
As the days grow shorter, how do you keep your home light and full of cheer? Candles are a perfect solution to stave off winter gloom. With a seemingly endless variety of styles, colors and scents, you can use a different candle each day to suit the occasion, holiday, or mood. Start building your collection at these delightful specialty shops around Northeast Ohio.
9516 Diamond Centre Dr., Mentor, OH 44060
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Brighten your home while showing off your local pride with a purchase from Cleveland Candle Co. Their Cleveland Collection pays tribute to Great Lakes sunsets, Edgewater Park, snow, and other instantly identifiable features of the city. Buy them individually or get all seven in a pre-packaged assortment. Each month, a featured candle is offered at a 20 percent discount. Create your own one-of-a-kind scented candle in-store at the candle bar or via online instruction. All three locations of Cleveland Candle Co., including Coventry and Ohio City, open at 11 a.m. daily.
22935 Lorain Rd., Fairview Park, OH 44126
Josh Ruminski, the college student and entrepreneur who founded Happy Thoughts Candles, considers his company to be a social movement. While fighting his own mental health battles, Josh wanted to find a way to help others with their personal struggles. Each product is labeled with a positive saying to generate encouragement and conversation, while 20 percent of the company's proceeds are donated to support suicide prevention and mental health awareness. Candles come in dozens of refreshing scents, including rainwater, freshly-mown grass, and coffee, that are chosen for their relaxing, therapeutic qualities. Place orders online for pickup or delivery.
100 Park Ave., Suite 122, Beachwood, OH 44122
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Want to boost your green living points? Head to The Candle Studio to make or buy their eco-friendly soy candles. As a source of light that uses no energy, candles are naturally green, but soy burns much cleaner than traditional paraffin. The candle bar is stocked with more than 90 essential oils you can mix and match to create your own personalized scent. You can also use your choice to customize room sprays, body lotions, and other home and body products. If you prefer, shop the extensive inventory of pre-made scented items. The Studio is open Thursday through Sunday and reservations are required. Follow their Facebook page for information about events with their mobile candle pour bar.
533 Trelake Dr., Canal Fulton, OH 44614
Kim Galley, founder of Kinfolk Candles, proudly invites you to "Come Stick Your Nose in Our Business!" After spending years perfecting the optimum natural soy vegetable wax for container candles, Kim started her at-home business in 1998. The thriving business outgrew the family basement, and Kim moved Kinfolk Manufacturing to a roomier facility in Canal Fulton. Kinfolk's best-selling eight-ounce jar candle comes in 100 scents, with unique and whimsical options such as Chocolate Orchid, Fruit Loops, and Santa's Whiskers. A handy glossary provides helpful definitions of each scent. Follow their Facebook page for information about shops carrying Kinfolk Candles or place an order on their website.
1001 W. Main St., Sugarcreek, OH 44681
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Candles, vases, and other decor items let you give your home a seasonal facelift quickly and inexpensively. Located in the heart of Amish country, R Classic Elements makes it easy by changing their own inventory to correspond with the seasons. In 2010, owner Renee Miller decided to expand the shop's offering by making hand-poured soy candles in her home. Production eventually moved to the shop, and the line was named Shanesville Candles. The jar candles, which come in 8-ounce and 12-ounce sizes, feature homey scents such as Lush Linen, Zucchini Bread, and Mint Tea. Store hours are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. every day but Sunday.
1345 W. 78th St., #2048, Cleveland, OH 44102
In 2009, recent college graduate Sarah Sampsell went to work in her sister's eco-friendly skincare salon. When they couldn't find just the right candles to carry in the salon, Sarah decided to make them herself, and Sweet Dish & Darling was born. The quirky name refers to the original candles, which included a recipe for a "sweet dish." While the recipes are gone, the candles and their trademark burlap packages are still handmade. Candle styles include screw-top jars, enamelware mugs and tumblers, and travel tins. Try the best-selling Sea Salt & Amber or one of the other appealing scents such as Sunday Brunch, with notes of cinnamon, French toast, vanilla bean, and maple syrup. Order online for delivery (free shipping on orders of $75 or more) or select local pickup at their Cleveland workshop.
8125 Columbia Rd., Olmsted Falls, OH 44138
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Wildcrafted Aromatics has a goal to ensure all its products as eco-friendly as possible, even after they've been used. Candles are made with eco-soy and beeswax, eco-cotton, hemp wicks, and natural herbal dyes. Many come in reusable jars, tins, and upcycled glasses that may be reused after the candle has burned. Products come with minimal packaging that is 100-percent recyclable. One of their more popular products is the citronella lavender ceramic lamp, handcrafted from Lake Erie clay. Wildcrafted Aromatics is one of the vendors on display at The RIFT, a Cleveland shop showcasing local craftspeople selling homemade and repurposed items. "RIFT" stands for "Repurposed and Intended for Today." Hours are 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. daily except Sunday, when closing time is 5 p.m.
Cleveland is not generally considered a tropical location, but thanks to Tim & Laura Thornton, you can "bring home the beach." Inspired by sights on a trip to the Panama Canal, the couple came up with the concept for Cleveland Coconut Candles. Their signature product is candles poured into half or whole coconut shells sourced from a supplier in Florida. A wide ribbon-style wick creates a tiki-torch effect as the candle burns. The tropical theme is enhanced with scents such as Jamaica Me Crazy, a blend of pineapple, orange, honeydew melon, coconut, jasmine, rum, and vanilla. Many scents are also available as classic jar candles. Order on the website or follow them on Facebook for information about appearances at festivals and other local events.
Scientists tell us smell is our sense most closely linked to memory. What scent takes you back to a special time or event in your life?

We all can agree that Columbus is a wonderful place to call home. Our state capital smack dab in the center of Ohio has everything we could ever want and need. From fantastic parks and restaurants to interesting museums, world-renowned universities, and a diverse cultural influence, Columbus has it all. We're not surprised that so many people want to call The Arch City home too, and if you're looking to sell your house to one of these prospective buyers, these staging companies and interior decorators will help you close the sale!
4165 Olentangy Blvd., Columbus, OH 43214
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The team at Staging Spaces is so talented that they're sure you'll fall back in love with your home's new look! They'll come in and design or refine every space, staging it appropriately to sell to the needs of current buyers in the market. Even though they are "staged" homes, their staging makes buyers feel as comfortable as if they were in their own homes. Staging Spaces treats every home like a mini interior design project and strives to help you achieve a swift and successful sale.
5000 Arlington Center Blvd, Columbus, OH 43220
At Staging Columbus, they're all about transformation. Their team understands that every house is one-of-a-kind and that the staging process should be just as unique. Beginning with a home analysis, Staging Columbus will use your goals and budget to create a roadmap to success. These customized plans will address everything from countertops and flooring to small updates and paint colors. With experience transforming spaces from vacant to occupied homes, Staging Columbus can showcase your home when it comes time to sell.
18 E. Bridge St., Dublin, OH 43017

With a philosophy to design personalized rooms that meet the client's dreams, Casa Décor is known for their innovative creations. For years, they've redesigned interiors to be functional, stylish, and most importantly, adjustable to the modern-day lifestyle. Let them outfit your home with the furniture and furnishings you need to capture the hearts of diverse buyers.
908 Mission Hills Ln., Columbus, OH 43235
Interior design services at a flat rate may sound too good to be true, but ReadySet Redesign is ready to dazzle you with their one-day decorating services. It seems like time and budget are always in short supply when selling your home, which is exactly why ReadySet Design helps sellers through this overwhelming process. They specialize in creating uniquely decorated homes based on color palettes, design style, and lifestyle, crafting an unbelievable finished product in only a few hours! Save money, save time, and save yourself a huge hassle in selling your home with ReadySet Design.
1205 E. 5th Ave., Columbus, OH 43219
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Do you want to potentially increase your home sale up to 25 percent? Then trust Columbus Home Staging to save you from the pitfalls of unstaged homes. They can specialize in vacant staging for investment properties and model homes, as well as supplemental staging for those still residing in the home during the listing period. Columbus Home Staging can even provide professional photography services to ensure that your staging looks just as good online as it does in person.
900 Old Pine Dr., Columbus, OH 43230
When searching for customized décor to stage your home, you want to be stylish yet selective enough to please a wide audience. We Decorate Columbus has the eye and experience for helping you choose the furniture and furnishings that will highlight the beauty and functionality of each room in your home. They'll put together several fully detailed design proposals so you can choose which you believe will give your home the presentation it deserves in its listing.
4106 Fairfax Dr., Columbus, OH 43220
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Snider Metcalf believes that exceptional interior design begins with listening to listening. They'll sit down and hear your home's story, capturing the essence of the environment to beautifully showcase every element. From lighting and plumbing fixtures to artwork and accessories, no area of the home will go unnoticed or untouched. When they're finished, you'll have a picture-perfect interior that will brilliantly adorn your listing and bring buyers in by the droves.
3040 Riverside Dr. #123, Columbus, OH 43221
When you sell your home, it's the details that truly convince a buyer to make an offer. Blue Designs understands this and ensures that their professional interior design services make the most of your home from floor to ceiling. Although kitchens and bathrooms are their specialties, Blue Designs offers entire room redesigns and whole-home remodeling, including outdoor spaces. No project is too large or small for their team, which is great for homeowners who want to flip their property and instantly list it.
1090 W. 5th Ave., Columbus, OH 43212
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Whether you're a design enthusiast or someone who doesn't know the first thing about home staging, Fourth Home is here to help. Obsessed with design, Fourth Home is will provide you with the décor you desire to stage your home with. Their vast collection of furniture, textiles, art, floral, candles, lighting, and home accessories are all handpicked. Something as simple as an elegant chandelier, as welcoming as a comfortable sofa, and as aromatic as a scented candle can engage the senses of your prospective buyers and leave a lasting impression.
What are some of your favorite interior design tips and tricks? Let us know the best way to stage your home in the comments below!
Your home is your haven, but it's also your creative space — an extension of your tastes and personality. But when you're looking to spruce up a certain room or give your entire home a new look, things can get pricey quickly. DIY projects are a great alternative because you can add a unique flair while saving some serious cash.
We know that you have ideas of your own you're dying to try, but before you get started, check out these fun and crafty projects from local Ohio bloggers. You never know when inspiration might strike!

Want to boost the chances of your house selling quickly? Most Realtors will tell you the best way to do so is price your home appropriately. But it can be fun to go the extra mile and try to boost your luck with superstitions that have been passed down over the years.
St. Joseph Statue
The St. Joe's statue ranks as one of the most pervasive real estate good luck charms. Legend has it that burying a small statue of the patron saint of carpenters upside down in the...