Every year, I swear I’m gonna be that person who has her Thanksgiving table looking like something straight out of Southern Living.
And then November rolls around and I’m scrambling at Target grabbing whatever’s left on the clearance endcap. But this year? This year I’m actually ahead of the game, and I found the most gorgeous ways to make candle holders that look expensive but cost basically nothing.
My cousin Maya texted me last week asking for “cozy fall vibes but make it budget-friendly,” and honestly, that’s become my whole mood this season. So I’ve been experimenting with pumpkins and leaves, and oh my gosh, the results are chef’s kiss. Let me share what’s been working because these are too good not to pass along.
1. Pumpkin Taper Candle Holders with Florals
You know those fancy floral arrangements you see at weddings that cost more than your car payment? This gives you that exact same energy for like $15. I grab a handful of those mini pumpkins from the farmer’s market, slice off the top, and scoop out all the guts. Then I stick tall taper candles right in the center and hot glue some faux fall flowers around the base.
The trick is matching your flowers to whatever vibe you’re going for – I did deep burgundy and gold last weekend and it looked so rich and moody. Plus you can totally reuse these through Christmas if you swap out the flowers for some pine sprigs.
2. Carved Mini Pumpkins for Tea Lights
This one happened by accident when I was carving jack-o’-lanterns with my niece and we had all these tiny pumpkins left over. Instead of letting them go to waste, I carved out little wells just big enough for tea lights. The glow is absolutely magical, especially when you cluster different sizes together.
I scattered them down the middle of my dining table with some mini gourds and those gorgeous red oak leaves I collected from my morning walks. It looks like something you’d see at a fancy farm-to-table restaurant, but it literally took me twenty minutes while watching Netflix.
3. Simple Pumpkin Candle with Votive
Sometimes the most elegant things are the simplest, you know? Those white baby boo pumpkins are perfect for this – just pop off the top, drop in a votive candle, and boom. Instant sophistication. I love how clean and chic they look, like something you’d find in a boutique hotel.
Pro tip I learned from my neighbor: save those cute little stems and glue them onto fake pumpkins later for decorating. Waste not, want not, right?
4. Grapevine Garland Pumpkin Candle Holders
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I saw something similar at this cute little shop in Santa Fe and knew I had to recreate it. Using foam pumpkins (because let’s be real, they last forever), I painted them in this gorgeous sage green and stuck glass cylinder holders right in the center. Then I wrapped grapevine garland around the base – it gives it this perfect rustic texture that feels very “cabin in the mountains.”
Making a few different heights creates this beautiful layered look that photographs so well. Trust me, your Instagram is gonna thank you.
5. Drilled Pumpkin Candle Holders
Okay, this method is for my fellow perfectionists who want everything to look neat and tidy. Remove the stem, drill a hole exactly the size of your taper candle, and slide it right in. If it’s a little wobbly, just stuff some foil around the base to keep it steady.
It’s the quickest method I’ve tried, and the results look so polished. My mom saw these at my place and immediately wanted the tutorial because they looked “store-bought fancy.”
6. Pumpkin Candle in a Leaf Wreath
There’s something so grounding about this one – maybe it’s all those earth tones, or how the textures play together. I make little wreaths from dried herbs from my garden (or honestly, sometimes just the stuff I find on hiking trails), and nestle a pillar candle right in the center.
It reminds me of those meditation retreats where everything feels intentional and peaceful. Perfect for when you want your dinner table to have that same calming energy.
7. Cinnamon Stick Wrapped Candles with Leaves
This idea came from my friend who’s always burning those expensive fall candles, but I wanted something that actually smelled like cinnamon without the crazy price tag. Wrap cinnamon sticks around pillar candles with some twine, set them on wooden coasters, and surround with dried leaves and mini pumpkins.
The smell is incredible – like apple pie and campfires had a baby. And it looks so intentionally rustic, like you spent way more time on it than you actually did.
8. Mason Jar Pumpkin Candle Holders
Sometimes you just need something that feels familiar and homey, you know? I painted mason jars in those perfect autumn colors – burnt orange, deep yellow, rich brown – and filled them with candles. Then I clustered them with pumpkins and whatever pretty leaves I could find outside.
It’s giving “cozy farmhouse” without trying too hard, and honestly, that’s exactly the vibe I want my whole life to have.
The best part about all of these? You probably already have half the supplies at home, and the other half costs basically nothing at the grocery store. Plus, there’s something so satisfying about making beautiful things with your own hands instead of just buying them off a shelf.
Now excuse me while I go light all eight of these and pretend my apartment is a rustic cabin in Vermont instead of a rental with questionable heating. Sometimes you gotta create your own magic, right?
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*Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you join Rakuten through my link — but it doesn’t cost you anything extra. In fact, you’ll actually save more!
