Styling Beautiful Trays with Candles: Create a Cosy, Inspired Home

Creating a cosy home is all about the details, and styling beautiful trays with candles is a simple yet impactful way to enhance your space. Let's explore different styles of trays, various candle types, and lanterns to help you craft the perfect ambiance. Plus, we'll share tips on caring for your candles and keeping glass clean. 

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It all starts with choosing the Perfect Tray

The foundation of your styled candle display is the tray. Here are some popular tray styles to consider:

Wooden Trays

Wooden trays are a timeless choice for styling candles because they introduce warmth, texture, and natural character into your home. Whether placed on a coffee table, kitchen island, dining table, or console, decorative wooden trays help create a layered and thoughtfully styled look that feels both relaxed and refined. Antique style wooden trays bring aged character and rustic charm, making them perfect for modern country interiors and cosy living spaces. Seagrass detailed trays add beautiful woven texture and softness, pairing effortlessly with pillar candles, glass candle holders, and faux greenery. Palm tree trays offer a more decorative statement whilst still feeling timeless and easy to style throughout every season. Mango wood trays are especially popular for neutral home decor, thanks to their rich natural grain, warm tones, and handcrafted appearance. Styling candles on wooden trays also helps create visual balance by combining different heights, materials, and textures in one space. Layering ceramic candle holders, rustic lanterns, and smaller decorative accessories on wooden trays creates an inviting focal point that works beautifully within country inspired homes, rustic interiors, and timeless neutral home styling.

Round Trays

Round trays are a beautiful way to style candles whilst adding shape, texture, and character to your home. Their softer silhouette helps break up straight lines on coffee tables, kitchen islands, and consoles, creating a more relaxed and inviting look. Antique grasses trays bring subtle vintage charm with intricate detailing and muted earthy tones that pair beautifully with candlelight. Palm tree trays introduce a slightly more decorative feel whilst still remaining timeless and easy to style within modern country interiors. Seagrass trays add natural texture and warmth, making them perfect for layering with ceramics, faux greenery, and flickering candles. Mango wood trays offer a richer and more rustic look, with beautiful natural grain and depth of tone that works effortlessly throughout every season. Mixing different candle heights, holders, and textures on round trays helps create a balanced and thoughtfully styled arrangement that feels both cosy and timeless.
Capiz Trays

Capiz trays are made from the outer shell of the windowpane oyster, offering a unique, shimmering finish. These trays bring an ethereal, coastal feel to your decor, perfect for adding a touch of glamour and light to any room.

Rattan Trays

Rattan trays are perfect for styling candles because they introduce natural tone and texture into your home. The woven finish softens harder surfaces and helps create a more relaxed, layered look on coffee tables, consoles, kitchen islands, and dining tables. Grey washed rattan trays bring a calm and understated feel that works beautifully in modern country homes, while white washed rattan adds a lighter coastal touch. Natural rattan trays introduce warmth and organic texture, making them ideal for timeless neutral interiors. For a richer and more traditional look, deep antique brown rattan trays pair beautifully with flickering candlelight and darker wood furniture. Layering candles of different heights on rattan trays creates depth and interest, whilst the natural woven texture keeps the styling feeling warm, effortless, and inviting.

Selecting the Right Candles and Lanterns

Once you've chosen your tray, it's time to pick the candles and lanterns that will complete your cosy setup. Here are some options:

Glass Lanterns

Glass lanterns are perfect for creating a warm, inviting glow. Their transparent design allows the candlelight to shine through beautifully, enhancing the ambiance. Choose from clear, frosted, etched or coloured glass to suit your style.

Tea Lights

Tea lights are versatile and easy to arrange in clusters for a charming effect. They work well in small spaces and can be placed in decorative holders or directly on the tray. Mix and match different holders for a personalised touch.

Chamber Sticks

Chamber sticks, with their classic design and handle, add a touch of vintage elegance to your display. They are perfect for taper candles and can be paired with other candle types for a layered look.

Candle Jars

Candle jars come in various styles, offering both visual and aromatic appeal. They are ideal for creating a cosy atmosphere and can be reused once the candle is burned out. Look for jars that complement your tray’s design.

LED Candles

LED candles provide a safe, flameless option that mimics the look of real candles. They are perfect for homes with children or pets and can be placed anywhere without worry. LED candles often come with timers for added convenience.

Caring for Your Candles

To keep your candle display looking its best, proper care is essential. Here are some tips:

• Trim the Wick: Before lighting your candle, trim the wick to about ¼ inch to prevent soot buildup and ensure a clean burn.
• Avoid Drafts: Place candles away from drafts, vents, or fans to prevent uneven burning and dripping.
• Burn Time: Allow your candles to burn long enough for the entire surface to melt, preventing tunneling and extending the candle’s life.

Keeping Glass Clean

Glass lanterns and candle holders can become cloudy or stained over time. Here’s how to keep them sparkling clean:

• Regular Cleaning: Wipe the glass with a soft, damp cloth regularly to remove dust and soot.
• Deep Cleaning: For tougher stains, mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the glass and wipe with a clean, lint-free cloth.
• Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Steer clear of abrasive cleaners that can scratch or damage the glass.

Shop Our Candle Styling Collection

Shop trays and styling boards for your candles

Ready to create your own cosy candle tray display? Explore our collection of beautiful trays, candles, and lanterns to find everything you need to style your home. Whether you prefer the rustic charm of wood, the sleek look of cement, the elegance of ceramic, or the shimmering beauty of capiz, we have the perfect pieces to inspire you.