An All Souls’ Day candle holder doesn’t have to be complicated or overdone. With moss, cones, twigs, bark and a few autumn plants, you can easily create a tasteful and natural memorial decoration. The following 20 ideas show you how to combine these materials in bowls, baskets or on wooden bases.
What You’ll Need
- a stable bowl, tray, basket, wooden base or a piece of log,
- a candle in a tall glass or a grave candle with a cover,
- moss, cones, bark, acorns, chestnuts and dried leaves,
- conifer branches, heather, small twigs and lichen,
- depending on your chosen style, white flowers, rose hips or dried flower heads.
1. Candle Holder in a Birch Frame: Place a taller glass candle holder in the center of a round base. Line the edge with pieces of light birch bark and fill the inside with moss, greenery, heather and lichen. Highlight the front with cones and white flowers.
2. Decoration on a Wooden Slice: Stand a grave candle in a glass on a thick slice of tree trunk. Arrange spruce branches, moss and a few cones around it. A thin branch with rose hips will add a gentle touch of autumn color.
3. Rusty Bowl with Heather: Generously line a shallow round bowl with moss and place heather at the back. Set the glass with a candle slightly off-center, leaving space for cones, bark, small light plants and a dried oak leaf.
4. Candle Holder in a Wicker Basket: Fill a low oval basket with greenery and place a covered candle in the center. Distribute cones on both sides and soften the front with white flowers. Let some twigs gently hang over the edge.
5. Simple Decoration on a Stone Base: Place a cylindrical glass with a candle on a flat dark stone. Spread a thin layer of moss around and add twigs with lichen, acorns, a cone and a few dried oak leaves.
6. Lush Version with Dried Flowers: Border an oval base with birch bark. Place the candle in glass on one side and balance the other side with dried flower heads and greenery. Fill gaps with moss, cones, bark and delicate twigs.
7. Wreath of Mixed Cones: Place a glass cylinder with a candle in a low round container. Fill the entire rim with cones of various shapes and sizes. Use moss as a soft filler to cover the base and highlight the brown tones.
8. Wooden Crate with White Flowers: Line a shallow square crate with moss. Place a candle in glass in the center and arrange greenery, bark, cones and rose hips on the sides. Two groups of white flowers create a balanced composition.
9. Heart-Shaped Candle Holder: Fill a wicker heart with moss and small tufts of heather. Place the candle in glass at the top and decorate the tip of the heart with white flowers, greenery and three cones. Tuck pieces of bark between the plants.
10. Natural Candle Holder in a Stoneware Bowl: Place moss in a deeper rustic bowl and set a round glass candle holder in the center. Decorate the edges with juniper branches, cones and a piece of bark. Let the branches extend freely over the bowl.
11. Autumn Decoration with Chestnuts: Place a tall glass cylinder on an oval wood slice. Create a ring of moss and conifer branches around it. Add chestnuts, cones, an acorn and dried oak leaves to the front.
12. Pair of Candles in an Elongated Container: Arrange two candles in glasses of different heights in a long stoneware dish. Fill the space between them with moss, greenery, bark and cones. Add white flowers to one end to keep the decoration from looking too symmetrical.
13. Heather Candle Holder with Jute Detail: Fill a round base with moss, greenery and two tufts of pink heather. Place a grave candle in the center and lay bark with cones in front of it. You can wrap the edge with a jute ribbon and a simple string.
14. Twig Fence: Stand short pieces of branches upright around a round base and tie them together with string. Place a glass candle holder inside and fill the surroundings with moss, greenery, cones, delicate plants and light flowers.
15. Heart Edged with Birch Bark: Line a heart-shaped base with light bark and fill with moss. Place the candle in glass at the back. Lay a twig with cones and bark in front, and add greenery and white flowers to one side.
16. Dark Bowl with Rose Hips: Line a low dark bowl with moss, leaving space in the center for a glass candle holder. Arrange cones, chestnuts, bark, heather and rose hip branches around. The red berries add a bold yet natural accent.
17. Simple Forest Decoration: Place a tall glass cylinder with a candle in a shallow wooden bowl. Cover the base with moss and add greenery, acorns, lichen, dried flower heads and oak leaves in a loose arrangement for a very natural look.
18. Birch Candle Holder with Heather: Wrap a round base with a wide strip of birch bark. Place a covered candle in the center and fill the surroundings generously with moss, heather, greenery, lichen and white flowers. Place small cones lower at the front edge.
19. Candle Holder in a Hollowed Log: Use a hollow piece of old wood as a container. Fill the inside with moss, place a glass candle holder in the center and arrange large cones, greenery and white flowers on the sides. The striking bark becomes the main decoration.
20. Oval Basket for a Festive Look: Place a covered grave candle in a low wicker basket. Arrange greenery, heather, moss and cones around the edge and add two light flowers to the front. Pieces of birch bark on the rim tie the basket to the forest materials.
Final Tip
When arranging, start with the largest elements and work your way to the smallest. First, firmly set the glass candle holder, then add greenery and bark, fill gaps with moss, and finally arrange cones, fruits and flowers. Outdoor decorations will gradually dry out, so adjust them from time to time and remove any damaged parts.
Always place the candle in a non-flammable and stable glass container. The flame must be kept at a safe distance from moss, dry leaves, twigs, flowers and bark. Never leave a burning candle unattended, and in windy or very dry weather, choose a safe light source without an open flame.
