This little fall project is exactly the kind of easy win I love when life is busy but I still want my entryway to look pulled together. You’re taking ceramic pumpkin dishes from the dollar store and stacking them onto thrifted glass candlesticks to make raised autumn pedestal trays that look much more expensive than they are. The shape stays true to those pumpkin dishes, so you get that sweet seasonal look without needing any complicated cutting, drilling, or painting.
I especially like this one for a front door setup because it adds height fast. If you’ve ever set out a few mini pumpkins and a candle and thought, “Why does this still look flat?” a pedestal fixes that immediately. I’ve done versions of this when I wanted something festive in under an hour, and the glass-and-ceramic combo always gives it that polished, styled look.
Materials
2 ceramic pumpkin dishes, 8 to 10 inches wide each
Instructions
1. Wash the ceramic pumpkin dishes and glass candlesticks with warm soapy water, then dry them completely so the adhesive can bond well.
2. Wipe the bottom center of each pumpkin dish and the top of each candlestick with rubbing alcohol, then let both surfaces air-dry for a minute.
3. Set one candlestick upside down on the table and center a pumpkin dish on top of it without glue first to check the balance and overhang.
4. Run a generous ring of clear adhesive around the flat top rim of the candlestick and add a small spiral in the center for full contact.
5. Press the pumpkin dish onto the glued candlestick, centering it carefully so the stem area and pumpkin shape look even from all sides.
6. Add two short strips of painter’s tape across the join if needed to keep the dish from shifting while the adhesive sets.
7. Repeat the gluing and centering process with the second pumpkin dish and candlestick so you have a balanced pair.
8. Let both trays cure undisturbed according to the adhesive directions, ideally at least 24 hours, on a flat surface.
9. Remove the tape and gently clean away any glue strings or smudges with a dry microfiber cloth once the adhesive is fully cured.
10. Add felt pads under the candlestick bases if you’ll be placing the trays on painted wood, stone, or another surface you want to protect.
11. Style each pedestal tray with a full but simple grouping, like two mini pumpkins and a flameless candle on one, and layered faux leaves with a small pumpkin on the other, so the height and pumpkin shape still show.
Variations & Tips
Make a matched pair: If your thrifted candlesticks are slightly different, keep the heights within about 1 inch of each other so the set still feels intentional at the front door.
Choose the right adhesive: I always check that the glue specifically works on both glass and ceramic. This is one of those tiny details that saves a lot of frustration later.
Keep the trays useful: These are best for lightweight decor like faux florals, mini pumpkins, wrapped treats, pinecones, or flameless candles, not heavy outdoor lanterns.
Try a softer color palette: If your pumpkin dishes come in cream, white, or muted sage, use those with clear candlesticks for a more neutral fall look that still reads seasonal.
Add front-door polish: I like to repeat whatever is on the tray somewhere nearby, like a matching mini pumpkin on the step or the same leaf tones in a wreath, because it makes the whole entry feel styled instead of random.
Use indoors too: These look just as cute on a console table, kitchen island, or dining table centerpiece if you want to move them inside after the porch season is over.