Votive Candle Holder – DIY Modern Outdoor Lighting
Updated on June 25, 2021
Outdoor lighting can be difficult to perfect, especially if you do not have any outdoor outlets. If that’s the case, then you probably stick to solar lights and (like me) candles! I wanted to come up with a modern way to display votives, something that would fit aesthetically with the rest of our outdoor furniture. So I came up with this contemporary 5-votive lighting that uses glass to reflect light and block wind. Keep reading to find out how to make one yourself.
Here’s what you’ll need for this Votive Candle Holder:
- 2 glass shelves, size 24 x 8″
- 2 pieces of wood, size 24 x 2″ (all wood should be 1/2″ thick)
- 1 piece of wood, size 24 x 3″
- 2 pieces of wood, size 4.25 x 2″
- Thompson’s Clear WaterSeal
- E6000 glue
- Wood glue
- Brush
- Sandpaper
- Tape measure
- 5 tea light candles in glass votives
- Saw (not pictured)
How to make a Votive Candle Holder: Step by Step project
Begin by cutting all the wood to size and sand it down so it is smooth. Protect it from the elements by painting on a coat of Thompson’s WaterSeal in clear. Apply it according to the instructions on the can and let it dry sufficiently before proceeding.
One everything has dried, apply E6000 glue to the 24 x 3″ piece of wood. Also, apply it to one flat side of each24 x 2″ piece of wood. Attach one glass shelf to each of these24 x 2″ pieces of wood so that they are flush with the bottom of the glass. Place the 24 x 3″ piece in between the two so that the two glass pieces are sandwiched inside of three wood pieces.
Balance them with books, and then attach the two 4.25 x 2″ endcap pieces to each end as shown above using wood glue.
The end result should look like the image above. It may be difficult to balance all of the pieces while they’re drying, so you may want to hold them up until the glue starts getting tacky.
Let the glue dry thoroughly before moving it or lighting the candles. Set the votives inside at even intervals… and your outdoor lighting is complete! Now go enjoy it out on the patio.
If you have mosquitos in your yard, then you might consider placing citronella candles in the glass votives to keep bug bites at bay. Or try colored candles for a different look. Have fun with it!
Where did you buy your glass shelves? I would love to make this :)