How to Make Spindle Candlesticks from an Old Chair

Create chippy candlesticks from the turned spindles of an old chair! This is an easy project even for power tool newbies!

Updated 12-22

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I love coming up with creative ways to decorate my home that cost very little (like free!) If you enjoy thrifty home decor ideas, I think you're going to love this project. I turned an old, beat up chair into a set of chippy spindle candlesticks! Keep reading to see how I made them and ideas for decorating for them all year long, including Christmas!

If you're handy with power tools, you're going to be able to whip these DIY candlesticks out in no time! However, for the power tool newbie (that's me ✋✋...and it may be you too), this is about a 2 hour project from start to finish.

Mr DIY is power tool savvy and he usually handles any cutting and drilling, etc that I need done. However, as he was out of town while I was working on these DIY candlesticks, I was on my own. Thankfully he was only a phone call away, as I did need some help!

HOW TO RECYCLE AN OLD CHAIR

Let's talk candlesticks for just a sec. We all have them, and they usually cost a pretty penny, especially if they're made of wood! Not these adorable farmhouse chippy ones I made! These ones were super duper cheap! I used the spindles from a discarded chair that had a busted seat. The Dremel Saw Max pictured below made it easy to completely dismantle the chair in just a few minutes! It was like cutting through butter! Look at all those beautiful spindles I cut off this one chair!

I see chairs like this at the curb all the time! Look for ones with turned legs or a little bit of curve as they make the most pleasing candlesticks.

I gave these spindles a chippy paint finish (find that tutorial HERE) and decided to turn the larger ones (from the chair legs) into candlesticks. Keep reading to find out exactly how to make your own wood candle holders from furniture pieces.

Supplies

you'll need 3 chair or even porch spindles
small 4" square and circle plaques, 3 of each (I found these at Hobby Lobby)
white chalk paint
stain (I used this exact one)
paint brush (this one is my all time fave!)
sandpaper (some of the plaques needed a little sanding to smooth the edges)
screws

Tools Needed

chop saw (optional)
drill
small drill bit (one of the smallest in a set)
countersink drill bit

How to Turn Chair Spindles into Candlesticks

Step One - Cut Spindles to Size

Whether you follow my tutorial above to chippy your spindles before creating the candlesticks or after, it doesn't really matter. Mine were already chippified here. I found that a couple of my spindles were too tall, so I needed to chop them down. Enter the scary chop saw. I'm kidding, I love this tool! Seriously, if I can do this YOU CAN TOO! Hold it steady, and please use protective eyewear anytime you work with power tools of any kind!!

Step Two - Mark centers

Mark center of each wood square and round and drill a hole using the countersink bit. This bit creates a larger hole so the screw can sit inside the hole...otherwise, it would make the candlesticks rather wobbly! Do this with all 3 tops and bases.

Option - you could use wood glue if you don't want to attach the pieces with screws; however, then you will need to wait for the glue to dry overnight before you can decorate with them!

Step Three - Pre-drill holes

Mark the center and pre-drill a small hole (smaller than your screw) into the spindle ends, top and bottom.

Step Four - Attach candlestick pieces together

Screw the bases and tops into the pre-drilled holes.

I put the tops on upside down, so the beveled edges were on the bottom. I think it looks better this way!

Step Five - Stain edges

Stain edges of unfinished wood tops and bases. We need to try to match the bottoms and tops with the spindles, so choose a stain that closely resembles your chair.

Step Six - Wax and paint bases

Once the stain has fully dried, apply wax to edges and paint bases and tops with white chalk paint. The wax is necessary for achieving a chippy finish (refer to THIS TUTORIAL for complete instructions).

Step Seven - Scrape off paint to chippy

Scrape off some of the paint to reveal the dark stain underneath.

That's it! Display your spindle candlesticks wherever you choose!

I know some of you will be keeping your eyes peeled for curbside chairs now! Three gorgeous candlesticks for well under $10?! YES PLEASE!

I definitely plan to make more of these beauties!

These DIY spindle candlesticks can work with any decor and any season! Here they are in a Christmas vignette. I used a jar candle on top, but you could also display them with wax pillar candles like I did above. Lots of options and wouldn't these make great gifts?