Creative Candle Decoration Ideas

Candle decorating has become an increasingly popular hobby and creative outlet over the years. According to Statista, the worldwide candle market is projected to grow by 3.15% between 2024-2028, reaching $12 billion in sales by 2028. This growth demonstrates the popularity of candles, and decorating them adds a creative twist.

Decorating candles allows for self-expression and creativity. It is an enjoyable way to create customized, one-of-a-kind candles for gifts or home décor. The process of decorating candles is also relaxing and therapeutic. There are many techniques to explore, from adding glitter and beads to sculpting wax into shapes and designs. The finished, hand-decorated candles can make meaningful gifts or add a personal touch to any space.

In this article, we will explore popular methods and creative ideas for decorating candles at home. Candle decorating allows anyone to tap into their creativity and make something beautiful with their own hands.

Gather Your Materials

When decorating candles, you’ll want to start by gathering the necessary materials. Some key items to have on hand include:

• Candles – Look for clean-burning pillar candles or votive candles in white or light colors that will show off decorations well. Avoid scented candles, as the aroma can compete with any scents from paints and glazes you add. For variety, include taper candles, tea lights, and votives in different heights and widths. (https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-candles/)
• Candle holders – Gather glass, ceramic, metal, or wooden holders in different shapes and sizes to display your decorated candles. Make sure holders are stable and won’t tip over when holding a candle.
• Glitter, beads, gems – Add sparkle with fine glitter in any color along with beads, sequins, faux gems or rhinestones. Glass beads work especially well.



• Paint, glaze, enamel – Look for candle paint, glaze or enamel made specifically for decorating candles safely. These will withstand the heat of the flame. Acrylic craft paint can also work.
• Decorative materials – Ribbon, lace, raffia, dried flowers and more can help embellish your candles.
• Adhesives – To attach decorations securely, use a stronghold glue like E6000 that bonds well with wax and glass.
• Tools – Gather toothpicks, paint brushes, glue applicators as well as any special candle carving, sculpting or shaping tools.

Starting with the right candles and decorations will set you up for success. Look for inspiration online and at craft stores, then curate your own collection of materials for personalizing candles.

Add Glitter

Glitter is a fun and easy way to decorate candles. There are several techniques you can use to add glitter:

Glitter Dipping

One popular method is glitter dipping. Start by taping off the bottom of the candle so the base doesn’t get covered in glitter. Next, mix fine glitter into a glue or Mod Podge. Paint this glitter glue mixture onto the candle with a brush and sprinkle extra glitter over it. Let dry completely before peeling off the tape to reveal the clean base [1].

Glitter Pouring

For a smooth glitter finish, slowly pour glitter over the candle while rotating it. Tilt the candle to spread the glitter evenly. Let dry upside down on a protected surface before turning upright. Pour extra glitter back into the container for reuse.

Glitter Painting

Mix glitter into acrylic paint for a shimmery glitter paint. Use a small brush to paint designs, stripes, or fully cover the outside of the candle. This gives you full control over the glitter placement. Let dry completely before handling [2].

Use Paints

Painting candles is a fun way to add creative designs and patterns to plain candles. Many types of paint can be used on candles, but making sure to use the proper techniques is key for getting great results.

Acrylic and latex paints work well for painting candles, as they adhere to wax and dry quickly. Watercolor and oil-based paints are not recommended, as they may bleed or take longer to cure. Always test your paint on a small area first to ensure proper adhesion.

Letting your painted candles dry fully before burning or handling is crucial, as wet paint can smear easily. Allow at least 24 hours for acrylic or latex paints to cure. Gently blow drying between coats can help speed drying time.

Consider painting simple stripes, patterns, flowers, or other fun designs. Use a paintbrush for full coverage or a sponge for a textured look. Stencils can aid in creating intricate designs. Apply multiple thin coats for the best results.

With the right paint and technique, it’s easy to turn plain candles into colorful works of art!

Attach Beads and Gems

Adding beads and gems is a simple yet elegant way to decorate candles. Beads and gems come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, allowing you to get creative with patterns and designs.

To attach beads or gems, start by gathering the supplies you’ll need. You’ll want to have beads, gems, hot glue and a hot glue gun, and the candles you wish to decorate. You can find beads and gems at most craft stores. Opt for sizes that will look nicely proportioned on your candles.

To attach the beads, simply dot some hot glue onto the candle where you want the bead placed, then quickly press the bead onto the hot glue. The glue will dry rapidly to hold the bead in place. Continue gluing on beads in patterns or designs as desired. Some ideas are:

• Glue beads in stripes, zig-zags, or waves around the candle.
• Create geometric patterns with beads.
• Glue beads sporadically for a “splatter” look.
• Use larger beads or gems as accents next to clusters of smaller beads.
• Spell out names, words, or phrases using beads.

When working with hot glue, take care not to burn yourself. Also avoid applying large globs of glue that can be seen between beads. A small drop is all you need to adhere each bead. Let candles fully dry before lighting or displaying them.

Make Scenes

One creative way to decorate candles is to make miniature scenes on them using figurines, fake snow or sand, and other small decorative pieces. This adds visual interest and brings the candle decor to life. According to Pinterest, some popular options for candle scenes include:

• A winter scene with a little wooden sled, snowy pine trees, and fake snow
• A beach scene with seashells, starfish, and decorative sand
• A nativity scene with a manger and figurines
• A floral scene with tiny faux flowers and butterflies

When constructing your candle scene, start by adding a thin layer of decorative material like sand or fake snow to the candle. Then arrange your figurines and other elements on top. You can secure them with hot glue if needed. For extra dimension, place larger elements toward the back and smaller pieces in the front. Get creative with the themes and don’t be afraid to mix elements from different scenes together. Candle scenes add a magical touch to any tablescape or mantle display.

Use Molds

Another creative way to decorate candles is by using unique candle molds to create fun shapes. You can find an endless variety of silicone molds in all sorts of shapes like animals, flowers, sports themes, and geometric patterns. Some popular animal shapes are dogs, cats, elephants, bunnies, and butterflies. For flowers, rose and sunflower shapes are common.

You can browse candle making supplies sites like Amazon or Etsy to find delightful and sometimes whimsical candle molds to spark your creativity. The mold shapes on sites like Boowan Nicole range from unicorns to pineapples and everything in between.

Silicone molds are reusable and make removing your finished molded candles easy. They are also heat resistant so you don’t have to worry about melting. Just pour your melted wax into the mold, let it set up, and gently remove the cute molded candle! Kids will love making molded candles this way. You can combine using molds with other decorating techniques too, like adding glitter or paints. Let your imagination run wild!

Color Coordination

Selecting candles in a coherent color palette is an easy way to create a beautiful and cohesive display. Match the candle colors to your event theme, holiday, or decor. For example, use red and green candles for a Christmas display, pastels for Easter, or red, white and blue for the Fourth of July ¹. You can also coordinate metallic pillar candles in silver and gold for glamorous occasions ². When choosing colors, opt for 3-5 coordinating hues in varying shades and intensities. Keep the overall palette cohesive but add depth by incorporating light, medium and dark tones.

Display and Presentation

There are many creative ways to elegantly display your finished decorative candles to enhance the look of any room. Popular display ideas include:

Arranging candles of varying heights on mantles and fireplace hearths. Try staggering taller pillar candles behind shorter votives and tea lights for visual interest. For inspiration, see this article: 11 Candle displays ideas.

Placing candles on shelves or built-in bookcases to highlight decor. Mix and match candle holders and frames for an eclectic look. Reference this article for shelving display concepts: 170 Best Candle Displays ideas.

Using candlesticks, candelabras, and votives as table centerpieces. Experiment with combining different colors, heights, and styles for a unique tablescape. Top with flower petals or other accents.

Setting candles throughout a room to create a warm, cozy ambiance. Try placing candles of complementary colors and scents in pairs on side tables, cabinets, and windowsills.

Grouping pillar candles on plates or mirrors for instant table decor. For contrast, mix metals like bronze, silver, and gold. Reflect candlelight by placing on glass candle plates.

To showcase your decorative candles, focus on elevating their best qualities through intentional presentation and display.

Safety Tips

When decorating with candles, it’s important to keep safety in mind to avoid accidents and injuries. Here are some key tips for candle safety:

Properly handle hot wax. Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish candles before the wax pool reaches the outer edge. Allow melted wax to harden before handling. Pour melted wax slowly back into the candle or dispose of it carefully.

Supervise children around candles. Do not let children light candles or handle melted wax. Keep candles out of reach of children and pets. Children should not be left alone in a room with a burning candle.

Practice fire safety. Keep candles away from flammable materials like curtains, greenery, wrapped gifts, etc. Do not place candles near exits or walkways. Always keep a burning candle within sight. Have a fire extinguisher handy. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on burn times.

Use sturdy candle holders made from nonflammable materials. Avoid using makeshift holders like glass jars. Position candle holders on sturdy, uncluttered surfaces. Allow adequate airflow around candles. Extinguish taper and pillar candles when they burn down within 2 inches of the holder.

By following basic safety practices, you can decorate with candles while minimizing the risk of fire and injuries.