What Can I Use As A Tea Light Holder?

Tea lights are small candles that fit into metal or glass holders to protect the flame. The holders keep the melted wax contained and provide a stable base. Tea lights are inexpensive, convenient, and safe options for candlelight ambiance.

Tea light holders come in many forms. Anything that can safely hold a tea light is considered a tea light holder. Since tea lights don’t get hot enough to ignite materials, the holders can be made of plastic, paper, wood, metal, glass, or ceramic.

Everyday Household Items

Look around your kitchen and home – you likely have plenty of small containers that can be repurposed as tea light holders. Bowls, cups, and jars made of glass, ceramic, or metal work great. The opening just needs to be wide enough for a standard size tea light, typically 1-2 inches across.

Small glass bowls, teacups, and jars are some top picks. The light can shine through clear glass for a warm glow. Frosted, colored, or patterned glass also adds interest. Glass is an affordable option found at most stores. If using vintage or delicate items, place the holder on a tray or plate to catch any wax.

Ceramic bowls and cups lend a rustic feel. Unglazed terra cotta, handmade pottery, and porcelain all work well. Metals like stainless steel, copper, and tin can provide a sleek, modern look. Vintage tins give a nostalgic charm. Use household items you already have before buying new.

Glassware

Glassware makes for beautiful tea light holders that add a touch of elegance to any space. Consider using small glass vases, glasses, or mason jars. The transparent quality of glass allows the candlelight to shine through for a warm, cozy ambiance.

Mini glass vases meant for holding a single flower are the perfect size for tea lights. Use colorful vases to cast colorful shadows when lit with a candle. For a more neutral look, clear glass vases showcase the candlelight. Gather a few matching glass vases in different sizes and cluster them together for an eye-catching centerpiece.

Old drinking glasses like tumblers and lowball glasses make ideal improvised holders. Their short stature provides stability while their curved sides amplify the candle glow. Fill a glass with some beads, stones, or sand before placing a tea light on top for added decoration.

Mason jars are a versatile option. Use the regular mouth size for a snug fit or go wider with a wide mouth jar. Paint or decorate the jars for some personalized flair. The jar lids can be used as a base underneath to catch any melting wax.

Ceramics

Ceramic dishes like mugs, plates, and bowls make excellent tea light holders. The glazed finishes on ceramic dishware allows light to reflect and shine through them beautifully. Mugs, bowls, and small plates with diameters between 3-5 inches work particularly well to cradle a standard size tea light candle. The contained shape helps protect the flame while amplifying and directing the light. Both rustic and fine ceramic pieces can make lovely holders, whether they are hand thrown or commercially manufactured.

You can often find inexpensive ceramic mugs, bowls, and plates at thrift stores to repurpose as tea light holders. Or use your odds and ends of old dishes stacked or grouped together for a eclectic look. Clear out your cupboards and use chipped, orphaned, or mismatched dishes and mugs as candle holders to give them new life! For a quick and easy project, flip over a basic ceramic bowl or mug and place a tea light candle inside.

Metals

Metals like tins, baking trays, and tin cans make great tea light holders and can give your home decor an industrial vibe. Tins come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from round cookie tins to rectangular mint tins. These often have charming vintage designs printed on them. Baking trays are long, shallow metal trays that are perfect for lining up tea lights in a row. Tea light candles can also be placed in empty tin cans for a rustic, recycled look. Metals conduct heat well, so make sure to keep a flame tea light from directly touching the metal surface to prevent heating and fire hazards.

Wood

Wood is a versatile material that can be used to create tea light candle holders in a variety of ways. Small wooden bowls or blocks of wood with holes drilled in them make simple tea light holders. Look for small unfinished wooden bowls, blocks or disks at craft stores that can have holes drilled to hold tea lights. Tiny tree slices or wood cookies with bark edges also make rustic and natural looking tea light holders. Cut firewood into thin slices and drill holes to make homemade wood tea light holders.

Other ideas are to use a block of wood and drill multiple holes to hold several tea lights. Or, take four small pieces of wood to form a square frame to hold a tea light in the center. Painting or staining the wood can provide added decorative flair. Rectangle blocks of wood can have holes drilled in a straight line to display a row of tea lights. The rustic texture and grain of wood provides a warm, earthy look that pairs well with the soft glow of a flickering tea light.

Shells

Seashells and coconut shells make beautiful natural tea light holders that add a coastal touch to any space. Small seashells like scallops, clams, oysters, and cockles work well for holding standard size tea lights. Larger shells from conches, whelks, and turbans can hold multiple tea lights or pillar candles. Coconut shells are also commonly used by drilling out holes in the top to hold tea lights or carving them into decorative shapes.

Seashell tea light holders look lovely lined up on a mantel, windowsill, or countertop. Try grouping shells together based on shape, size, or color for an eye-catching display. Coconut shells can be left in their natural state or painted in bright colors for a more festive look. No matter which type of shell you choose, they add natural beauty and warm lighting to any room.

Fruits & Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables can make for creative, natural tea light holders. Consider using the following:

• Orange halves – Cut an orange in half, scoop out some of the insides to create a hole for the tea light, and place the candle inside the orange half. The orange will cast a warm, citrusy glow.

• Apples – Core an apple and insert a tea light in the center. Smaller apples work best. The apple’s round shape complements the candle nicely.

• Mini pumpkins – Carve out mini pumpkins and place tea lights inside. This makes for perfect fall decor. You can carve patterns into the pumpkin for a stained glass effect.

Fruits and vegetables add bright colors and sweet scents to your homemade tea light holders. They’re inexpensive and easy to use for a charming homemade feel.

Rocks & Pebbles

For a natural yet stylish tea light holder option, look no further than rocks and pebbles that can often be found right in your own backyard or garden. Smaller rounded river rocks or marbles in shades of gray, brown and white can add an earthy touch when grouped into a clustering of rocks to nestle a tea light into. Larger rocks can be used as elegant singular holders for floating candle lights. Sea glass pebbles in shades of green and blue also make lovely holders with an ocean-inspired aesthetic.

To turn rocks and pebbles into tea light holders:

• Collect a variety of rocks and pebbles in different sizes and shapes.
• Wash and dry thoroughly.
• Arrange into creative clusters, alternating sizes and shapes for visual interest.
• Nestle tea lights into crevices and openings within the rocks.

The natural simplicity of the shapes and textures of rocks and pebbles allows their innate beauty to shine through when illuminated by a flickering tea light. With a little bit of creativity and arranging, you can transform rocks and pebbles from your garden into stunning and rustic tea light holders with minimal effort.

DIY Ideas

If you want to get creative, you can make your own customized tea light holders from inexpensive materials. Here are some fun DIY ideas to try:

Paint or decorate basic holders. Take plain glass votives, jars, or bowls and personalize them with spray paint, glitter, ribbon, lace, stickers, or other embellishments. Use stencils and painters tape to create patterns. Decoupage scrapbook paper or napkins on the outside. The options are endless for creating one-of-a-kind pieces.

Reuse and upcycle items. Turn old candlesticks, glasses, mugs, or vases into tea light holders with some easy modifications. Clean out an empty pasta jar or tin can and add some decor to transform it. Cut the tops off bottles to make pretty etched glass holders.

Use sculpture materials. Mold tea light holders from clay, paper mache, or plaster. Experiment with sculpting shapes like seashells, leaves, or abstract art pieces. Let kids make their own holders using air dry clay or Model Magic.

Assemble collections. Group items like marbles, sea glass, or stones in clear glass holders for attractive arrangements. Display colored gems, beads, or flower petals in a glass votive as a centerpiece. Arrange seashells or pinecones around a pillar candle in a bowl.

With a little imagination and creativity, you can craft tea light holders out of all kinds of ordinary materials. DIY projects allow you to create holders that express your unique personal style.