It is good to recall, electric lights are a historically new phenomena/technology. For most of the history of the Church, lighting candles and lamps really were/are an offering of light...which is important when you have a lot of evening and early morning services.
They certainly can be used at home (either one). I have both left my lampada or candle burning, and at other times have snuffed them out and relit them later. Best practice with lampadas is to keep at least one burning Pascha to Pascha, but in this day and age...apartment rules, etc. It may not be practicable or even permitted.
That said, beeswax candles are great aides to worship because they are such a full metaphor of the Christian life.
1. They bear light.
2. They soften when lit, grow cold and hard when extinguished. Many shining together creates such warmth they all become very soft and bow.
3. When their flame is disturbed they weep.
4. When it is trimmed just right, the flame burns steady, still, and without smoke...the image of passionless prayer.
5. If the wick is too long, it smokes.
6. If it is too short, it gutters.
7. It's burning turns it's body into light. The image of a life transfigured by prayer.
8. Their burning not only gives light but a sweet fragrance as well (like incense...like a prayer transformed life).
9. And if you touch even the tiniest lit candle to the wick of another, two lights burn where there had been only one.
10. The candle that burns still and bright, stands always in the shadow of its own flame. It easily beholds the light others while being blind to it's own...just like the humble heart knows its self as a sinner, but rejoices in the light and grace it beholds in the lives of others.
My habit is to extinguish the candles at the close of my prayer rule, and trim the wicks so they don't smolder down too far. Sometimes when I rekindle them, they are very slow to start burning, so as I warm up in prayer, so are the candle flames growing in intensity.
From "The Joy of the Holy" by Harry M. Boosalis:
"...Examples from St. Seraphim's own experience illustrate how his life of prayer was based on the simple and most essential practices of the Orthodox Faith. He used these practices in the development of his own prayer life. They represent very practical and traditional ways of worship, common and familiar to every believer, and accessible to all. these practices include the simple act of lighting candles. The fact that he used the lighting of candles as the basis of his prayer for others reveals the original yet deeply traditional ways of his ascetic practice. St. Seraphim himself relates how the burning of candles acquired such a significant role within his prayer life:
You want to learn, my beloved, why I burn so many candles and lamps in front of the holy icons? This the the reason: many faithful...ask me to pray for them. So when I do my rule of prayer, in the beginning I commemorate them all at one time. There are many names, however, and I cannot repeat them, because then I would not be able to do my rule of prayer. Therefore I light these candles as a sacrifice to God.
Each candle represents many ... For some people I keep a votive lamp burning permanently. Every time I want to commemorate them, I say, 'Remember Lord, all those people for whom I, the humble one, burn these candles and votive lamps before you.' I did not make this up on my own, nor is it simple zeal without foundation. It is secured from the Holy Scripture (see Lev. 24.2-3). That is why our Holy Church has the tradition of burning candles and votive lamps, in the churches and in the homes of the faithful...."