Living in New York City as a renter, you learn how to add character and charm to any landlord’s special apartment. I’m determined to make my white-walled apartment shine and feel ultra-cozy for anyone who visits. One of my favorite ambience tips comes straight from design expert Shea McGee, and it’s a super affordable fix. For a show-stopping tablescape, she always uses one piece of decor.
“Taper candles are a no-frills way to make your table feel dressed up,” McGee says. “No stress, just clip a few branches, put them in the center, add a few taper candles, and you’re good to go.”
Taper candles have a Baroque charm to them, and I always found their glow immersive. But I was nervous about trying them for myself, just in case I knocked one over and it became a fire hazard, or the taper candle started dripping all over the table and made a mess. But McGee convinced me otherwise, and I ordered a bunch of candles and accessories to help them shine. Now, they’re the first thing I reach for when I want soft, moody lighting.
To bring the magic to life, I snagged a few dripless candles from Bluecorn Candles, one of my favorite small businesses on Amazon, so I could get started right away. And once I had unscented, gorgeous burgundy candles in hand, I turned to the accessories. I tried a few new candle holders from Anthropologie—one made from shimmering cut glass and one of oiled brass.
Not only are the holders cute, but they’re so sturdy I don’t have to worry about candles tipping them over. I can mill about a light dinner party without needing to monitor the flame. The cut-glass taper holder had a wide flare at the base, so even if the candles dripped, it wouldn’t make a mess of my table. The brass holder has a spike in its base, so my nightmares of it knocking over are gone.
Shop Janae’s Taper Essentials
Terrain Mirrored Candle Pins
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Anthropologie Naya Tinted Brass Lacquer Taper Candle Holder
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Bluecorn Beeswax Pure Beeswax Taper Candles
For a little extra oomph, I use these mirrored candle pins. You stick them into each candle, and the flame bounces off the reflection, spreading the warm light through the room. There’s something more unplugged about using it to light your space. I swear by my cordless table lamps, but when I want a swinging, jazzy, intimate atmosphere in my apartment, this fits the bill. My apartment may not have old-building character and charm, but these candles make it feel like it does.
I first tried this out on my dining table, which had a delightful “date night” look. But when I got my Thuma dresser, I relocated my taper candles to flank the other decor. It’s an instant mood shift and makes the room feel so elegant. It’s now part of my evening self-care ritual: light the candles, get a sweet snack, and curl up in my reading chair with a great book.
I’m not the only House Beautiful editor who swears by taper candles, either. Carisha Swanson, our director of editorial special projects, buys Candwax dripless taper candles in bulk for candlelight without the chaos. “These burn cleanly and evenly—no wax puddles, no ruined tabletops—so I can enjoy their warm glow in my drinking room and dining area night after night,” she says. If you’re ready to take a page out of McGee’s book, shop elegant taper candles below.
Pottery Barn Spiral Taper Candles – Set of 6
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Hawkins New York Hand Dipped Tapers
CANDWAX Dripless Tapered Candles, Set of 12
Northern Lights Candles Linen Closet Taper Combo
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Lulu and Georgia Mara Candle Holder by Lolly Lolly Ceramics
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McGee & Co. Errol Wax Tapers (Set of 6)
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