What Can I Put On Candle Holders Besides Candles? A Must Read Guide

Helen Skeates
Helen Skeates
22 min read

So you have a collection of candle holders, and while they are lovely with a candle burning in them, you may be wondering what other purposes they can serve? Good question! We have done extensive research and have come up with some great answers.

When it comes to repurposing candle holders, there is a world of possibilities, both decorative and practical. Whether you have taper candle holders, pillar candle holders, old jar candles, or a combination, many things can be put in or on them. Just a few of these are:

  • Greenery and flowers
  • Plants
  • Bowls or dishes
  • Decorative globes

Now that we have some ideas, let’s dive in and take a closer look at each option. Some of these require more DIY (Do-It-Yourself) than others, but rest assured, we’ve got you!

Flowers and Greenery

Flowers and greenery are always classic, and there are many ways to use them in candle holders, especially votive candle holders or empty jar candles. Vines, leaves, and flowers can be arranged inside clear candle holders, presenting a whimsical appearance. Alternatively, greenery and flowers can be arranged so that they are protruding from the opening. This is especially nice if the candle holder is opaque. You can fix small bouquets and set them in the candle holders. While artificial greenery and flowers will last longer, many glass candle holders can double as a vase and hold water for fresh cut flowers.

Plants

Pillar or taper candle holders work beautifully for this and may become your favorite DIY project to date! Now, you can always just set flower pots on top, but we recommend securing them. Follow these simple steps to create plant holders out of your old candle holders.

What Can I Put On Candle Holders Besides Candles - Krostrade

Materials

  • Taper or pillar candle holders.
  • Flower pots of a suitable size. You want the base to be slightly smaller than the candle holder it will be set in.
  • Adhesive – Elmer’s ProBond glue is recommended.
  • Spray paint, if desired. Rustoleum Universal paint is a good choice for most materials.

Process

  1. Clean and dry your candle holder and the flower pot.
  2. Apply glue to the flower pot and set it firmly in the candle holder.
  3. Allow it to dry for at least 24 hours.
  4. Paint the candle holder and pot with the color of your choice.

The fill the completed pots with artificial or live plants. Additionally, they could be used as an organization for small trinkets or supplies.

Tip: If using live plants, consider using a plastic pot inside of the decorative one so that it can be removed for watering.

Bowls or Dishes

Glue glass onto candle stick and bam! fill with freaky freaky things! Love it! This option will take a few steps, but the result is well worth it! Bowls or dishes can be affixed to candle holders with minimal effort, creating delightful serving dishes, decorations, or even organization! You can utilize taper or pillar candle holders, and can even upcycle empty jar candles.

Materials

  • Taper or pillar candle holder.
  • A bowl, dish, or empty jar candle. Jar candles with lids are fantastic for decorative storage!
  • Adhesive
  • Optional: Decorative knob

Process

  1. If you wish to repaint the candle holder, and will not be painting the dish, then now is the time for paint. Go ahead and give it a couple of coats and let it dry thoroughly before beginning the next step.
  2. Make sure both the candle holder and dish are nice and clean and dry.
  3. Carefully apply glue to the rim of the candle holder, and position your dish on top.
  4. Allow it to dry at least 24 hours.
  5. Optional. If you are using a jar candle with a lid, you can now add a decorative knob to the top.

Decorative Balls or Orbs

One of the best and simplest ideas we have for you are using decorative balls to add new life to your candle holder. These work great with pillar or taper candle holders and look great for any occasion.

You can find balls made of cotton, jute rope, glass, cloth, and a host of other materials like this boxwood leaf ball.

They are often decorated with different themes for certain holidays or seasons, such as cranberries for Christmas time or flowers for spring. Just set one on top of your candle holder, and you instantly have a stunning piece of décor

How Do You Display Candlesticks?

It is the rare candlestick that can stand alone; most candlesticks benefit from company. Group candlesticks of different heights and designs together to create an attractive centerpiece. Candlesticks can also be spread out, keeping a generally uniform distance.

Can I Put Candle Holders on the Bookshelf?

Indeed, you can! But don’t be tempted to light them! Place burning candles in an open space with no flammable materials close by. A candle’s flame produces surprising amounts of heat. Therefore 3 feet should always be maintained between a flame and the ceiling or top of a shelf. Don’t let this spoil your fun, though! Flameless candles will help to create that unique atmosphere while keeping safety in mind.

What Can Be Used As a Candle Holder?

Need a candle holder in a pinch? Just check out these creative ideas.

  • Candles can be set in small dishes or bowls. Try adding water and floating tea candles along with flowers or berries.
  • Mason jars are a standby for almost anything, including holding candles.
  • Aluminum cans make great last-minute candle holders. Adding punched in designs creates lovely flickering shadows.
  • Put candles inside a wine glass or turn the wine glass over and set a candle on top.
  • Try setting a taper candle inside the neck of a wine bottle for a rustic look.

Candles can be arranged alone or in a group as the centerpiece, or they can be set on either side of a centerpiece to accent it. Another option is to set a group of candles on one side of the mantle and a group of other items (i.e., vases of flowers, pictures, etc.) on the other side. Try to ensure that groups are of similar structure to promote symmetry. Placing candles along the entire mantle is beautiful, especially when flowers, leaves, ribbon, or greenery are arranged around the candles. However, take care not to place any other décor too close to a candle. If you are using pillar candles, you may find this article helpful.

How Do You Decorate Tea Light Holders?

Tea candles are an inexpensive way to achieve an atmosphere, especially for large events. You can decorate simple glass tea light holders to fit any occasion. Try using lace, buttons, glitter, or ribbons to accent your tea candle holder. Modge podge and paper doilies pair up well to transform a candle holder or consider chalk paint.

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Decorating With Candlesticks Minus Candles

Although candlesticks are practical accessories meant to hold lighted tapers, they function beautifully as decorative objects on their own. Made from pewter, crystal, glass, brass, wood or clay, candlesticks represent every historic period, design style and price range. Whether your candlestick collection includes cut-glass family heirlooms or kitschy flea-market finds, you can use your candlesticks year-round to enhance your home’s decor. Eliminate candles from the equation and let your candlesticks take center stage.

Create Artful Arrangements

A pairing of two candlesticks looks predictable and boring. To create an arrangement with visual impact, arrange candlesticks in groups of three, four or more, says Pictures of Cakes and Candles. Choose candlesticks of varying heights that are unified by style, material or color and arrange them to suit the atmosphere of the room. On a rustic dining table, display an assortment of antique wooden candlesticks to create a centerpiece with a sense history.

In a formal dining room, display crystal candlesticks in groups of three on the sideboard, mantel and windowsills where they’ll catch the light. If your collection includes contemporary metal candlesticks in unconventional designs, display them en masse on a cocktail table as a piece of modern sculpture.

Make Seasonal Centerpieces

Celebrate each season and holiday with centerpieces inspired by your candlestick collection. In spring, arrange an assortment of pretty pastel candlesticks on a table or mantel. Tuck a bit of paper grass into the bowl of each candlestick and top it with a painted egg, papier-mache bird or chocolate rabbit. In summer, perch large seashells atop rustic wood candlesticks and scatter smaller shells around the base of the arrangement.

Pumpkins, pine cones, acorns and colorful leaves transform an arrangement of iron candlesticks into an organic autumn centerpiece. At Christmastime, create a radiant centerpiece without lighting candles. Arrange an assortment of crystal candlesticks on a bed of greens and top each with a shiny glass ornament.

Dinner Party Decor

Dinner party guests expect candlelight decor. Instead, welcome them to your table with unexpected candlestick centerpiece and accessories, advises Martha Stewart. In the middle of the table, arrange a group of candlesticks that suit the mood of your gathering – formal silver or crystal, contemporary chrome or global hand-painted ceramic. Pour a bit of water into the bowl of each candlestick and add a large flower, such as a chrysanthemum or cluster of hydrangea.

Use additional candlesticks as bud vases at each table setting. For a personal touch, write guests’ names on card-stock tags and tie one to each candlestick bud vase with ribbon.

On a Pedestal

A candlestick’s height attracts attention. On a buffet table, candlesticks used as pedestals add decor and function. Serve crackers, nuts and candy in small bowls displayed on candlesticks. Choose heavy, balanced candlesticks and use a bit of florist’s tape to hold the bowls in place.

Place individual apples, pears and pomegranates on tall candlesticks to give the buffet table height. To elevate the style of any room, display ornamental objects such as small statues, geodes or decorative orbs on candlestick pedestals. In a powder room, a low candlestick makes a pretty pedestal for a basket of potpourri or scented soaps.

14 Pretty DIY Candle Holders

There’s nothing quite like the ambiance of a wax candle. Unlike the faux battery-operated options, a candle’s warm glow is timeless and elegant. Homemade candle holders add to the charm of this age-old home essential by taking the candle’s design one step further.

Want a simple craft project you can do in a couple of hours that will markedly improve your space? Try one of these DIY candle holder ideas the next time you’re feeling inspired.

Add Varying Heights to Taper Candles

If you use candlesticks a lot when entertaining, consider this DIY taper candle holder, which is as sleek as it is modern. The key to this craft project is to vary the height of each holder and create a large grouping of more than five candles. If creating an arrangement intimidates you, follow the instructions and pattern provided exactly.

Use Plaster and Fresh Flowers to Make This Votive Holder

Plaster dipped flowers are so interesting to look at because no two turn out the same. The process is messy and imperfect, but the results are ethereal and well worth the effort. Make sure to get a bouquet with a variety of flowers so you can experiment.

Wrap a Candle With Cork Ribbon

Many pillar candles are best kept inside glass hurricanes for safety reasons. However, if your style is a bit more rustic or eclectic, hurricanes can feel a bit drab. Upgrade a standard glass candle holder by simply wrapping it with cork ribbon.

Update Thrift Store Candlesticks Using Spray Paint

Sometimes when you buy things from the thrift store, they don’t look charming and vintage. They just look dated. Such is the case with a lot of the brass candlesticks from the 1980’s and 90’s. Revitalize these inexpensive finds using spray paint in a color and finish that is on trend and works well with your decor.

Craft a Boho Candleholder Using Balsa Wood

This candleholder works best with small votives inside glass jars. Don’t be turned off by this project just because it requires some basic woodworking to get started. Working with wood doesn’t have to be intimidating, and this project is relatively easy once you master the panel cutting.

Upgrade a Candleholder Using Copper Accents

This candle holder idea is inspired by a much more expensive copper-lined votive holder that cost around $70 to buy. For just around $20, you can make this knock-off using copper tape, glass, and some glue. We bet most people wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

Adhere Some Glitter to a Jar Candle

The nice thing about this candleholder tutorial is that it shows you how to decorate the candle jar with glitter, but it also shows you how to pour the candle from scratch. Create your own colors and fragrances to make this project more personalized.

Make Hurricane Lanterns From Dollar Store Frame

Large hurricane lantern candle holders make great home decor accents on the front porch, on an outdoor table, and even inside on the dining room table. However, most lanterns are cost prohibitive. This ingenious DIY project reimagines five frames that cost $1 apiece.

Transform Wood Blocks Into Taper Candleholders

The best taper candle holders have a wide base to catch all the dripping wax so it doesn’t get all over the dining room table. This candleholder idea is ideal for that since the wood blocks create a large enough base around the bottom of the taper candle.

Create a Centerpiece Using Birch and Airplants

Want a live centerpiece for your dining room? Airplants are an easy way to add live greenery to pretty much any craft project since they are very resilient. Incorporate your taper candles into a piece of white birch and use airplants and succulents to fill in the gaps.

Use Produce as a Candle Holder

Would you make a candle inside of fresh produce? Perhaps this crafter is onto something since this project is both pleasant to look at and environmentally friendly. This DIY candleholder idea is most suitable for fall when pumpkins and gourds are plentiful.

Paint Candle Holders in a Moroccan Style

All you need to tackle this candle holder idea is some inexpensive glass jars, paint, and a little bit of patience. To master the Moroccan style, practice some simple designs and patterns on paper first. Then, take some puffy paint and get creative!

Repurpose a Vintage Teacup Into a Candleholder

Have you ever had a stray teacup that you weren’t sure whether or not you should keep it? One idea is to use the vintage porcelain as a small planter, which would work well for indoor herbs. You can also learn how to pour wax into the teacup to create a charming candle like you see here.

Marbleize the Inside of Candle Holders

This is a fun project whether you need a ton of colorful votive candles for a wedding or you’re just looking to add some pattern to your home. If you decide to make these candle holders for a wedding, they also would double as wonderful party favors.

FAQs

How do you arrange candles in a room

Place candles on top of a decorative tray or in decorative candle holders on the coffee table with some other small tabletop accents. This will create a sense of warmth and relaxation when sitting on the couch. Alternatively, you can put candles on top of books for a unique decor style.

What can I put a candle in?

Choose heat-resistant containers such as oven-safe ceramics and glassware, cast iron, enamel camping mugs, and pressure canning jars. Make sure only to buy containers designed and labeled as safe for candle making. No matter how you look at it, a burning candle should never be left unattended.

Can you use candlesticks without candles?

Whether your candlestick collection includes cut-glass family heirlooms or kitschy flea-market finds, you can use your candlesticks year-round to enhance your home’s decor. Eliminate candles from the equation and let your candlesticks take center stage.

The Definitive Guide To Burning Candles Safely | Osmology

Can you burn candles on a plate?

The answer is YES. You can very much put or burn a candle on a plate with strong heat resistant surface. This means any surface that could easily catch fire, is not heat resistant. To make it safer one can burn a candle on a coaster, ceramic or glass plates plate, or anything else that can resist or disperse heat.

What’s another name for a candle holder?

In this page you can discover 10 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for candleholder, like: sconce, girandole, lampad, candelabra, chandelier, pricket, menorah, candelabras, cut-glass and candelabrum.

Conclusion

Whatever type of candle holder you have, now you know that it is capable of more than just holding candles. From plants to flowered orbs, candle holders hold more variety than we ever dreamed!

Helen Skeates

Helen Skeates

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