By The London Home Edit
Introduction: The Power of a Christmas Glow (and Why TikTok Can’t Stop Talking About It)
If there’s one thing that makes a UK home feel instantly festive, cosy, and expensive without costing a fortune, it’s candlelight. Every December, TikTok explodes with candle hacks, floating centrepieces, DIY snowy votives, and scent hacks that make a home smell like a luxury department store for under £5.
But here's the problem…
Beautiful Christmas candles from brands like The White Company, Jo Malone, and even high-street favourites like M&S can easily cost £25–£60 each. And when you want your whole home to smell and look festive? It gets very expensive very quickly.
That’s why DIY Christmas candle hacks are going viral. They’re:
✔ ridiculously easy
✔ renter-friendly
✔ safe when done with LED candles
✔ completely budget-friendly
✔ stunningly aesthetic for TikTok and Pinterest
✔ perfect for UK small flats and family homes
In this guide, I’m sharing 5 of the most viral TikTok Christmas candle hacks, rewritten with:
✨ UK shopping links
✨ UK materials
✨ fully step-by-step instructions
✨ styling ideas
✨ safety notes
✨ Amazon Affiliate placeholders
✨ internal/external link placeholders
✨ image placeholders
And yes — every hack costs between £0–£5 to recreate.
Let’s make your home glow like a winter wonderland.
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| A warm and elegant Christmas candle setup featuring floating candles, cinnamon-wrapped pillars, and soft ambient lighting — the perfect hero image for your festive DIY hacks. |
HACK 1: The Floating Candle Centrepiece Dupe (The TikTok Viral Classic)
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| A beautiful floating candle Christmas centrepiece featuring cranberries and rosemary — an affordable viral TikTok-style festive decor hack. |
This is the candle hack that took TikTok by storm — a luxury-looking centrepiece you can create using:
✔ a tall glass cylinder
✔ water
✔ greenery from your garden
✔ leftover cranberries
✔ floating tea lights or LED tapers
It looks like something out of a £200 designer tablescape, but you can create it for £3.
How to Make It
1. Fill a tall vase or wide jar with cool water.
2. Add fresh rosemary, pine sprigs, or eucalyptus.
3. Add fresh or frozen cranberries (they float beautifully).
4. Place one floating candle or a slim LED taper on top.
5. Style multiple vases of different heights for a tablescape.
Why UK Mums Love It
✔ looks expensive
✔ fills a dining table instantly
✔ safe if you use LEDs
✔ perfect for last-minute hosting
✔ renter-friendly
Use LEDs because they’re safe around greenery.
🔗 Try this:
Click here for the bestselling LED taper candles every UK home is using this Christmas
This hack looks perfect on dining tables.
🔗 Explore my budget table styling ideas:
→ budget Christmas serveware
HACK 2: The Cinnamon Stick Candle Upgrade (Scent + Aesthetic in One)
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| A simple DIY Christmas candle hack — wrap a plain white pillar candle with cinnamon sticks and twine for an instant rustic, cozy, festive look. |
This is one of the world’s simplest candle hacks — but one of the most beautiful.
You take:
✔ a plain pillar candle
✔ cinnamon sticks
✔ twine, jute rope, or ribbon
And wrap the cinnamon around the candle body for a rustic, cosy Christmas look.
How to Make It
1. Stand your pillar candle upright.
2. Place cinnamon sticks vertically around the candle.
3. Secure gently with twine or ribbon.
4. For extra scent, tie in a star anise or dried orange slice.
Why This Hack Works
✔ smells incredible without burning
✔ looks like a £20 The White Company candle
✔ costs pennies
✔ perfect for: coffee tables, small flats, entryways
Grab this cinnamon & twine pack to recreate the exact TikTok look
HACK 3: The Festive Scent Infusion Hack (The White Company Vibes)
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A festive candle surrounded by dried oranges and winter spices — the perfect budget-friendly Christmas glow for any UK home.
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If you want your home to smell like Winter, Fir Tree, or Highland Escape, this hack is for you.
Instead of burning £30 designer candles, you hack the scent around any plain candle.
How to Make It
1. Place your candle on a small plate or shallow bowl.
2. Surround it with:
✔ dried oranges
✔ cinnamon
✔ pinecones
✔ cloves
✔ star anise
3. Add 2–3 drops of essential oils:
✔ orange
✔ clove
✔ fir tree
✔ cinnamon
When the candle warms the bowl, the scent gently releases.
Why This Hack Works
✔ smells like a luxury candle
✔ flame never touches the ingredients
✔ safe for renters
✔ cheap and reusable
This hack pairs perfectly with budget scent dupes.
🔗 See my list of The White Company scent dupes UK
→ The White Company scent dupes
HACK 4: The Budget Pillar Candle Trio (The High-End Minimalist Look)
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| A simple trio of neutral pillar candles on a wooden board — an elegant, budget-friendly Christmas styling idea. |
This is the classic "expensive minimalist" look:
A trio of pillar candles in varying heights on a wooden platter.
What You Need
✔ 3 pillar candles (different sizes)
✔ small wooden tray or chopping board
✔ optional: dried foliage, mini baubles, pinecones
How to Style It Like Pinterest
Rule of 3: always use 3 candles
Vary the heights: 10cm, 15cm, 20cm
Add just one festive touch: simplicity looks expensive
Keep colours neutral: white, ivory, sand
Why UK Homes Love It
✔ perfect for small spaces
✔ renter-friendly
✔ safer with LED candles
✔ works in bedrooms, living rooms, hallways
HACK 5: The Snowy Jar Candle Hack (Only £1 to Make!)
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| A magical frosted Christmas jar candle made with Epsom salt and an LED tea light — the perfect budget-friendly snowy glow for your festive décor. |
The cheapest hack in this entire guide — but one of the most magical.
How to Make It
1. Rinse an empty jam jar.
2. Add 1–2 tbsp of Epsom salts ("fake snow").
3. Place an LED tea light inside.
4. Optional:
✔ sprinkle glitter
✔ add twine
✔ glue a snowflake charm
✔ add frosted effect with chalk paint
Why It Works
✔ costs almost nothing
✔ looks magical
✔ safe (LED only)
✔ easy for kids to help with
✔ straight from TikTok
THE £5 DIY CHRISTMAS CANDLE KIT LIST (Everything You Need)
These are all highly affordable and widely available in the UK.
plain pillar candles
https://amzn.to/43UO89p
LED tea lights or tapers
https://amzn.to/4ampMJz
cinnamon sticks
https://amzn.to/3M0dsVt
twine / ribbon
https://amzn.to/48lzDwz
dried oranges
https://amzn.to/4pIcOKQ
rosemary sprigs
https://amzn.to/4otVyYG
cranberries
https://amzn.to/3Md42G0
jam jars
https://amzn.to/4pfSCQG
Epsom salts
https://amzn.to/49SixJn
essential oils
https://amzn.to/4a5A2Gf
wooden serving board
https://amzn.to/3XsCRth
FAQs: Your Candle Questions, Answered
1. Is it safe to put dried oranges around a candle?
Yes — as long as the flame does not touch them. Always keep flammable décor outside the melt pool radius.
2. Do floating candles work with LED lights?
Yes! Slim LED tapers or waterproof LED tea lights are the safest option.
3. What is the cheapest candle hack?
The Snowy Jar Hack — it costs £1–£2.
4. How long does the floating centrepiece last?
24–48 hours if kept cool. Add fresh rosemary to refresh.
5. What are the best essential oils for Christmas?
Orange, cinnamon, clove, pine, fir tree.
Conclusion: The Glow Your Home Deserves (For Less Than £5)
Christmas doesn’t need to be expensive to feel magical. With these 5 viral Christmas candle hacks, you’ll create:
✨ cosy ambience
✨ designer-level styling
✨ luxury scents
✨ warm festive glow
✨ Instagram-worthy décor
All without overspending.
These hacks work beautifully in UK flats, new builds, family homes, and rentals. Whether you’re hosting or simply want a cosy evening in, you can make your home shine like a Christmas catalogue without buying pricey candles.
If you want more festive inspiration:
🔗 Read next: budget Christmas serveware
🔗 And also: The White Company scent dupes
And don’t forget:
Follow The London Home Edit on Pinterest for more Christmas DIY ideas.
Affiliate Disclaimer (Place at the bottom of your post)
This article contains Amazon Affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting The London Home Edit.
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