Art

21 Upcycled DIY Candle Holders To Make at Home in 2025

by: Kristy Bowen

Published on Jul 4th 2025

Lighting up your home with the soft glow of candles can create a romantic and festive atmosphere, and placing them in a well-crafted DIY candle holder makes it so much more fulfilling. Light up your creation while taking a relaxing bath surrounded by pillar candles or admire your craftwork as you gaze at your sleek taper candles in the center of your table setting.

There are a host of objects and materials that can serve as holders for your candles, whether store-bought or hand-poured in your candle-making endeavors. All offer many options for customization to perfectly fit your decor or occasion. We’ve rounded up some fun and creative ideas for housing your candles, some of which you may already have in your home or can find in abundance at thrift or discount stores. You might even be able to find some in your recycling bin or your own backyard.

Easy DIY Candle Holders

1. Tea Tins

Tea Tin candle holders — *Polk holes in tins (via Etsy)*

Metal tins are some of the best containers to use to create handmade DIY candle holders or to hold tealights, pillars and other types of candles. Tea tins can be transformed into beautiful large candles, while even tiny mint tins can be repurposed into space-conscious travel candles by simply adding scented wax and short wicks. Learning how to make candles at home may be easier than you think, with many candle-making classes in Chicago, Boston and other locales near you. Many can teach you how to create different types of candles using paraffin, soy and beeswax. They can also reveal the best and safest containers, how to clean up after candle making and tips for adding scent and color to your candles.

2. Old Candle Containers

One easy way to create DIY candle holders is to use a container that has already held one. These glass containers usually have a high heat resistance and can be upcycled by simply cleaning out any existing wax and adding new wax. It also gives you a chance to enjoy a candle container again and again, even after the original candle has been used up.

3. Terracotta Pots

Terracotta pots of all shapes and sizes are ideal for making DIY candle holders. Not only are they made of fire-safe clay, but they can usually be purchased inexpensively from places like dollar stores, thrift stores or on sale at home and garden centers. They make especially cute candles for outdoor tables. Use some citronella oil to make your own mosquito and insect repellent candles.

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4. Shells

Shell candle holders — *Find treasures at the beach (via Etsy)*

If you’re looking for a simple and elegant tea light holder, why not use a shell? Not only are they beautiful and add a natural touch, but they can also prevent the wax from tea lights or votives from marring the surface you place them on.

5. Vintage Tin Molds

Small metal molds, like those used for tarts or pastries, make excellent DIY candle holders for small hand-poured candles or rustic holders for tea lights. You can also use larger molds made of tin or copper for larger, handmade candles.

6. Lace doilies

For a soft and shabby-chic touch, use an old doily around a glass to create pretty DIY candle holders that will cast a filigree pattern of light around it. Slather the surface of the glass (small votive holders, glass jars or tumblers work well for this) with Mod Podge and press the doily into place around it for instant romantic decor.

DIY Wooden Candle Holders

7. Wood Blocks or Rounds

DIY Wood Block candle holders — *Wooden blocks can hold succulents or candles (via Etsy)*

Use a wooden block to create rustic and simple votive or taper DIY candle holders. Use a router saw to create a recess in the top large enough to accommodate the bottom of the candle you are using. Leave the sides of the block natural or use some acrylic paint to create floral designs on the side.

Or use a large wooden block with multiple holes to hold a grouping of tapers. Wood rounds or sliced segments from branches also make excellent votive or tea light holders. You can create a recess for the candle or just set one on top. Bark-lined segments are a cute and rustic touch that would look gorgeous on a holiday table.

8. Wood Bowls

Everything from large wooden bread bowls to small wooden salad bowls makes chic and rustic DIY candle holders when filled with hand-poured wax. Or just put a tea light or votive holder inside a wooden dish. You will want to ensure that the flame and wick do not touch the sides, as this can damage the bowl or pose a fire hazard if the candle is burned unattended.

9. Spindles

Attach an old table or stool's spindled leg to a wooden block base with wood glue and add a small platform at the top (you can use a wooden round, a vintage dish, or a terra cotta planter saucer). You can create these DIY candle holders in various heights, and they look stunning when grouped as a centerpiece for a table or displayed inside a faux fireplace.

DIY Glass Candle Holders

10. Mason Jars

DIY Mason Jar candle holders — *Mason jars are so adaptable (via Etsy)*

One of the most popular containers for handmade candles, mason jars give a classic and cottage-style vibe to your home. You can use traditional canning jars or upcycle pantry jars or small apothecary jars into handmade candle containers. Or, use small faceted jelly jars as glowing tealight DIY candle holders.

11. Tea Cups and Mugs

Vintage tea cups and mugs from the thrift store make clever DIY candle holders that can look wistful and romantic or give you a chance to turn your funny novelty mugs into decor. It's also a great chance to turn inherited dishware you don't want to use into decorative items you can enjoy for years if you keep refilling them with new wax.

12. Thrifted Glassware

Thrifted Glassware candle holders — *Thrift for old unique glass designs (via savvyswarey)*

You can easily turn a pretty Depression Glass bowl or Mid-Century Modern highball glass into a charming handmade candle or votive holder. Colored and etched glass looks especially beautiful when lit from within. You can usually pick up pieces at the thrift stores for a couple of dollars each. Other great options include items such as ashtrays, candy dishes and old sugar or creamer sets.

13. Vintage Light Fixtures

Vintage light globes, sconces and pendant shades make beautiful votive DIY candle holders. Just drop a tealight inside at the bottom of one turned upside down for an instantly gorgeous glow with vintage and antique flair. You could also use a vintage fixture inside a macrame plant hanger to create stylish hanging lanterns for your outdoor space.

DIY Candle Holders From Waste Material

14. Oranges & Citrus Fruit

DIY orange candle holders — *Orange peels for the win (via midwestliving)*

Hollow out the inside of a lemon, lime or orange and turn the hollow of the peel into a natural candle that smells amazing as the wax heats up. You can pour candle wax in and add a wick or you can use a small tealight For a holiday scented, top the candle with some dried cloves for a festive combination that smells better than the best Yankee Candle scents or Bath & Body Works candles.

15. Soda Cans

Turn ordinary soda cans into fun DIY candle holders that you can customize to fit your decor. Cut off the top of the can and fill the interior with a wick and some wax. Use paper or paint to decorate the exterior of the can or wrap it in twine or ribbon to add texture.

16. Wine Bottles

DIY wine bottle candle holders — *There's no better use of old wine bottles (via Etsy)*

Transform last night's Chardonnay into a beautiful taper DIY candle holder for your table. As the taper candle burns, the wax will run down and cover the bottle, creating a romantic Italian bistro look. You can reuse the bottle again and again with new candles.

17. Coffee Can

Use an upcycled tin coffee canister as a pretty perforated lantern. Just use a punch to create holes around the perimeter of the can, either randomly or by creating a shape like a heart or a star. Place a votive or tealight inside. Add some twine handles through holes or mount it with a screw on a segment of wood to create a hanging lantern or sconce.

DIY Candle Holders For Long Candles

18. Candle Tray

candle planter with taper candles — *Go for a full tray of candles (via Etsy)*

Use an array of thrifted dishware to create chic boho DIY candle holders with taper candles. Use adhesive to secure several pieces of glass to a tray or cutting board. Place the candle in the glassware and allow it to melt, then let it stand. As they burn, the tapers will drip down to create a cascade of wax flowing over the glassware and the base. You can even buy candles specifically designed for melting and dripping.

19. Pumpkins or Apples

After exploring the top pumpkin patches, use small pumpkins, apples or squashes to create simple taper holders for your Fall table. Just hollow out their center and insert a taper candle into the produce. When the holiday is over, simply dispose of the eco-friendly holders in the compost.

20. Pinecones

DIY Pinecone candle holder — *Pick up pinecones in the forest (via grahamandgreen)*

Another natural and compostable option for easy taper holders is to use a wide drill bit to drill through a pinecone, creating a hollow big enough to fit your taper candle. These look amazing on a holiday table when combined with greenery and other rustic holiday accents. You can also glue several pinecones together for a nest-like structure.

21. Repurposed Napkin Rings

You can easily create DIY candle holders from rounded napkin rings in a variety of materials, such as wood, metal and glass. Simply turn the ring on its side and insert a taper into place, using melted wax at the base. This is a great opportunity to utilize these more formal table elements in a more utilitarian way if you don't use cloth napkins regularly.

DIY Candle Holders FAQs

What To Do If You Don't Have A Candle Holder?

eggshell Candle Holder — *Use just about anything — even eggshells (via Canva)*

Many elements you might already have at home or can find in your recycling bin make excellent DIY candle holders, whether for holding existing candles or for making your own hand-poured versions. You can find endless container possibilities in repurposed objects like planters and dishware or look to the natural world for things like produce, upcycled packaging and other objects from nature like segments of wooden branches or pinecones for an eco-friendly approach.

What Is The Best Material For Candle Holders?

If making handmade candles, all you need is a heat-safe container. Tempered glass, treated wood and metal are all great materials for DIY candle holders. In addition, many other materials, such as resin or plastic, can also serve as holders for lower-heat glass votives and tea light candles. Ensure the wick is centered to prevent melting or damaging your container.

What To Put In Candle Holders Instead Of Candles?

If you have a lot of empty candle containers stored up from candles you've been gifted or purchased, there are many stylish ways to upcycle these containers for storage, including using small items in your bathroom or on your desk. Employ smaller ones to store cotton balls, Q-tips or small soaps. Or, keep pens, pencils or paperclips in an old candle container you love.

All of these candles, whether handmade or in a container for existing candles, can light up your home or dinner table with a cozy glow without depleting your decor budget.

For even more fun with candles, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!