How Do You Make A Centerpiece With Floating Candles?

ByAddison Mitchell

A floating candle centerpiece is a decorative arrangement that features candles floating on water inside a bowl, vase, or other clear container. The candles appear to magically float above the surface of the water, creating a striking focal point on the dining table or other surface.

The purpose of a floating candle centerpiece is to provide an elegant and visually interesting accent to the table decor. The flickering flames add ambiance and a soft glow, while the floating effect is an intriguing twist on traditional candle centerpieces. Floating candle centerpieces are especially popular for formal events like weddings, anniversaries, or formal dinners, but can also be used to add flair to more casual tablescapes.

Materials Needed

Here are the main materials you’ll need to create a floating candle centerpiece:

  • A glass bowl, vase, or container to hold the candle arrangement (https://www.candlescience.com/learning/how-to-make-floating-candles/)
  • Pillar candles, floating candles, or votive candles
  • Floral foam block that fits the size of your container
  • Pins, toothpicks, or skewers to hold the candles in place
  • Fresh flowers, greenery, moss, rocks, shells, or other decorative accents

Make sure your container is water-tight and able to hold water, as this will allow the foam block to soak up water and keep your floral accents fresh. Select candles that are the right height and shape for the arrangement you envision.

Selecting a Bowl or Vase

When making a floating candle centerpiece, the first step is to select an appropriate glass bowl, vase, or other clear container to hold the candles. Opt for a bowl or vase made from glass, acrylic, or another transparent material so the candles are visible. The size of the container depends on how many floating candles you want to include. For a medium centerpiece, a bowl with about a 10-12 inch diameter works well. For a larger display, look for a wide mouth vase or hurricane vase around 12-16 inches tall.

You can find bowls and vases for floating candles at most craft stores, home goods stores, or online retailers like Amazon. Products specifically marketed as floating candle bowls make it easy to find one with the right dimensions. Look for a clean, simple shape that won’t compete too much with the candles for attention. Glass bowls with a rounded or curved shape nicely complement floating candles.

Inserting the Foam

Once you have selected an appropriate vase or bowl for your centerpiece, the next step is to insert the floral foam that will hold the candles. Floral foam comes in blocks that you will need to cut down to size to fit snugly in your vase.

floating candles create a magical glow when grouped together in a clear glass vase or bowl for a centerpiece.

Use a foam cutter or sharp knife to cut the floral foam block to the desired size and shape. Make sure it fits tightly in the vase with no gaps. You may need multiple pieces to fill the vase. The tighter the fit, the more stable your arrangement will be. According to floral design experts, “With a design knife cut the pieces to fit the vase securely. I typically place the largest piece first and then fill it in with smaller pieces.” (Source)

Once cut, soak the foam in water. This allows the foam to absorb water so it can nourish the flower stems. Soak for at least 5 minutes. Gently squeeze out excess water before inserting the foam snugly into the vase. Make sure the foam fills the vase fully and reaches close to the rim where you will insert the candles.

Adding the Candles

When adding candles to the foam, it’s important to space them evenly for a cohesive and balanced look. Here are some tips for inserting candles into the foam:

Mark the foam where you want each candle to go using a pencil or toothpick. Space the marks evenly apart, keeping in mind the size and shape of your vase or bowl. Allow enough space between candles for interest and to prevent wax from dripping onto neighboring candles.

Use candle holders or specially designed candle picks to secure the candles in the foam. Candle cups can be inserted into the foam, then candles placed inside the cups. This helps stabilize tall taper candles. For wide pillar candles, use candle spikes pushed directly into the foam (source).

Insert candles vertically at the marked spots. Push them firmly and deeply into the foam for stability. Ensure they are straight and adjust as needed for an orderly display. Stagger heights for visual interest.

Go slowly and carefully when inserting each candle to prevent breaking or bending them. Work over a surface that can catch dripping wax to minimize mess.

Securing the Candles

Once your floating candles are in place inside the bowl or vase, it’s important to secure them so they don’t move around when the centerpiece is moved. The best way to do this is by using pins. You’ll need pins that are long enough to go through the foam and stick into the bottom of the candles. Glass candles work best for this.

Start by taking a thin, long pin and pushing it down through the foam so it sticks into the bottom of the candle. Wiggle the pin around a bit to make a hole in the bottom of the candle for the pin to fit into snugly. Make sure the pin is secured tightly and vertically in place. Do this for each candle, spacing the pins out evenly. Generally 3-4 pins per candle is enough to hold them securely.

The pins are virtually invisible once in place, so they won’t detract from the look of the floating candles. But they serve the important purpose of preventing the candles from tilting or shifting when the vase is moved. This keeps your centerpiece looking pristine and the candles upright at all times. Securing the candles is a quick final step that makes a big difference in keeping your creation intact.

Adding Decorative Accents

Once the candles are secured, you can embellish the centerpiece with decorative accents around the floating candles. Flowers, beads, and stones are popular choices to enhance the look. Go for fresh flowers like roses, lilies, or orchids to add vibrant colors and fragrances. You can also use artificial blooms for a fuss-free option. Beads in complementary colors make a striking addition – try translucent, iridescent, or metallic beads for pops of shimmer. Finally, accents like crystals, gemstones, river rocks, or seashells lend an organic, natural touch.

When selecting embellishments, stick to a cohesive color theme and vary the textures and shapes for visual interest. Keep the accents lower than the candle tops so they don’t block the light. Sprinkling single stems or a few accent pieces between the candles creates a clean, uncluttered look. Or, make a bolder statement by fully encircling each candle with flowers, beads, or other accents. Additionally, consider adding accents to the bowl or vase edges to tie the whole arrangement together.

Whatever accents you choose, take care not to overload the design or make it appear cluttered. Aim for a balanced, harmonious arrangement that enhances the elegant glow of the floating candles. With the right embellishments, your centerpiece will be both breathtaking and conversation-worthy.

Arranging the Accents

Evenly distributing the accents in the foam is key to creating a cohesive and visually appealing centerpiece. Here are some tips for arranging the accents:

Start by placing larger accents like flowers first. Space them out evenly around the foam, turning the bowl as you go to ensure good coverage from all angles. Next fill in with smaller accents like leaves, buds or berries in the gaps. You can place these in little clusters for a natural look.

Aim for variety – mix up the shapes, sizes, textures and colors as you place accents. Too much of one type in one spot looks unbalanced.

Layer the accents, with smaller pieces sometimes going in front of or behind larger focal flowers. This adds depth.

Twist or angle some of the stem pieces to make the arrangement look organic. Pieces facing different directions also help cover more surface area.

Stand back periodically and look for empty spots to fill in. The foam base should be fully covered when viewed from all sides.

For more inspiration, see this lovely Pinterest board on floating flower centerpieces.

Lighting the Candles

Properly lighting floating candles is important to ensure they burn safely and evenly. According to https://quickcandles.com/blogs/blog/floating-candles-ideas, you should light the candle wick using a long match or lighter. When lighting, hold the match at an angle to the wick so the flame catches and ignites the wick. Light the wick gently without allowing the match flame to touch the water. This prevents the wick from getting wet before being lit.

As advised by https://creativecandles.com/blogs/blog/tips-for-decorating-with-floating-candles, only light one floating candle at a time. Wait until each candle is burning evenly before moving on to light the next. Lighting candles individually gives time for the wax to melt and creates an even glow when all are lit. It also prevents lighting issues if multiple wicks are too close together when first igniting.

Finishing Touches

Here are some extra tips for putting the final touches on your floating candle centerpiece:

  • Add extra greenery, flowers, or other decor around the edges of the bowl or vase to help frame the centerpiece. Small accents like pebbles or glass beads can also help complete the look. (Wedding Boards, 2022)
  • Make any last minute adjustments to ensure the candles are securely positioned and will not tip over once lit. Give the foam a gentle press to check for stability. (Creative Candles, 2022)
  • Consider the lighting of the room and if any adjustments need to be made. Dimming overhead lights can help the floating candles stand out more once they are lit. (Creative Candles, 2022)
  • Have long fireplace matches or a lighter ready to safely light the candles once the centerpiece is in place.
  • Be careful when moving the centerpiece with lit candles. Blow them out first if needing to reposition.

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