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15 Beautiful Home Decorating Ideas with Flameless Candles

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Decorating ideas with flameless candles using large groupings of candles on a tablescape

Looking for beautiful, stylish decorating ideas with flameless candles? In this post, I’ll show you how to display flameless candles throughout your space in ways that are simple, elegant and fun.

For the most part, you can use flameless candles just about anywhere you would use a real candle. But LED candles also have two main advantages over real wax candles:

  1. No oxygen is needed for the flame.
  2. No risk of fires.

The first advantage means that you can use flameless candles in things like glass cloches – a real wax candle would eventually burn out in an enclosed space.

The second benefit means that battery operated candles are safe to use around kids and pets, making flameless candles a great choice for all households.

Flameless candles come in various shapes and sizes as well as different colors.  From large electric Christmas candles to cute little faux tealights, there’s a wide range of fake candles that look real on the market today.

Decorating Ideas with Flameless Candles

Here are some of my favorite ways to decorate with flameless candles around the home.

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Hurricanes

Decorating ideas with flameless candles using candle hurricane, giraffe figurine

When decorating with candles, you’ve probably considered using hurricanes. Hurricanes are an easy way to add dimension to vignettes, mantle displays, centerpieces, etc.  The candle shown above looks a bit boring by itself. But when placed in a hurricane coupled with a white ginger jar and a small giraffe statue it makes for a lovely vignette.

Candle Hurricanes

There are so many hurricanes on the market in all kinds of different sizes, shapes and colors. You’re bound to find a hurricane candle holder that works with your decor.  Or if you’re like me, you’ll find multiple hurricanes and run out of places to put them 🙂

Lanterns

Decorating ideas with flameless candles using large gold lanterns

A set of beautiful flameless candles in a shiny gold lantern adds a soft glow to this living room bookcase.  Lanterns can be decorated in a variety of ways, including with flameless candles.

Wondering how to display candles without having to remember to turn them on and off each evening? Many LED candles come with a timer feature. So you can set the timer and watch as your lantern lights up night after night.

Candle Lanterns

Of all the decorating ideas with flameless candles shown in this post, lanterns are by far one of my favorites.  They come in a wide variety of styles and can be used in different seasonal looks throughout the year.

Candle Stands & Candle Holders

Decorating ideas with flameless candles using gold candle holders, vases

Candle stands & candle holders are an easy way to add height to your decor.  Having decor items at different levels is appealing to the eye and helps fill a space.

Candle Holders

Flameless candles with paired with candle holders really make a statement in any decor look.  This is certainly a great way to use candles in your living room without having to worry about the risk of fire near other decor pieces. Candle stands are relatively inexpensive, so you can buy a few and swap them out as the seasons progress.

Candle Rings

Decorating ideas with flameless candles using candle ring, tree figurines

Another way to decorate with flameless candles is to use candle rings.  A few flameless candles tucked into a candle rings make for a great centerpiece.  Or consider using them on sideboards, night stands, end tables and living room bookcases.

Fall Candle Rings

Candle rings provide the perfect way to add greenery or beading to your look.  They’re easy to update for the holidays and different seasons and are widely available at most craft and home goods stores.

Big Displays

Decorating ideas with flameless candles using large groupings of candles

Large groupings of flameless LED candles arranged on a mantle, table or sideboard can have such an impact by themselves that there’s no need for additional decor items.

Big groupings of similar decor objects is a favorite method of designers when they want to fill a large space visually.  You’ll often see it used in hotels, restaurants and retail spaces.  There’s no reason you can’t copy the look for your home 🙂

Flameless Pillar Candle Sets

This is one of my favorite decorating ideas with flameless candles if you really want to make a statement in a room.  Consider using different sizes and shapes of flameless candles for variation.  Also, don’t be afraid to mix and match brands and styles of flameless candles as shown in the picture above. You can get a good number of LED candles when purchasing a flameless candle set.

Bedrooms

Decorating ideas with flameless candles using tea lights on a shelf in a bedroom

Flameless candles are a nice way to add a soft glow to your bedroom in the evening hours.  Set them to the timer feature to have them go off when your ready for bed.  Use the remote to turn them off when you get into bed. Or leave them on all night as a night light! There are lots of candle decorating ideas for the bedroom.

This is a unique and fun way to add muted lighting to a kids room without the risk of real flames.  Kids are usually fascinated by moving flame flameless candles.

Flameless Pillar Candles

Or have you tried Push Flame candles by Liown?  You can push the flame piece to turn them on and off.  Or blow on the flame piece to turn them off.  A kid favorite!

Centerpieces

Decorating ideas with flameless candles for tablescapes

Candle display ideas usually involve coffee table centerpieces or dining room tablescapes.  The only problem is that real flames can be a fire hazard in these settings.

An easy solution to this is to use flameless candles for your centerpieces instead. Faux flame candles, lanterns and other festive decor make for a beautiful centerpiece without the risk.

Tabletop Candelabras

If you’ve shopped around for flameless candles before, you’ll know that they come in many different shapes and sizes. I love the flameless pine cone candles by Luminara in the picture above.  They’re perfect in fall, winter and Christmas candle centerpiece displays.

Tablescapes

Decorating ideas with flameless candles for tablescapes

Real wax candles make tablescapes feel more romantic & intimate but pose a risk of fire hazard.  Considering using flameless candles as a safe alternative.

The designer for this beautiful tablescape paired different styles of Luminara flameless candles for a soft evening glow. I love the different sizes of LED candles that were used.

Candles paired with greenery is one of the more popular decorating ideas with flameless candles for wedding centerpieces. If you’re looking for ideas on how to do an amazing candle tablescape at your home, look to wedding tablescapes & centerpieces for ideas. I have a post on that here: 10 Beautiful Flameless Candle Wedding Centerpiece Ideas That Look Real

Mantels & Fireplaces

Decorating ideas with flameless candles using candles, glass hurricanes, reindeer figurines, greenery on a mantel

Probably one of the best places in your house to use candles is the place associated with fire & light.  Mantels and fireplaces are a perfect spot to use flameless candles.

Use them tucked into seasonal greenery garland or displayed in lanterns, hurricanes or cloches. A large grouping of them inside a fireplace creates a glow almost like a real log fire. The look in the picture above makes for a beautiful Christmas mantel with flameless candles, glass vases and decorative reindeer figurines.

Fireplace Candle Inserts

There’s lots of different ways you can decorate your hearth with flameless candles. See my post here for some more ideas on how to display candles on a fireplace and mantel: 20 Simple Ways to Decorate a Fireplace & Mantle with Flameless Candles

Outdoor Displays

Decorating ideas with flameless candles using outdoor LED candles, trays, on a patio

Most of the decorating ideas with flameless candles shown in this post involve using flameless candles inside your home.  But why not add them as a decoration to outdoor spaces as well? Another one of my favorite candle display ideas involves setting them in different outside areas for a little bit of light in the evenings.

Outdoor & Waterproof Flameless Candles

Just make sure to use flameless candles that are rated for outdoors.  Otherwise, your wax flameless candles might melt in the sun or get damaged by water. Look for outdoor flameless candles that are made of weatherproof plastic. 

Front Porch

Decorating ideas with flameless candles using red lanterns on a front porch

Wondering how to display flameless candles on a porch?  Adding flameless candles to your front porch is an elegant way to add warmth and light to this outdoor area in the evening hours.  Consider using LED candles in different size lanterns, tucked into flower pots or grouped near a few chairs.

Unless your porch is completely covered from the elements, you’ll want to make sure you use plastic outdoor flameless candles. Regular LED candles will work ok on covered porches that don’t get any water or sun exposure. Be careful with flameless candles made with wax shells as the wax can melt in the sun.

Bath & Spa

Decorating ideas with flameless candles using waterproof candles on a shelf in a bathroom

Decorating ideas with flameless candles for your house can involve putting faux candles in rooms you might not have considered before.  Like the idea of candles in the bathroom, but don’t want the risk of flame while you’re take a bath?

Consider using plastic outdoor rated flameless candles in your bathroom – there’s no flame, but they still look real and you can get them wet.  You can also use regular wax flameless candles in the bathroom.  Just make sure to put them in places where they won’t come into contact with water.

Some types of outdoor flameless candles don’t have a moving flame piece. Instead, the light flickers, giving the impression of a real candle. I find these give a peaceful, yet realistic vibe to a space.

Tucked Into Decor

Decorating ideas with flameless candles using candles in a tray on a mantel

Curious about how to decorate with flameless candles that look tacky or don’t match your decor? Battery operated candles don’t have to stand out as unique decor pieces.  Rather, they can be incorporated into centerpieces, vignettes and displays with visually pleasing results. 

LED Votive Candles

Consider tucking them into decor as a way to illuminate other objects on display and hide the candles a bit. The LED candles tucked into a tray on this mantel help prop up the books and add a touch of unexpected light.

Hidden In Decor

Decorating ideas with flameless candles using candle holders shaped like small houses

Many decor pieces such as lanterns, bird cages and votive candle holders are the perfect place to hide a flameless candle or two. This is a great solution if you don’t like the look of flameless candles, but still want a soft glow you get by decorating with candles.

LED Tea Light Candles

Because there is nothing burning with flameless candles, adding light to all kinds of different decor pieces is easy and safe to do. Consider using them in a glass cloche (where there is no oxygen for real candles) or on bookcases (where real candles might damage the shelf above).

Out of Sight

How to decorate with flameless candles if you don’t like the look of them or think they are tacky?  Consider using pieces that hide the flameless candle completely while still allowing light to shine through.

The bowls and vases in the bedroom shown above are all illuminated by hidden flameless candles.  Therefore, this adds a soft, romantic glow to the space without the use of a real flame. And the battery operated candles are not noticeable, except for the light they emit.

In conclusion, there are so many great ways to decorate with flameless candles.  What’s your favorite one of these candle decorating ideas?

More Candle Decor Ideas

For more candle decor inspiration, tips and styles, check out these posts:

Pin It For Later!

Decorating ideas with flameless candles using candle hurricane, giraffe figurine
Decorating ideas with flameless candles using candle holders, groupings of candles
Decorating ideas with flameless candles for tablescapes
Decorating ideas with flameless candles using large groupings of candles on a tablescape
Decorating ideas with flameless candles using candle holders shaped like small houses
Decorating ideas with flameless candles using outdoor LED candles, lanterns, trays, on a patio

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Comments

  1. Anne Meyer says

    I bought several sets of remote-control LED candles on clearance. I’m planning to put some in a dark-colored bookcase as inexpensive mood/accent lighting.

    Reply

  2. Zachary Tomlinson says

    Great read! My friend is looking for ideas on how to spice up his home’s interior because his girlfriend’s parents are planning to visit him. What you said about how candles could work well with a lantern is very interesting. Since they come in a variety of styles and shapes, I believe this is perfect for his home. I’ll share this with him and suggest that he get indoor candle lanterns.

    Reply

  3. Carol says

    I love your style of writing. It’s casual, like talking to friends and it’s filled with great information.

    You asked which was a favorite. I truly love them all but I’m that gal who starts decorating for Christmas on Nov 1st. You can guess my favorite. The mantle. It’s stunning. We also have a ledge, same as the bedroom but ours is in the living room. I want to give that effect a try too.

    Thanks again for this wonderful article. If there aren’t links to the products you used then I’ll start the hunt for them.

    Carol

    Reply

  5. Chrissy says

    Hi – do you have the link for the gold hurricane next to the giraffe or what store you purchased it from?

    Reply

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