How Do You Make A Tealight Holder?

ByScarlett Evans

A tealight holder is a decorative container used to hold a tealight candle. Tealights are small candles in metal tins that provide a gentle candlelight glow when lit. Tealight holders allow you to safely place tealights around your home, yard, or event space to create ambiance and a warm lighting effect.

Tealight holders come in an endless variety of styles, shapes, colors, and materials. They are popular for both indoor and outdoor use because of their versatility. You can find tealight holders made of glass, metal, ceramic, stone, concrete, wood, and more. They come in sizes ranging from single tealights to large multi-candle displays. Tealight holders are easy to make and can be designed for any décor or special occasion.

Materials Needed

To make a tealight holder, you will need the following materials:

  • Glass container (vase, jar, bottle, etc) – This will be the base to hold the filler and the tealight. Look for a clear glass container in a shape and size you find visually appealing.

  • Tile, mirror shards, marbles, beads, etc. for filler – These items will go inside the glass container as decorative filler around the tealight. Choose materials that match your desired aesthetic.

  • Hot glue gun + glue sticks – The hot glue gun will be used to attach any decorative filler materials inside the glass container.

  • Tea lights – These are the small candles that will go inside the filled glass container to provide light.

Safety Tips

Making and using tealight holders can be dangerous, so it’s important to keep safety in mind:

Adult supervision is recommended if children will be involved in the making process. Hot glue guns and broken glass pose risks for kids, so an adult should oversee all steps.

Avoid using broken glass that could cut fingers. Discard any jars or bottles with sharp, cracked edges. Consider sanding down rough spots on glass.

Hot glue guns can burn skin if touched. Allow heating glue guns to cool before handling. Avoid contact with hot glue and be cautious as it cools.

Practice fire safety with tealights. Never leave burning candles unattended. Keep away from flammable materials. Extinguish fully before disposal.

Instructions

Making a tealight holder is a fun and easy craft project. Here are the step-by-step instructions for assembling your tealight holder:

First, make sure your glass container is clean and dry. Any size glass jar, vase, or bowl will work.

Next, arrange your filler materials in the bottom of the container. Good options for filler include river rocks, marbles, seashells, or colored glass beads. Add enough to cover the bottom in a single layer.

Then, using a hot glue gun, glue the filler materials in place. Apply hot glue carefully to avoid burns. Make sure the materials are fully secured.

Let the glue fully cool and harden before placing a tealight candle. This ensures the materials don’t shift when the candle is lit.

Once cooled, gently place a tealight in the center of the filler materials. Now your tealight holder is ready to use! Enjoy the beautiful glow.

Choosing a Container

One of the most important decisions when making a tealight holder is choosing the right container. Glass jars, vases, and bottles make excellent containers that allow the candlelight to shine through beautifully. When selecting a container, consider the following:

Shape – The shape of the container impacts how the light illuminates through it. Cylindrical vases and round jars glow in an even circular pattern, while unique shapes like faceted vases cast interesting shadows.

Color – Colored glass adds extra visual interest when the candle is lit. Blues and greens glow softly, while opaque red or gold glass creates a warm ambiance.

Size – Scale the container appropriately for the space. Small tealights work well in dainty bottles for table decor, while larger hurricane vases make a statement on the floor. Make sure the container is deep enough to prevent scorching.

Style – Choose a container that fits your decor style, whether modern, traditional, rustic, or eclectic. Hunt for vintage pieces for one-of-a-kind charm.

Selecting Filler

There are various decorative filler options you can choose from for your tealight holder, depending on your desired look and theme. Here are some of the most popular choices:

Glass beads, marbles, stones: These shiny, smooth options nicely complement tealights and come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. Glass beads add a vibrant, elegant touch while natural stones like river rocks create an earthy, organic feel. Just be sure the beads or rocks are not so small they pose a choking hazard if children may access the tealight holder.

Seashells, dried flowers: For a coastal or floral theme, seashells, dried flowers, and other preserved botanicals make beautiful filler. Seashells come in lovely natural shapes and textures that glow in the tealight light. Dried flowers, foliage, pods, and more infuse lovely muted colors and intricate details.

Colored sand, glitter: For fun bright accents, colored sands and fine glitter offer sparkling flair. These are best used sparingly or with a sealant though, as they may spill everywhere without caution. Limit glitter use to adult or older child spaces.

Be sure to select filler that matches the size, shape and color scheme of your container and decor. For example, large sea shells would overwhelm a small glass vase whereas fine glitter suits that vase nicely. Take time to explore the wonderful options and discover the perfect complementary fillers for your tealight holders.

Design Ideas

When designing your tealight holders, you have lots of options for creating a cohesive look. Here are some ideas for color schemes and themes:

Monochromatic

Using shades of one color can create a sophisticated, elegant look. Try using different shades of blue, green, purple or other colors in your filler items and holder.

Complementary Colors

Choose complementary colors like orange and blue or red and green to make the candles pop. The contrast between the colors will be eye-catching.

Themed

Pick a theme like nautical, floral, seasonal, holiday or more to decorate your holders and candles. Use relevant filler items like seashells, flowers, pinecones or ornaments to set the mood.

Get creative with colors, textures and themes when designing your tealight holders for beautiful, decorative touches.

Displaying Tealight Holders

Tealight holders make for beautiful decorations that can be displayed in many areas of your home or outdoor spaces. Here are some popular ways to showcase these lovely pieces:

Table Centerpieces

A grouping of tealight holders makes for a simple yet elegant table centerpiece. Arrange holders of varying heights, shapes and sizes for visual interest. For more drama, surround the holders with greenery, flowers or other decor.

Windowsills

Line tealight holders along a windowsill to create a welcoming glow, both inside and outside your home. Play with combining colors and patterns for personalized sill decor.

Shelves

Display tealight holders on mantles, bookshelves, wall shelves or staircased shelving. Create vignettes by pairing your tealight holders with books, photos, greenery and other cherished items.

Bathroom Counters

Candlelight creates a relaxing vibe in the bathroom. Arrange tealight holders on the counter, edge of tub or vanity for spa-like ambiance.

Outdoor Patios and Porches

Use tealight holders to illuminate and decorate your outdoor living areas. Place them on tables, steps, railings or hang them from shepherd’s hooks. Their soft glow creates an inviting atmosphere for al fresco dining and entertaining.

Maintenance

Caring for your tealight holder will keep it looking nice for many years. Here are a few maintenance tips:

Clean with soap and water
If your tealight holder gets dirty from dust, spills, etc., wash it gently using a soft cloth, mild detergent, and warm water. Avoid scrubbing too vigorously to prevent scuffing or removing any decorative finishes.

Replace filler if needed
Over time, the glass beads, sand, gems or other filler may become discolored. Simply pour these out and add new filler material for a fresh look.

Use battery operated flameless candles outdoors
Real tealights should not be burned outdoors since any breeze could blow out the flame and create a fire hazard. Opt for battery-powered flameless candles instead to create a similar ambiance on patios, porches and more.

Fun Variations

There is much room for creativity when designing simple tealight holders, expanding their usefulness beyond basic illumination. Try out these fun variations to add flair and interest:

  • Add essential oils or dried potpourri to the filler. As the candle burns, it will release the subtle fragrance. Create custom scents to match the season or your decor.
  • Instead of encasing the candle in glass, use curved birch bark. The organic holder creates a rustic, earthy feel.
  • Float tealight holders on ponds, water features or even pools. The gentle flicker reflecting on the water creates ambience and charm.
  • Fill miniature tealight vessels with sweets to give as party favors or gifts. Pair them with a clever message tied to the handle for a memorable token.

Customizing tealight holders is an easy way to incorporate your personal flair. With some simple materials and effortless shortcuts like essential oils and natural wood bark, you can design holders perfect for any occasion.

Similar Posts