Vintage-style candlesticks

Our living room is ready to party

These striking candlesticks are so easy to make and are a perfect project for upcycling beginners. They look great grouped together, so make a few in different heights for an impactful display in a colour scheme to match your décor.

Yo u w i l l n e e d

z Stair spindle z Ruler or tape measure z Pencil z Saw z Sanding block z Grab adhesive z Square deck post cap z Small terracotta plant saucer z Mini tart tin, £10.99 for four, Lakeland z Artisan metal primer, £9.50 for 400ml, Craig & Rose z Matt emulsion paint – we used Damson Dream 1, Sapphire Springs 1 and Paradise Green 1, all £2.02 for 30ml, Dulux z Frensheen mineral powder in Gorgeous Gold, £9.95, Frenchic z Clear Wax, £14.95 for 400ml, Frenchic 1 Use a pencil and ruler to measure and mark your desired candlestick length on the spindle. You should be able to cut at least two candlesticks from one spindle. Use a hand saw to carefully cut your spindle using your pencil marks as a guide. Once you’ve made your cuts, sand any rough edges smooth using a sanding block.

2Using a grab adhesive, such as No More Nails, glue the bottom of your candlestick to the centre of a square deck post cap and leave to dry.

3Attach a small terracotta plant saucer to the top of your candlestick using grab adhesive and leave to dry. Next, glue a small tart tin on top of the saucer and leave it to dry thoroughly.

4Working in a well-ventilated room with open windows, or even better outside, apply a coat of metal primer evenly all over

1 2 the candlestick, taking particular care to thoroughly coat the metal tart tin, and then leave it to dry.

5Apply two coats of your choice of emulsion paint to the candlestick, allowing it to dry thoroughly between coats. Tester pots are ideal for this project.

6Mix a teaspoon of Frensheen gold pigment powder with a teaspoon of clear finishing wax to form a metallic paste. Then, using your fingertip, highlight any protruding surfaces on the candlestick with the metallic paste to create an aged effect. You only need a tiny amount of paste to produce a lovely antiqued look, don’t use too much or you’ll lose the subtlety. Finish off by gently wiping the waxed areas with a soft cloth to work the wax into the surface of the candlestick and to remove any excess.