After my mom passed away, I inherited china… a lot of china. This included multiple full dinner sets of fine china, everyday dishes, plus five complete tea sets in a variety of pretty patterns (we’re British, after all).
If you’ve ever inherited a box of china, or found yourself drawn to sweet individual teacups and saucers at thrift shops and tag sales, here’s a creative way to put them to use… turn them into teacup tower candlesticks! Inspired by the (infamous) trinket and treasure towers from Anthropologie a few years back, these whimsical candlesticks built from cups, saucers, and serving pieces are a functional and lovely way to add cottage-y, vintage charm to your home décor.
Choose all one pattern or mix-and-match. This project can also be customized for any season. Use holiday-themed china for festive Christmas décor, or try pastel cups for springtime.
Best of all, a little teacup candlestick DIY is easy, affordable, and a quick project for beginners.
Materials You’ll Need
- Teacups and saucers (can also incorporate a teapot as a base, sugar bowls, creamers and more for an eclectic look)
- Small glass candlestick holders
- Strong adhesive (I like to use E6000)
- Level
- Candles (tapers or tealights, depending on your design)
A Quick and Easy DIY Process
Choose the cups and saucers you’d like to use. They can all be from the same set for a polished, elegant look, or you can embrace a quirky feel by combining different patterns, sizes, colors, and shapes.
Pay special attention to the type of rim on the cups. These will need to remain level and form a tight seal with the piece above.
Play around with the pieces before gluing, to decide which design you like best. You can alternate cup-saucer-cup, or glue cups together right sight up and upside down interspersed with saucers.
Also, anchor the piece with a saucer (or teapot!), working from largest to smallest, for stability.
When you’re satisfied with your design, apply a generous but even layer of strong adhesive to the bottom of the teacup, then carefully press it into the center of the saucer. Use a level (in both directions) to check that it’s level before the glue sets. Remove any excess glue with a damp towel. (No drilling required!)
If you’re adding a candlestick holder, glue it inside the top cup.
Craft your tower somewhere that the piece won’t be disturbed. Follow the adhesive’s instructions for curing time and err on the side of caution (E6000, for example, feels tacky after 10 minutes, but full curing takes 24 to 72 hours).
Once your candlestick is set, insert your taper candle into the holder. (If needed, drip a little melted wax into the holder before inserting the candle to keep it extra secure.)
A grouping of these candlesticks in various heights make an eye-catching centerpiece on your dining table, arrange several along a mantel, or use a matching pair on the sideboard.
Easy DIY teacup tower candlesticks are proof that unique, beautiful things can be made from bits and bobs you already have. They’re affordable, beginner-friendly, and endlessly customizable. Making them is also slightly addictive. So, create some for yourself or share a few, as they make thoughtful, personalized gifts!
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