DIY Free People Inspired Mini Bow Candleholders

Christmas has been in full swing since November at the Rondez house! Christmas cheer has taken over the Rondez house since November. Every year, I start decorating for fall in September, and by November, it's all about Christmas. I know I get teased for this early start, but honestly, I love having more time to enjoy my Christmas decor rather than limiting it to just one month!

If you’ve been keeping up with trends for 2024, you know bows are everywhere! I nearly made it through the year without buying anything bow-related... until I saw these gorgeous Free People candleholders. That was it. I had to have them. But at nearly $100 each? No way! So, I decided to make my own. Below, I’m sharing a step-by-step tutorial with links to all the tools and materials I used!

Supplies:

• Bow Candle Holders (I got mine from the dollar section at Target, but this candle stick holder I found on Amazon looks identical to mine!)

• Acrylic paint of your choice (I used [insert color name here])

• Rub’n Buff Gold (optional, but highly recommended!)

• Small foam brushes

• Sandpaper

• Bow-shaped taper candles

• Cotton swabs

If you’re using candleholders with a shiny chrome coating like mine, you’ll want to sand it off. I bought mine from the Target dollar section, and they had a glossy chrome finish. To remove it, grab your sandpaper and start sanding the candleholders gently. I spent about 20 minutes to sand two of them, but if yours is already matte, you can skip this step and move on to Step 2!

Once your candleholders are sanded, it's time to paint! This step can be a little tricky, but don’t worry—I’ll walk you through it. Using a small foam brush, don’t brush the paint on; instead, dab it onto the surface. You will get much better coverage with dabbing the paint on versus brushing it on. I applied about 4-5 coats, allowing each layer to dry completely before adding the next. You’ll know it’s ready when there’s no white showing through, and your candleholder is fully covered!

This step is optional, but if you love a touch of gold during the holidays like I do, you’ll want to try it. Grab your Rub’n Buff and a few cotton swabs. Squeeze out a tiny amount onto a plate—seriously, a little goes a long way! I learned that the hard way, so be careful not to overdo it. Gently apply the gold to any areas you’d like to highlight. Once you’re happy with the look, let it dry completely. And voilà—you’re done!

To preserve your beautiful DIY bow candleholders, be sure to use drip-free candles. Trust me—I learned this the hard way. You can find drip-free tapers on Amazon, or even at HomeGoods!

Now, you’re all set to add a festive, personal touch to your holiday decor with your DIY bow candleholders—all at a fraction of the cost of store-bought ones! And personally, I think the ones I made ended up looking better than Free People’s. 😉