Build your own upcycled candlestick – sustainable Christmas decorations

Candlestick with four lit candles on a table. A bowl with nuts and tangerines, a book, cinnamon stars and pine branches nearby. A couch next to a window in the background. — A sustainable highlight: get cosy in winter by candlelight.

Difficulty

medium
Cost

<45 £
Duration

a few hours

Introduction

Once it gets colder and darker outside, it’s time to get all cosy at home. What could be better in winter than sitting together by candlelight, drinking tea and eating cookies? And you don’t need new decorations to create a cosy ambience. Give old items new life: upcycling is not only particularly sustainable, it’s also a lot of fun. We tell you how to easily turn an old plant pot into a beautiful upcycled candlestick yourself.

You need

Tools

Utilities

sufficient clamps
pencil
ruler
measuring tape
Set square

Materials

Plant pot (around 16x15cm)
Beech rod 22 x 1000mm
Beech rod 6 x 1000mm
4x copper T-pieces
4x 4 x 25mm screws
4x 4.3 x 15mm washers
Superglue
Protective equipment (gloves, hearing protection, goggles, dust mask)

L: Length, W: Width, H: Height, D: Diameter

All tools and resources for the upcycled candlestick — Everything you need for the DIY candlestick

Let’s start – step by step

This step-by-step guide shows you how to easily build your own upcycled candlestick. Use the images below as a guide.

Step 1 5

Drill holes for the candlestick in the plant pot

A workbench on which a plant pot is mounted. A drill hole is being drilled into the pot using a cordless drill. — Drill four bore holes in the outer pot using a cordless drill/driver.

And off we go! The first step is to cover the upper edge of the plant pot outer with crepe tape. Then take your measuring tape and measure the circumference of the pot. Then divide this number by the number of candle holders, four in this case. Then use this value to mark a total of four points on the crepe tape for your drill holes. Ensure that you maintain a constant distance of around 18mm from the upper edge of the pot.

Then, drill the total of four holes in the outer plant pot using the AdvancedImpact 18 and a 4mm metal drill bit. Fixing the pot to the workbench with clamps means it won't slip when drilled.

Step 2 5

Saw the rods to size

Workbench to which a rod is fixed and being shortened with a Bosch cordless jigsaw. — Don't forget protective equipment: use a cordless jigsaw to saw the rods to the same length.

Now we saw the 22mm rod. For this, saw 4x 15mm and 4x 160mm large pieces with the UniversalSaw 18V-100.

Saw two 21cm long pieces from the 6mm rod. The size will vary depending on the diameter of the plant pot. It is best to simply measure the distance from inner edge of the T-piece to inner edge of the T-piece and add 2cm.

Precise sawing

To ensure the rods don't slip when sawing, use your workbench's fittings or at least two clamps and fix the rods on your workbench. This will keep everything in place and you can concentrate fully on sawing.

Step 3 5

Pre-drill the holes

A workbench on which a piece of rod is mounted. 3mm holes are being drilled into the centre of the wooden rod with a cordless two-speed drill/driver. — Ready, set, drill: drill holes into the wooden rods with the wood drill bit.

Now drill a 3mm wide hole in the centre of the 15mm pieces using the AdvancedImpact 18. Use the appropriate wood drill bit for this purpose.

Drill a 1cm deep hole at a distance of 2 cm from the edge in two of the 160mm long rods. Use the 7mm wood drill for this. Repeat this step 3cm from the edge with the remaining two 160mm rods.

Step 4 5

Sand the cut edges

A wooden rod is mounted on a workbench. The cut edges are being sanded with a cordless multi-sander. — Clean edges: carefully sand the cut edges with a cordless multi-sander

Next, sand the cut edges of the wooden rods using the PSM 18 Li.

Step 5 5

Affix the wooden rods to the plant pot

A candlestick lies on a workbench. The T-pieces are being affixed to the pot using a cordless two-speed drill/driver. — Almost done: just need to affix the rods using a cordless two-speed drill/driver

First, use the superglue to glue the 15mm short wooden rods to the centrally extending hole of the copper T-pieces.

Then affix the T-pieces with the AdvancedImpact 18 with a screw and washer each to the pot through the pre-drilled holes. Using the angle adapter, it’s easy to screw from the inside of the pot (see image).

The longer wooden rod is inserted into the opening of the T-piece, pointing downwards and forming the feet of the candlestick. You can either glue it into the opening or simply place it in, as the weight of the pot will fix the T-piece to the wooden rod.

Repeat this with the remaining rods and your upcycled candlestick is finished. Now light the candles and enjoy the atmosphere!