Thrifted brass candlesticks are one of those finds I can never pass up. They’re sturdy, usually inexpensive, and they have wonderful shape—but that bright brass finish can feel a little formal or dated if you’re after something softer and more collected. This painted treatment gives them a chalky, timeworn surface that feels much more relaxed and current, while still letting all that beautiful turned detail do the work.
I especially like this project for anyone who wants an easy seasonal centerpiece with real presence and almost no learning curve. If you can stir paint and brush on a thin coat, you can pull this off in an afternoon, and the result looks far more bespoke than the effort would suggest.
Materials
Instructions
1. Wipe each brass candlestick clean with a dry cloth so the paint can grip the surface evenly, and make sure there’s no dust, wax, or oily residue left in the grooves.
2. In the paint cup, stir together the cream paint and 3 tablespoons of baking soda until you have a thick, smooth, matte mixture about the texture of pancake batter.
3. Brush the paint onto the first candlestick in thin, slightly textured strokes, working it into all the ridges and curves without letting it puddle.
4. Paint the remaining three candlesticks the same way, covering them fully from base to cup, then stand them upright and let the first coat dry for 20 to 30 minutes.
5. Add a second coat to all four candlesticks to build a more stone-like finish, using the tip of the brush to leave soft variation rather than a perfectly flat painted surface.
6. Let the second coat dry completely for about 1 hour, then lightly sand the high spots and edges with fine sandpaper to soften brush marks and reveal a gently worn finish.
7. Set the candlesticks in a row from tallest to shortest or in a clustered arrangement, depending on where you plan to display them, and adjust the spacing until the heights feel balanced.
8. Insert the taper candles, using three purple and one pink for a traditional Advent look or all white for something quieter and more neutral.
9. Tuck the faux evergreen sprig loosely around the bases, weaving it through the grouping so it frames the candlesticks without covering their shape.
Variations & Tips
Color choice: Cream is especially convincing for this finish, but soft mushroom, warm white, or pale greige also give the same stoneware effect if they suit your holiday decor better.
Paint texture: If your mixture feels draggy, add a teaspoon of paint at a time until it brushes on smoothly; if it feels too thin, sprinkle in a little more baking soda and stir well.
More aged character: After sanding, dry-brush a tiny amount of thinned taupe paint into the deeper grooves and wipe it back off for an older, pottery-like patina.
Candle fit: If a taper is too loose, wrap the base with a little masking tape until it sits firmly; I do this often with thrifted holders because the cups are rarely identical.
Display tip: These look best when the heights step up noticeably, so choose candlesticks with clear variation rather than four that are nearly the same size.
Seasonal swap: After Advent, keep the painted candlesticks out and replace the colored tapers and evergreen with white candles, eucalyptus, or a ribbon for winter tables that still feel special.