Keep the flame away from vents and moving air

If your candle flame is being impacted by moving air, the air will cause the candle to burn unevenly. This is especially true with taper candles resulting in heavy wax drips down the sides of the candle. Try placing a jar candle inside a large glass vase or open container to reduce the amount of air that comes in contact with the flame.

Sometimes two wicks are better than one

If you need an extra wide candle for a candleholder or vase, look for a candle with more than one wick. A wide candle with a single wick will never produce enough heat for the wax to fully melt across the top so you’re destined to get a tunnel. The more wicks a candle has, the more heat it will generate and the faster the wax will melt.

Put a lid on it

An easy way to preserve the intensity of fragranced candles is by putting the lid back on the jar when you aren’t burning it. Exposing an open candle to prolonged periods of air can reduce the strength of the fragrance over time.

Stop the burn when the wax is approximately 1/2 inch from the bottom of the jar

When the wax is approximately 1/2 inch from the bottom of the jar, the heat at the bottom of the jar can actually burn the surface it is sitting on. If there is only a 1/2″of wax left in the jar, you’ll want to throw the candle away.

If the candle comes in a jar that you want to keep, there’s an easy way to remove the wax. Once the wax is cool, place the jar in a pan and fill the pan with hot water. The hot water will soften the wax so you can break it up with a knife. Once the wax is out of the jar, fill the jar with soap and water to remove any residue. Then place the jar in the dishwasher to get it sparkly clean.

Now that you know all my candle burning tips, here’s a round-up of my favorite fall candles (affiliate links included).

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FAVORITE FALL CANDLE SCENTS

BathandBodyWorks Leaves // Votivo Red Currant // Nest Cedar Leaf & Lavender // Voluspa Baltic Amber

Thanks for stopping by the blog today. I hope you found these tips helpful. If you have a favorite fall candle scent, please leave me a comment so I can check it out!

Affiliate links used for your shopping convenience. I may earn a small commission through these links at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting ConfettiStyle to keep great content coming!

The Starting Point Of Design–Revisited

August 14, 2017

Happy Monday! We made it through another weekend which included a hodge podge of tasks and projects. Most of our weekend was spent at the new house cleaning the kitchen, bathrooms and floors. We also moved all of my Christmas decor into the garage storage unit. Yesterday we spent some time shopping for sofas and also swung by At Home to pick up a few things. If you haven’t been to an At Home store, I highly recommend you do. The store is massive and there are lots of basic decorative items and stylish decor and super affordable prices.

This week is going to be extra busy with client meetings, more packing and shopping for a new dishwasher. When we were cleaning the kitchen we noticed that the dishwasher had some mold build-up which made me cringe. So, a new dishwasher just made it to the top of the ‘must-buy’ list.

Since I’m in the beginning stages of creating a design plan for our new house, I thought I’d share a post I wrote back in 2011. The post, entitled The Starting Point Of Design outlines things to consider when beginning to develop a design plan for a room or a whole house. I hope you’ll find these tips valuable no matter what stage of decorating you are in.

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Design Chat: Sectional Styling & A Family Room Refresh

June 16, 2017

I continue to get emails from people who have read my blog post or found my pin How To Style A Sectional Sofa. I wrote the original blog in 2014 and there are over 25,000 re-pins on Pinterest. And when I wrote the post, I didn’t realize so many people are challenged with decorating around a sectional sofa.

My most recent email was from MJ who is looking to update her family room. She wants to trade in her current sofa and loveseat for a new sectional with chaise. And she wants to replace the recliner with two accent chairs. Here’s how MJ posed her design challenge to me…

“Hello, I came across your article on Pinterest and was hoping to get your advice. I have attached two pics of my great room as I want to purchase a new sectional (would love a chaise), but with a corner fireplace, I am not sure how or if that would even work. Also get confused on how to determine if I need a right arm facing or left arm facing chaise. One picture shows the wall across from the stairs where the chaise portion of a sectional would be placed with the longer sofa portion obviously along the area across from stairway. My plan is to purchase two complementary accent chairs to be placed in front of window wall. Any suggestions would be appreciated!!

Here are the photos of MJ’s family room now. As you can see, MJ’s family room is not large and the brown/beige color palette that takes it cues from the carpet and wall color.

After studying the room layout, I created an inspiration board and outlined a few suggestions that will help MJ execute a new look for her home.

The Inspiration

Family Room Refresh: Design Suggestions

FIND FURNITURE THAT FITS: With the size of MJ’s family room, a large sectional will fit with ease. I recommend a left arm sectional which will position the sectional on the long wall opposite the TV. Selecting the right size sectional will allow for side tables and lamps on each end creating a cozy sitting arrangement.

tip: When looking at sectionals, left facing and right facing refers to the arm placement when looking at the sectional sofa head on (not when sitting on it).

CREATE A COLOR STORY: The foundation of every room is its color palette. The current color scheme in MJ’s family room is somewhat flat. The main color in the room is brown with a little deviation in tones form one brown to another. What I recommend is combining more shades and variation of tan and brown which will give the room depth, dimension and visual interest. Since the sectional will be the largest piece in the room, a lighter color fabric will provide a contrast against the walls and carpet.

PUMP UP THE COLOR: I also recommend pumping up the use of accent colors in the room. Right now the only significant accent color is the teal lamp shades o n the table lamps. Using the teal as the accent color I would bring in more of this color with patterned pillows and drapes. Curtains will add softness to the room and define and create a focal point around the windows.

tip: when adding patternwork to a room, combine patterns in different in scale so they don’t fight with each other and each individual design stands out.

tip: hang your drapery rod as high as possible to maximize the visual effect of taller ceilings and a more open space.

MIX UP THE MATERIALS AND FINISHES: Another way to add depth and dimension to a room is by using pieces that are made of different materials and/or finishes. My suggestion is to replace with wood side tables with tables made of iron and glass. The glass will not take up any visual space and the iron will keep the tables from looking whimsy. For additional contrast, I’d place a painted wood accent table between the chairs in front of the window. Painted furniture will introduce even more color and another finish in the room.

ADD STYLE WITH SHAPE: Having little to no variation in the shape of furniture within a room is a common decorating mistake. Having too many elements in one shape (i.e. square or rectangular) can result in a room that feels heavy and overloaded. A combination of square, round and other shapes creates visual interest and movement for the eye. In MJ’s room I’ve suggested round side tables to add that needed contrast.

PERSONALIZE YOUR STYLE: In addition to new furniture and a pumped up color palette, here are the other suggestions I had for MJ…

Hang the mirror over the mantel versus leaning it. Hanging the mirror will balance the fireplace and create separation between the mantel and the mirror.
Hang a larger piece of artwork on the long wall facing the TV. A larger piece of art will add color, visual interest and create a secondary focal point within the room.
Replace the lamps with a style that has more substance and shape. Your lamp base and shade should feel proportion to the scale of the furniture in the room Lamps are also an easy way to introduce more color into a room. Note how the lamp shade color in my recommended style picks up the lighter neutral in the pillows and curtains.
Upsize the TV cabinet with a larger piece. The current TV console is a bit small and makes the entire TV arrangement feel diminutive. A larger tv cabinet will work better with the scale of the fireplace and furniture within the room.
Paint the inside of the front door an accent color. Painting MJ’s door will add so much visual interest within the entire entrance/family room space. And the color will visually link the two areas together. The inspiration photo for the door is below.

One other thing I wanted to point out is that while MJ’s room could benefit from a patterned area rug, I wouldn’t recommend it because of the plush wall to wall carpeting. It’s fine to layer a rug over a low pile carpet with plush carpeting an area rug tends to crawl.

Do you have a design challenge? Leave me a comment and your space just might be featured here on ConfettiStyle.

SHOP THE INSPIRATION BOARD:

Sectional Sofa // Round Pedestal Table // Floral Pillow // Teal Velvet Pillow // Plaid Tattersall Pillow

Abstract Art // Brown Accent Chair // Glass Table Lamps

Geometric Blackout Curtains // Round Glass and Iron Side Table // Black TV Cabinet

Designer Tricks of The Trade | Ideas To Inspire

April 27, 2017

Have you ever wanted to know what tricks designers use to create unique rooms? Well, today is your lucky day. I’m sharing TEN designer tricks that you can easily incorporate into your own home to get a custom look with your decor.

Some of the ideas require a little DIY, the others are quick, easy and affordable decorating ideas.

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DESIGNER TRICKS OF THE TRADE

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No. 1 REVERSING RUGS

Did you know that some rugs are designed with a defined pattern on each side? That’s like getting two rugs for the price of one. Rugs with two usable sides are great because with a quick flip of the rug you can change the look of your decor. The next time you’re rug shopping check the back side and see if it has a usable pattern.

tip: pay attention to the weave and feel of the back side to make sure you like it

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The same ‘reverse’ trick works with some fabrics too. Designer Jamie Meares used the reverse side of this dot fabric as the welt providing the perfect contrast to give the chair a real designer touch.

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No. 2 CHANGING OUT or UpSTYLING LAMPSHADES

Have you ever come across the perfect lamp but it has an awful shade? It happens all the time. It might be that the shade is the wrong shape or color, or maybe the lamp needs a shade with more style. The trick here is to buy the lamp and change or UpStyle the shade!

One of my favorite sources for lampshades online is Lux Lampshades. Lux has a quick ship program with in-stock shades of all shapes, sizes and fabrics. And their custom program allows you to design a custom shade from a range of fabrics and frames they have available.

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No. 3 USING OUTDOOR LIGHTING INDOORS

Did you know that the only major difference between outdoor lighting and indoor lighting is that the finishes on outdoor lighting are created to withstand weather elements? Beyond that outdoor lighting is suitable for indoor use. Some of my favorite outdoor lighting styles to use inside are scones and lanterns. Check out this chic outdoor light used in a bathroom by A Beautiful Mess.

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No. 4 MOUNTING A FRAME WITHIN A FRAME

I’m always taking about how important layering is when decorating and that concept even applies to wall decor. If you have a framed art piece that’ to small, think about hanging it inside of a larger frame. The two pieces combined will provide the impact you’re desiring and also give your wall decor statement a custom look.

tip: don’t overlook ugly artwork at a thrift store because the frame might be of value

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No. 5 CREATING A LARGE RUG FROM TWO

Did you know that designers sometimes create one rug from two? Let’s say you find the perfect rug but it doesn’t come in a large enough size. If the pattern works, you can actually use rug tape to create a larger size from two smaller rugs. And if you want a more permanent fix, some rug companies can actually glue the rugs together.

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No. 6 A TOUCH OF BLACK IN EVERY ROOM

This is one of my tried and true design rules. Black adds a touch of drama to a room and helps to ground the decor. Don’t think that it has to be a piece of black furniture or a wall painted black, all it takes is a touch. A lamp base, a decorative object or a textile with black in it. If you have a room in your home with no black, add the color and see the impact it makes.

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No.7 MIX HIGH END WITH LOW END

Because I’m an avid vintage shopper, I love mixing high with low. A high-quality sofa paired with inexpensive pillows or a budget friendly rug paired with a statement coffee table are just two ways to mix it up. Mixing high and low will give your decor distinct flair, add personality and save you money.

My favorite budget friendly pieces are side tables, pillows and decorative objects.

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N0. 8 MIX OLD & NEW

Just like mixing high and low, mixing old and new is a great way to customize your decor. Pair a vintage coffee table with a new sofa or a new lamp with a thrifted cabinet. The days of shopping at one store for all your decor needs are gone so have fun mixing it up.

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No. 9 PATTERN MIXING

Ask any designer and they will tell you that pattern-work is key to any design statement. You don’t have to go bright and bold because subtle colors and patterns can have just as much impact as bright colors and bold prints. The key to pattern mixing is to pair patterns of different scales and styles. You can read more of my tips on pattern mixing here.

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No. 10 EMBELLISHING OFF THE SHELF FABRICS

I love designer fabrics but they aren’t always in the budget. One of the tricks designers use to UpStyle off-the-shelf textiles is to add trim. There are some many affordable trims that can be applied to curtains, pillows or just about anything. Check out that seat cushion below that has been transformed with some greek key trim. #brilliant

tip: my favorite trim source are this, this and this

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So there you have it friends. A few of the tricks designers use when creating and decorating a space.

A little creativity goes a long way so get crafty, think outside the box and give your decor a unique spin.

Favorites Of The Week–Spring Inspired

March 18, 2017

Here are a few of my favorite spring inspired post, pins and products from the week. Enjoy!

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FAVORITE POSTS

My friend Erika shows you how to create an entryway when one doesn’t exist in your home.

A beautiful spring home tour from The Chronicles of Home.

And I loved this one from Craftberry Bush too!

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FAVORITE PINS

Just one of the many beautiful images from the One Kings Lane Design Studio. I love the use of the two benches flanking the glass coffee table.

This is one of the images from the Elements Of Style book. If you don’t already own this design book, it’s one you want to get. {affiliate link}

p.s. I recently spotted a few copies at my local HomeGoods

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FAVORITE PRODUCTS

How fabulous would this striped umbrella look on a patio or deck for summer? It’s also available in a fun yellow and white stripe.

If you’ve tried keeping a Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree alive but failed, you might want to snag this faux version. It looks like the real thing.

Have a fabulous weekend!

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Design Guide: 10 Components To A Beautiful Home

March 16, 2017

Every designer you ask will have a list of key components they think are essential to the design and function of a beautiful home. And while my list may differ from others, I think all designers would agree that each of the items on my list contributes in one way or another to how a home looks and feels.

#1 A STYLE BLUEPRINT

I meet clients all the time that don’t have a good handle (or vision) of their design style. They know if they like an item or not but they can articulate clearly the overall look for a room or the mood they want a room to have. Once you define your design style you’ll be able to envision the decor of your home, down to the details.

Defining your style encompasses many different elements, from the colors and materials you like to the style of furniture and accessories that appeal to you. And don’t worry, defining your style doesn’t happen over night. Your style can change throughout the years just like you do.

One of the ways that I have my clients convey their style to me is by going through design magazines and tagging anything that appeals to them. Then I have them jot down a word or two telling me what they like about the image they tagged. The word ‘cozy’ on a room photo with warm colors may convey the colors they like. The word ‘clean’ may be associated with a room that is streamline and clutter free which tells me a lot about how they want to a room to look and feel. Once you have a stack of tagged images you can look through them and begin to see the common threads in the design style that appeals to you.

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#2 A FOCAL POINT

The focal point of a room is a lot like a statement piece of jewelry. It’s an element that captures your attention, serves as a dominant statement and in some cases sets the tone for the rest of the entire room.

The focal point in some rooms may be an architectural element like the windows or a fireplace. In other rooms it my be a wall decor arrangement, a rug, artwork or even a sofa.

Identifying or creating the focal point within each room of your home will give you the starting point upon which to build your overall design theme.

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#3 SPACE PLAN

We all know that the way furniture is positioned in a room can impact the way a room feels and functions. Arranging furniture so that movement can happen easily in, out and within a room is critical to the overall design of a space.

When decorating a room think about the scale of the furniture and accessories to ensure they won’t swallow up space and make the room look visually cluttered. For the Key Measurements You Need To Know When Decorating Your Home, check out my post here.

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#4 TEXTURE

In my book texture is one of the most important elements to design. Texture provides visual interest, depth and dimension and its also one of the elements that makes a room feel inviting. As it applies to design, texture is defined as ‘the sensations caused by the external surface of objects received through the sense of touch’. But it can also be a ‘perceived sense of touch’–you can experience texture visually without having to actually touch something.

Texture can be introduced into your decor through the fabrics you choose, the materials accessories are made of as well as the style of your doors, windows and walls.

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#5 MIXED METALS & MATERIALS

Variety is definitely the spice of life when it comes to decorating a room. You don’t want one-dimensional decor…you want a home that explodes with interest and personality.

While your style blueprint may dictate a particular type of furniture and accessory style, you want to decorate with a mix of materials and finishes in order to bring your decor to life. Don’t be afraid to mix gold with silver, leather with velvet or glass with metal.

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#6 A MIX OF OLD & NEW

Years ago the trend was to shop your favorite furniture store or catalog to decorate your home. While it was easy, many homes ended up with decor that was cookie-cutter and uninteresting. Just like mixing metals and materials, it’s a good idea to mix the age of items you decorate with. Pair vintage and antique pieces with newer items to build the character within your style blueprint.

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#7 PERSONAL TOUCHES

If nothing else, your home should feel personal and reflect you and your family. Personal touches like family photos, books, artwork and collected pieces should be used in every room in your home.

As you decorate, be thoughtful in the placement of accessories and keep these tips in mind:

♦ Arrange accessories in odd numbers in different sizes. It’s been proven that grouping objects in odd numbers is more pleasing to the eye than even numbers.

♦ Objects that you place together when creating arrangements should have something in common: color, shape, theme, texture, vintage.

♦ Balance the art and accessories throughout a room. Don’t place everything on one side of a room.

♦ Scatter your accent color in at least three places around a room to create visual movement.

♦ Keep scale in mind with pairing accessories. Small accessories clustered together or scattered throughout a room will look like clutter from a distance. Use medium to large-sized accessories which will be noticed and seem more important as you enter a room.

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#8 STATEMENT WALL DECOR

I think every room would have a wall decor statement that stands out. That could mean a single piece of art or a grouping of pieces that create a dominant visual impact. Based on the layout of your room and the architectural elements within the space, your wall decor can serve as the focal point. For creative wall decor inspiration, check out this post.

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#9 SUFFICIENT LIGHTING

Most homes I go into lack sufficient lighting and without the right lighting and the correct amount of lighting, your home won’t look as good as it could. There are three types of lighting every room needs:

AMBIENT LIGHTING: Ambient lighting includes chandeliers, recessed lighting, or sconces, all of which provide overall illumination to a room. And the use of dimmers with your ambient lighting will give you control over the light levels allowing you to easily change the mood of a space.

tip: When wiring your rooms, include multiple circuits. This will allow you to dim some lights while keeping others brighter.

TASK LIGHTING: This lighting is particularly important when performing specific tasks like cooking, doing office work, or getting ready in the bathroom. In the kitchen, pendant and under-cabinet lighting can illuminate food prep areas. In a living room or bedroom, table lamps and floor lamps will provide task lighting.

tip: Even illumination is essential when planning your bathroom lighting plan. Make sure the same amount of light comes from the sides of the room as the top of the room. This will help prevent shadows and create the ideal bathroom lighting for applying make-up or shaving.

ACCENT LIGHTING: Accent lighting can be used to highlight objects like art, sculptures, and architectural details within a room. Classic track lighting and picture lights are the most common types of accent lighting, but candles also fall into this category.

For more lighting design tips, read my posts here and here.

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#10 SOMETHING NATURAL

Something natural is a little detail that can make a big impact. A plant in a corner or a vase full of flowers or stems will give life and energy to your decor.

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If you’re starting a new decorating project or looking to refresh your decor, keep these 10 components in mind and create the home of your dreams.

Design Chat: Arranging Artwork For Impact & Style

January 26, 2017

One of the things I enjoy most about writing this blog is sharing design tips and helping you solve your design dilemmas. Last year I started a series called Design Chat series where I answer your design questions and provide decorating tips and inspiration. I’m excited to continue the series in 2017 and today I addressing a design challenge that Jennette has.

Here’s the comment and question Jennette sent to me…

“Shelly, I found your blog in spring 2016 while searching how to style a sectional sofa on Pinterest. I love your design tips! Right now my design dilemma is how to hang art on a long, odd wall when there is already one picture over a chair.”

Artwork can be one of the most challenging aspects of decorating your home. Once you’ve identified the type of artwork you want, you then need to come up with a plan for a dynamic wall statement.

As you can see in Jennette’s family room, she originally hung the artwork over the chair to anchor that seating area. While this isn’t bad, the rest of the wall is left blank and feels somewhat disconnected.

Here are my suggestions to pull the room together…

My suggestion for Jennette would be to create a gallery wall arrangement on that wall using the piece of artwork she owns as the centerpiece. A collection of framed pieces will create a focal point on that wall and anchor the space in total.

I also recommend a few other changes…

1) add a tall plant in the corner to add height and color. The small stool would move to the opposite side of the tv cabinet.

2) replace the double arm floor lamp with a fun table lamp.

3) add a cushion to the top of the bench and maybe even lean a couple of pillows on top.

4) a larger cabinet under the TV to give that wall more impact and to feel more proportionate with the TV.

On the opposite side of the room where the sofa sits, here’s what I recommend…

Hang candle sconces on each side of the mirror to give the wall over the sofa more impact. And remove the wall mounted light and position the double arm floor lamp next to the side table.

And my product picks for Jeanette’s room…

candle sconce // table lamp // fabric for cushion // black cabinet // plant basket

Overall, Jennette’s family room has a great foundation. With a few tweaks and additions, I think she’ll have the space she desires.

Looking for tips on creating a gallery wall arrangement, read my blog post here.

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If you’ve got a design challenge, email me and we’ll chat!

Design Guide: Shopping For The Perfect Sofa

January 10, 2017

We started looking for a new sofa last year and I couldn’t find I liked. We decided to put our sofa shopping on hold so it gives me the perfect opportunity to share sofa styling tips to help you (and me) find the ideal sofa.

The first and most critical step in picking a sofa is to determine the style of sofa that fits your needs and function as well as your design aesthetic.

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