Super Easy DIY Wood Candle Centerpiece

Create a centerpiece for your dining table with this beautiful candle holder made of wood.

Finding the perfect display for the center of the table can be a challenge. You want home decor that will accentuate your dining room table without overwhelming the space. A candle centerpiece is a great way to achieve style and practicality without going overboard.

These DIY candle holders are modeled after a traditional sugar mold. Sugar molds are solid blocks of raw wood with holes on top. They traditionally were used by pouring in sugar syrup which then dried and formed sugar cones. Hence, the sugar mold turned rustic candle holders.

DIY wooden candle holders are great options for creating a beautiful focal point on your table that you can customize. The low budget price tag also makes it a very appealing DIY project. When you can create a light holder for less than $20, that's an easy project!

They have so many functions and look great in home decor. I particularly wanted to create a candle centerpiece with a sugar mold that could be customized to hold smaller candles.

Supplies for DIY Wood Candle Holders

Most of these items can easily be found at Home Depot, Lowe's or another hardware store. (affiliate links below)

4 x 6 piece of wood cut to 30" long - any type of wood should work whether it's from pieces of scrap wood or leftover wood from your last project.
¾" Drill bit
Drill
Chop saw
Dark walnut stain or another color if your prefer
Chip brush
Rag to remove excess stain
Pencil
220 Grit sandpaper
Tape measure
13 Candles

View the full tutorial below!

How to Make a DIY Candle Centerpiece

Get ready and pull out your power tools and hand drill for one of the easiest small projects you will complete this year.

Prep Work - Measuring

Your first step is to measure then cut your 4 x 6 piece of wood down to 30 inches. Measure twice and cut once!

Then you will measure where your candle holes will go. Begin by coming in 3 inches from the edge on both ends of your wood. From there you will put a dot every 2 inches for candle hole placement.

For candles to be offset, make sure each hole is 1 ¼" from the side (on the long edge).

Drill Away

Use a drill bit and hand drill all of your holes on top. I used a ¾" drill bit that is the exact size of the bottom of the candle. The drill bit also comes with a pointed center so it is easier to line up with your pre-measured marks.

Drill your holes around ½ inch to 1 inch deep. Deep holes will hide your candles. It's a good idea to have one of your candles nearby depending on how far down you want your placement to be.

I prefer having candles at different heights so am not as concerned if the depth isn't exactly the same for each small hole.

Finish Work

Lightly sand your wood with 220 grit sandpaper for a smooth finish. You could also leave it as is for a more rustic look.

And the last step is to stain or paint your candle centerpiece. A dark walnut stain is perfect to emphasize the natural elements of the wood. Use a brush to apply stain evenly. See the directions on the label for specific instructions.

Remember to wipe off excess stain with a rag and allow it to dry before using.

Other Sugar Mold Uses

Not only can this sugar mold imitation be used for a wood candle centerpiece, but for other things too.

Use it as a make up holder for your bathroom.
Art supply organizer for crayons, brushes or pens
Decor for holding plants or flowers
Office organization
Candy dish holder
Kitchen organizing

Try These Wood Candle Centerpiece Substitutions

If a sugar mold imitation centerpiece isn't your preference, you can also try these options for lighting substitutions:

Concrete candle holders
Pillar candles
Stone candle holders
Lanterns - make your own like this one
Plain glass holders with tea lights
Votive candles

And this awesome DIY candle centerpiece doesn't have to go on your table. Why not use it in other areas of your home like a fireplace mantel or on a side table in your entryway. The options are endless!

Loving these simple woodworking projects? Take a peek here for a few more ideas on easy DIY wood projects that you can complete at home!