Somewhere around mid-October in the Czech Republic, the season turns – by five in the afternoon it is getting dark and you feel like switching on every light in the house. But a ceiling light on full is not cosiness, it is just brightness. Wooden lanterns and candle holders solve exactly that difference: they give a room light that warms rather than merely illuminates.
Why candles and wood
Candlelight has a quality no light bulb can imitate – it is never still. It flickers, changes intensity and draws moving shadows on the walls. Our brains read it differently from the even light of an LED strip. It is no coincidence that in the time of year when it is dark the longest, people here traditionally lit their homes with open flames.
Wood adds a second layer. It is a material that neither reflects light harshly like metal nor swallows it like dark ceramics – the warm tone of wood complements the colour of the flame. Especially with a lantern with cut-out sides, light pushes through the openings and projects a pattern onto the surrounding surfaces.
There is also a practical reason. Autumn and winter decorations in Czech homes change three times: autumn, Advent, Christmas. A wooden lantern handles all three phases without being swapped – you only change what surrounds it. Rosehips and chestnuts in October, fir sprigs and pine cones in December.
🕯️ Missing warm light at home? Wooden lanterns and candle holders from a Czech sheltered workshop – for tea lights and classic candles alike.
Browse wooden lanternsWhere to place them at home
Dining table: low and in a row
The most common mistake on a dining table is a single tall candle in the middle. Seated guests cannot see each other over it and the flame sits exactly at the height where it is distracting. The opposite works: three to five low candle holders in a row along the centre of the table, ideally of different heights, but none taller than fifteen centimetres.
Wooden candle holders and tea light holders are ideal for this – they are low, stable and easy to group. If you have a long table, do not be afraid to split them into two groups of three with a gap in the middle for a bowl or bread.
An even number of objects looks static, an odd number livelier. It is an old decorator's rule, but it works on the table: three candle holders look better than four.
Living room: light at three heights
In the living room, the goal is to get rid of the single ceiling light. A tried-and-tested rule says: at least three light sources at different heights in one space. A floor lamp by the armchair, a small lamp on the chest of drawers and candles or a lantern on the coffee table – and the room instantly gains depth.
A large floor lantern placed next to an armchair or by a bookcase is a subtle trick here. It takes up little space but visually fills a corner that would otherwise stay empty and dark. Combined with a wooden lamp on a shelf, it gives the whole corner a consistent material look.
Windowsill: light the neighbours can see too
Whether in a block of flats or a village house, the windowsill is the most rewarding spot, because it works both inside and out. From inside it makes the window cosy, from outside it glows into the dark street. A narrow sill suits a row of low candle holders, a wider one a single larger lantern with a few small items around it.
Just watch out for curtains – a candle on a windowsill is the riskiest spot in the home in terms of safety. Either draw the curtain aside or use a fully glazed lantern where the flame is covered on all sides.
Entrance and terrace: the first impression after dark
Two lanterns on either side of the front door are the simplest way to give a house character in autumn. It works just as well at a country cottage as at a terraced house. If you have a covered porch, you can also use a lantern that would not otherwise cope well outdoors.
On a terrace or balcony, light should be low. Lanterns placed directly on the floor along the railing or on the steps create an effect few electric solutions can match. For outdoor use, choose solid wood pieces treated with oil and bring them under cover overnight – we wrote more about this in our guide on how to winterise wooden decorations.
Stairs and hallway: the space nobody thinks about
Hallways and staircases tend to be the worst-lit parts of Czech homes – one bulb in the middle of the ceiling and that is it. Yet you walk through them several times a day and they are the first thing visitors see.
A row of small candle holders along the stairs or a single lantern on the landing turns a hallway from a mere passage into something that belongs to the home. On stairs, choose stable, low pieces that are easy to step around, and use one side rather than both.
Bathroom and bedroom: places where candles are forgotten
Two rooms where a candle makes the biggest difference and where almost nobody puts one. In the bathroom, one lantern on the washing machine or in the corner of the bath is enough to turn an ordinary evening routine into something else. On a bedside table, a tea light works better than a phone lighting up the ceiling.
In both cases, choose pieces with good stability and remember that bathrooms are humid – wood there needs occasional oiling, just like in the kitchen.
Composition tip: Group candle holders in threes of different heights and place them close together, not scattered across the whole surface. A group looks intentional; single pieces spread around the room look random. And stick to one material – three wooden candle holders side by side look better than a mix of wood, glass and metal.
What to use where
Lanterns and candle holders are sometimes confused, but they serve different purposes. The overview below will help you choose based on where and what you want them for.
| Type | Best for | Candle type | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low tea light holder | Dining table, windowsill | Tea light in a cup | Only under cover |
| Holder for a classic candle | Chest of drawers, sideboard | Taper or pillar | No |
| Table lantern | Coffee table, windowsill | Tea light or pillar | Short-term |
| Large floor lantern | Corner of a room, porch | Taller pillar | Yes, with treatment |
| Advent candle holder | Table, windowsill | Four candles | No |
Safety first. Never leave a burning candle unattended and do not light it in a room where children or pets are alone. Keep a distance from curtains, tablecloths and dried decorations – dry plant material burns surprisingly fast. In a wooden lantern, use only candles in a cup or behind glass so the flame never comes into direct contact with the wood. And always place the lantern on a flat, stable surface.
Which candles to use in a wooden lantern
People rarely think about the choice of candle, yet it determines how long the light lasts and how safe it will be. Three types cover practically every situation.
A tea light in a metal cup is the most versatile choice. It burns for about four hours, the cup catches all the wax and the flame sits low, so it does not get close to the wooden parts. The downside is the short burn time – for a whole evening with guests you will need to replace it.
A pillar candle is the opposite: it burns for dozens of hours and the flame is higher, so it is more visible from outside the lantern. It suits larger floor pieces and porches. Bear in mind that as the candle burns down, the flame sinks inside and the light fades – a wider diameter therefore stays attractive longer than a narrow one.
An LED candle will never be as beautiful as a real flame, but it has its place. For a child's room, a home with a cat, or decorations you leave lit all evening without supervision, it is a sensible solution. Better-quality ones can now flicker irregularly, resembling a real flame more closely than you might expect.
Whatever you choose, make sure there is enough space between the flame and the top of the lantern. Heat rises, and wood directly above the flame dries out unnecessarily and darkens over time.
How to match it with your other decorations
A lantern rarely stands alone. The easiest way to make it part of a whole is to surround it with materials that change with the season while the wooden piece itself stays the same. Rosehips, chestnuts and dried apple slices in October. Heather and moss in November. Fir sprigs and pine cones in December.
Stick to two or three natural materials, no more. A composition where everything from acorns to artificial snow is scattered around the lantern looks messy. Fewer kinds in larger quantities always look better than a colourful mix.
A base under the whole group unifies even items that do not quite belong together. A wooden tray, a flat bowl or a piece of linen will do – and it also protects furniture from wax and crumbs from natural materials.
Selected pieces from our workshop
Before Advent arrives
Autumn light at home has one more advantage that only shows in December: if you get your lanterns and candle holders now, the transition to Advent is seamless. You do not have to bring out a completely different set of decorations at the end of November – you just swap the natural materials around them and add fir sprigs.
There is a practical reason too: availability. Candle holders and lanterns are among the products in highest demand from mid-November, and handmade production cannot be sped up. If you choose in October, you have the full range available, including the larger pieces that sell out first.
And if you are planning an Advent candle holder for four candles, this applies twice over – it is the most sought-after item of the whole season.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to put a candle in a wooden lantern?
Yes, as long as the flame is separated from the wood by glass or a metal insert and the lantern stands on a flat, stable surface. The safest option is a tea light in a metal cup. Never leave a burning candle unattended and keep a sufficient distance from curtains and textiles.
Can wooden lanterns stay outside over winter?
Short-term yes, but we do not recommend it permanently. Alternating frost and thaw combined with moisture puts the most strain on wood. Ideally, put the lantern outside for the evening and keep it under cover during the day, or at least place it somewhere sheltered and treat it with outdoor oil before the season.
How do I stop wax dripping onto the wood?
Use candles in metal or glass cups, or place a non-flammable mat under the candle. If wax does drip, let it harden completely and only then carefully peel it off with a plastic card – warm wax soaks deeper into the wood.
How many light sources should a room have?
A tried-and-tested rule is at least three sources at different heights in one living space – for example a ceiling light, a lamp on the chest of drawers and candles on the table. Light at several heights feels softer than a single ceiling source and visually deepens the room.
Can lanterns also be used for Advent and Christmas?
Definitely, and that is exactly their advantage over purely seasonal decorations. Just change what surrounds them – rosehips and chestnuts in autumn, fir sprigs, pine cones and dried orange slices in December. One lantern will see you through the whole dark half of the year.
What lanterns and candle holders does AMADEA offer?
In our sheltered workshop we make wooden lanterns, candle holders, tea light holders and designer lamps from Czech wood. You will find pieces for tea lights, for classic candles and versions suitable for the terrace. More interior decorations are in our Decorations and accessories category.
🌳 Autumn is the best time for warm light. Lanterns, candle holders and lamps made from Czech wood – handmade in a sheltered workshop.
Go to decorations and accessoriesAuthor: Martin Portych – specialist in wooden products, gift advice and shop content
Editorial policy: Our content is based on the day-to-day practice of the AMADEA shop, the real needs of our customers and a commitment to clear, useful and trustworthy information.