Candle holders transform simple candles into stunning decor pieces that brighten any room. Whether you prefer rustic charm, modern sleekness, or vintage elegance, these 21 DIY candle holder ideas for every style bring warmth and personality to your space.
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Creating your own candle holders allows you to customize materials, shapes, and colors to match your taste perfectly. I remember making my first candle holder from an old glass jar, and the cozy glow it cast still feels like magic.
These ideas offer something for everyone, making candlelight an art form in your home.
Rustic Wood Slice Candle Holders
Bring nature indoors with rustic wood slice candle holders. Using natural wood slices, you can create a warm, earthy vibe that complements cabin or farmhouse decor.
These holders highlight the wood’s grain and texture, adding organic charm to your candle display. They work wonderfully with tealights or small pillar candles and can be customized with paint or carving for a personal touch.
Steps:
- Gather wood slices of your preferred size
- Sand the surfaces and edges for smoothness
- Drill holes slightly smaller than the candle base
- Seal the wood with clear varnish to protect it
- Place candles in the holes and light up
Glass Jar Lanterns with Twine Wrap
Transform ordinary glass jars into charming candle holders by wrapping them with natural twine. This DIY idea adds a coastal or farmhouse feel and is perfect for recycling old jars.
The twine provides texture and grip, while the glass softly diffuses candlelight. You can add shells, beads, or dried flowers for extra decoration, making it a versatile option for indoor or outdoor use.
Steps:
- Clean and dry glass jars thoroughly
- Apply hot glue and wrap twine tightly around the jar
- Decorate with shells or beads if desired
- Place a candle inside—preferably a tealight or votive
- Light and enjoy the warm glow
Minimalist Concrete Candle Holders
For a clean and modern look, concrete candle holders offer minimalist style with a raw edge. Making your own allows you to shape simple geometric forms that suit any contemporary space.
Concrete’s neutral tone works well with almost any candle color and adds an industrial touch. These holders are durable and perfect for indoor or outdoor settings.
Steps:
- Mix concrete according to package instructions
- Pour concrete into silicone molds or containers
- Insert candle holders or create cavities for candles
- Let concrete cure fully, then remove from molds
- Place candles in the cavities and light
Vintage Teacup Candle Holders
Upcycle delicate vintage teacups into charming candle holders that add a nostalgic touch to any room. The mix of floral patterns and soft candlelight creates a cozy atmosphere perfect for tea lovers.
These holders work best with small pillar or votive candles and make great gifts or table centerpieces.
Steps:
- Find vintage or thrifted teacups
- Clean and dry cups thoroughly
- Place a candle inside, ensuring it fits securely
- Optional: add decorative stones or sand around the candle
- Light and enjoy the romantic glow
Hanging Mason Jar Candle Holders
Create charming hanging candle holders with mason jars and wire or rope. These are perfect for outdoor patios, balconies, or cozy indoor corners.
The jars protect the flame from wind while the hanging design adds an eye-catching detail. Customize by painting the jars or adding decorative elements.
Steps:
- Clean mason jars and remove labels
- Wrap wire or rope securely around the neck to form a hanger
- Attach hooks or loops for hanging
- Place candles inside the jars
- Hang in your desired location and light
Geometric Metal Frame Candle Holders
Add a modern edge to your decor with geometric metal frame candle holders. Crafted from thin metal rods shaped into triangles, cubes, or diamonds, they create an airy, sculptural effect.
These holders work well with pillar or votive candles and bring an artistic touch to tabletops or shelves.
Steps:
- Cut metal rods to desired lengths
- Use a welder or strong adhesive to assemble geometric shapes
- Add a small platform or ring to hold candles
- Allow to dry or cool completely
- Place candles inside and light
Seashell Candle Holders for Beach Vibes
Capture the essence of the sea with seashell candle holders that bring coastal charm to any room. Use large, sturdy shells as bases for small candles or tealights.
You can glue shells together for a cluster effect or place a candle inside a single shell. This DIY adds a natural, breezy feel perfect for summer decor.
Steps:
- Collect large, clean seashells
- Dry completely to avoid moisture
- Optional: glue shells together for a cluster
- Place a candle or tealight inside the shell’s cavity
- Light and enjoy the beach-inspired glow
Upcycled Wine Bottle Candle Holders
Turn empty wine bottles into elegant candle holders by cutting and sanding them to create smooth edges. These holders add height and style to any arrangement and are perfect for taper candles.
With some paint or etching, you can make them unique. This eco-friendly project breathes new life into glass bottles.
Steps:
- Clean and dry empty wine bottles
- Use a glass cutter to cut the bottle at desired height
- Sand edges carefully to smooth sharp parts
- Insert taper candles into the neck or use as a base
- Light and display with style
Ceramic Bowl Candle Holders with Pebbles
Use small ceramic bowls filled with decorative pebbles to hold candles securely while adding texture and color. This simple DIY works well with votive or pillar candles and blends with many decor styles.
The pebbles stabilize the candle and create a tranquil, spa-like vibe.
Steps:
- Choose small ceramic bowls in your favorite color
- Fill bowls with smooth decorative pebbles
- Nestle candles into the pebbles for stability
- Light candles and place bowls on tables or shelves
- Enjoy the calming effect
Colorful Painted Terracotta Pot Holders
Brighten your space with terracotta pots painted in bold colors or patterns as candle holders. These pots provide a sturdy base and add a splash of personality.
Use acrylic paints and sealants to make them durable. They work well indoors or in garden settings, pairing beautifully with pillar candles.
Steps:
- Select small terracotta pots
- Paint with acrylic paints in your chosen design
- Let paint dry completely then seal with clear varnish
- Place pillar candles inside the pots
- Light and showcase vibrant candle displays
Wire Wrapped Crystal Candle Holders
Combine natural crystals with wire wrapping to create eye-catching candle holders. Secure a votive or tealight candle on a base wrapped with wire and adorned with crystals.
This adds a mystical, bohemian flair and makes a beautiful gift or accent piece for meditation spaces.
Steps:
- Select crystals and thin, flexible wire
- Wrap wire around crystals and form a base for candle
- Secure a small candle holder or plate on top
- Place votive or tealight candle in the holder
- Light and enjoy the sparkling ambiance
Recycled Tin Can Candle Holders
Give old tin cans a new life as rustic candle holders. Punch patterns or shapes into the cans, then paint or leave them bare.
When candles are lit inside, the light shines through the perforations, creating stunning shadows. This project is budget-friendly and great for outdoor use.
Steps:
- Clean empty tin cans thoroughly
- Use a hammer and nail to punch holes in patterns
- Optional: paint cans with spray paint
- Place a candle inside the can
- Light and display outdoors or indoors
Macrame Hanging Candle Holders
Add texture and boho style with macrame hanging candle holders. Using cotton cords, knot beautiful holders that cradle glass votives or jars.
Hang them near windows or in cozy corners for a soft, artistic glow. This craft combines fiber art with candlelight beautifully.
Steps:
- Cut cotton cords to desired length
- Knot macrame patterns forming a holder
- Insert glass votive or jar candle holder
- Tie ends securely and create hanging loops
- Hang and place candles inside
Stone Stack Candle Holders
Balance smooth stones to form natural, minimalistic candle holders. Stack stones of varying sizes to create a stable platform for small candles.
This design offers zen vibes and looks great in bathrooms, meditation areas, or minimalist homes. It’s a simple way to bring nature indoors.
Steps:
- Collect flat, smooth stones of different sizes
- Stack stones carefully to create a stable base
- Place a tealight or small candle on top
- Adjust balance to ensure safety
- Light and enjoy the calm atmosphere
Copper Pipe Candle Holders with Industrial Flair
Use copper pipes and fittings to build industrial-style candle holders. Their metallic sheen and geometric shapes add an urban edge to your space.
These holders are sturdy and customizable in height and form, perfect for taper or pillar candles in loft-style interiors.
Steps:
- Gather copper pipes and connectors
- Cut pipes to desired lengths
- Assemble pipes into geometric shapes using connectors
- Add candle bases or secure candles directly
- Place and light candles
Pressed Flower Resin Candle Holders
Preserve delicate pressed flowers in resin to create stunning, nature-inspired candle holders. Pour clear resin into molds embedding flowers, then cure fully.
These translucent holders glow beautifully when candles are lit inside, adding softness and color to your decor.
Steps:
- Press and dry flowers completely
- Mix clear resin and pour into candle holder molds
- Place pressed flowers carefully in resin
- Let resin cure fully according to instructions
- Remove from molds and place candles inside
Book Stack Candle Holders for Literary Fans
Create cozy ambiance with candle holders made from stacked vintage books. Secure a plate or shallow dish on top to hold candles safely.
This idea combines love of reading with warm lighting, perfect for libraries, reading nooks, or living rooms.
Steps:
- Select vintage or decorative books
- Stack books neatly to desired height
- Attach a candle plate or shallow dish on top
- Place pillar or votive candles on the plate
- Light candles and enjoy the literary charm
Concrete and Wood Combo Candle Holders
Combine the warmth of wood with the coolness of concrete for unique candle holders. Use wooden bases with concrete inserts shaped for candles.
This contrast adds texture and style, fitting well in modern rustic or Scandinavian interiors.
Steps:
- Cut wooden blocks to size and sand smooth
- Mix and pour concrete into molds placed on wood
- Create a candle cavity in the concrete
- Allow concrete to cure and remove molds
- Place candles in the concrete holders
Shell and Driftwood Candle Holder Centerpieces
Craft a centerpiece using collected driftwood and shells as the base for candles. Arrange pieces naturally on a tray or wooden board, placing candles among them to evoke a beachy atmosphere.
It’s a perfect summer or coastal decoration that feels fresh and organic.
Steps:
- Gather driftwood pieces and large shells
- Arrange them artfully on a wooden tray
- Nestle candles between driftwood and shells
- Secure elements with glue if needed
- Light candles and place centerpiece on table
Vintage Lantern Candle Holders
Repurpose vintage lanterns as charming candle holders that add history and character. Remove old lighting elements and replace with candles inside.
These lanterns create a warm glow and are ideal for entryways, porches, or cozy corners indoors.
Steps:
- Find vintage lanterns at thrift stores or markets
- Clean and remove old bulbs or wiring
- Place pillar or battery-operated candles inside
- Polish or paint lanterns if desired
- Light candles and display
Mosaic Tile Candle Holders with Color Splash
Add bursts of color with mosaic tile candle holders. Glue small tiles or broken ceramics onto plain candle holders or jars to create vibrant patterns.
When lit, the candlelight shines through gaps, creating a lively display. This DIY infuses energy and artistry into your space.
Steps:
- Gather mosaic tiles or broken ceramics
- Apply strong glue to candle holder surfaces
- Arrange and press tiles into glue in desired patterns
- Allow glue to dry completely
- Place candles inside and light