Cozy Candle Nights: How to Make Winter Evenings Warmer With Candlelight

When the evenings get dark by late afternoon, candlelight is one of the easiest ways to make home feel warm and welcoming. A “candle night” doesn’t need a special occasion. It can be a quiet Tuesday with a book, a weekend dinner with friends, or a holiday evening with the overhead lights switched off. Here are simple ideas for planning cozy candle nights all winter, plus a few safety basics.

Borrowing from hygge

The Danish word hygge (said roughly “HOO-guh”) describes a feeling of coziness, comfort and being together. Candles are central to it in Denmark, where lit candles are a normal part of everyday evenings, not only celebrations. You don’t need to redecorate to try it. The idea is soft, low light, simple comforts and time without screens.

A few hygge-style habits:

• Turn off the big lights. Swap the ceiling light for candles and one or two small lamps.
• Group candles together. Several small flames at different heights give a warmer glow than one large candle.
• Add texture. Blankets, wool socks, a wooden tray, a pot of tea.
• Keep it simple. Unscented or lightly scented candles keep the focus on the light.

Room-by-room ideas

Living room

Set a cluster of pillar candles or jar candles on a tray on the coffee table or a fireplace hearth, where they’re easy to see and away from curtains. If you have a mantel, line it with candles of different heights, leaving plenty of space below anything hanging above. Our guide to decorating a pillar candle has simple ways to dress them up.

Dining table

For dinner, use unscented or very lightly scented candles so they don’t compete with the food. Tapers in candlesticks look classic; low votives or tealights in glass holders keep sightlines clear across the table. For a holiday table, see our Christmas candle centerpiece guide.

Kitchen

A single jar candle near the sink can make washing up after dinner feel less like a chore. Keep it well away from towels, paper and the stove.

Entryway and windows

A warm light in the window has long been a sign of welcome. If you’d like to try the custom, flameless window candles are the safest choice. Read more about the tradition of a candle in the window.

Bathroom

Light a candle for a slow evening bath, set it on a stable surface away from towels, and blow it out before you leave the room.

Scents for winter evenings

Winter scents tend to fall into a few families:

• Evergreen and fresh: fir, pine, spearmint, eucalyptus.
• Warm and woody: cedarwood, sandalwood, oak.
• Spiced and sweet: cinnamon, clove, vanilla, cocoa.
• Bright citrus: orange, bergamot, grapefruit, which lift a dark afternoon.

The Stanley Hotel candle blends evergreen, spearmint and cocoa, a fitting mix for a snowy night (and a fun nod to the Colorado hotel that inspired The Shining). For something woodsier, the Stargaze candle has bergamot, sandalwood and grapefruit notes, and the Stargaze travel tin is a smaller size of the same scent for a bedside table or desk. For help pairing scents with rooms, see our guide to selecting candle fragrances.

Plan a candlelit dinner night

1. Pick a simple menu you can make ahead, like a soup, stew or baked pasta, so you’re not rushing.
2. Set the table early with unscented candles, cloth napkins and a few sprigs of greenery.
3. Light a scented candle in another room, such as the entryway, so guests are greeted by the scent without it overpowering the food.
4. Dim everything else and add music at a low volume.
5. End with dessert by candlelight, then blow out each candle before cleaning up.

Make candles last through the season

• Let the first burn reach the edges. For a jar candle, burn it long enough the first time for the melt pool to reach the sides. This helps prevent tunneling. Our guide on how to fix candle tunneling explains more.
• Trim wicks to about 1/4 inch before each burn for a steady, clean flame.
• Don’t burn too long at once. Follow the time on the candle’s label, often around four hours.

Candle safety on long winter nights

Winter is busy candle season, and the National Fire Protection Association notes that Christmas is the peak day for home candle fires. Keep candles at least 12 inches from anything that can burn, use sturdy holders on stable surfaces, keep them away from pets and children, and blow out every candle before you go to bed or leave the room. For trees and holiday décor, see our holiday candle safety guide.

FAQ

What candles are best for hygge?

Plain pillar candles, tealights and lightly scented jar candles all work. The point is soft, warm light, so many people prefer unscented or gently scented candles and group several together.

Should I use scented candles at the dinner table?

It’s best to use unscented candles at the table so the scent doesn’t compete with the food. Put a scented candle in the entryway or living room instead.

How can I get candlelight without the fire risk?

Flameless LED candles with a timer give a similar glow and are a good choice for windows, bedrooms and homes with pets or small children.

Top image: Rosendahl / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

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