Farmhouse Candlesticks

Whenever I stop by my local thrift store, I am always mindful to keep an open mind. I try to go in to the store with a list of specific items—chances are you won’t find them. Since I however, visit thrift shops frequently, I have found some staple items that always seem to land in my basket. Wooden candlesticks are a BIG go to item for me. You can easily gift them to friends, make small cake/cupcake stands out of them, or up-cycle them for fun holiday presents! These adorable chalk-painted candlesticks are a fun way to add a vintage touch to any room. You don’t have to use these candlesticks for just candles either, add a small topiary ball to the top for a pop of greenery on your coffee table.

Here are a few tips when searching for wooden candlesticks at your local thrift store:

Be sure to check over the wooden for wetness or dampness. If you see dark mold spots, walk away! Water can cause wood to expand and become moldy which can leave dark spots under the paint—and it’s a bit yucky.

Also, this may seem really weird, but hear me out—-smell the wood! If you are like me and come from a non-smoking family, you might be surprised to find that wood is porous and holds smells. Once, I bought a large wooden picture frame to hang a wreath on…weeks later I kept walking by and smelling smoke (come to find out it was the frame!)

Supplies

1. Waverly Chalk Paint (Acrylic Based) Elephant Color
2. Waverly Wax (Water Based) White
3. Wooden Candlesticks ($2.00 at my local thrift store)
4. Drop Cloth (optional)
5. Fine Hair Brushes (I use the Waverly brand)
6. Test Wood (If you are not familiar with colors, you can use it on a test piece of wood before you decide to use it on your project)

Directions

1. I prefer to work outdoors because chalk paint fumes give me a headache! So, I lay my drop cloth over a work table or bench.
2.  I then begin by wiping down the piece with a damp wet cloth or Lysol wipe to remove excess dirt/dust. Once the surface is dry (usually I allow 10-12 minutes after I wipe down) I get my base color ready.
3. Using my brush, I apply the base color (Waverly Elephant) onto the wooden candlestick. I applied two thin coats to the entire piece.
4. If you would like a smoother surface for your final product, you can use fine grit sandpaper, for these—I didn’t use sandpaper since these sticks were pretty smooth when I began and I like a few nicks and dings (it adds to the farmhouse feel). My coats were really thin so you can actually still see some of the natural wood showing through!
5. Once your base color is completely dry (usually 1-2 hours) you can apply the wax. I wanted my candlesticks to be a warmer grey color, so I decided to go with a white wax instead of a clear wax. The white wax softens the cold grey color and gives it more of a romantic feel. I only applied 1 coat of the white wax and wiped it away in certain areas to show the wood underneath.