DIY Wooden Wall Sconces: A Magnolia-Inspired Dupe You Can Make for Less

What makes a series? Two projects? If that's the case, welcome back to my little Magnolia-inspired DIY series!

I saved these beautiful wooden wall sconces from Magnolia sometime last year with every intention of recreating them, and I finally got around to making them. I absolutely love the scalloped edge detail and the old-world charm they bring to a space. They have that perfect mix of vintage cottage style and timeless character that makes a room feel instantly cozy.

The best part? These DIY wooden wall sconces are surprisingly easy to make and cost a fraction of the price of the originals. If you have some scrap wood sitting around and a couple of hours to spare, this is the perfect budget-friendly home decor project.

After I finished them, I couldn't decide where I liked them best, so I moved them all around the house and tried them in several different spots. I'm sharing all of those locations at the end of this post, and you'll have to help me decide which one wins! Be sure to leave a comment and vote for your favorite.

Ready to make your own Magnolia-inspired wall sconces? Here's everything I used:

Supplies:

This template I created for you linked here

Printer/paper/pencil/scissors

1x10 pine board about 24 inches long

Small cup or bowl

Scroll saw or jigsaw

Sander

Wood glue

Wood stain

Tops from a candlestick

Super glue

Supplies linked below:

Step 1:

Download, print, and cut out the template.

Step 2:

Trace the template onto your pine board. I did two sconces, so I traced it twice.

Step 3:

Using the edge of the template cutout, line it up on the corner edge of a blank piece of paper. I did this from the middle of the largest bumpout and then traced it down to the edge. This is about 7" long, but can be made shorter.

Step 4:

Get a small bowl about 2.5" in diameter, trace it, cut it out, and then fold it in half. This should fit on top of the previous cut out from step 3. 

Step 5:

Trace these out onto the pine wood along the edges and corner to minimize cuts.

Step 6:

Using proper safety equipment, use a scroll saw or a jigsaw to cut out the pieces carefully.

Step 7:

Here are all the pieces cut out.

FYI I'm going to give you a big heads up right here. You can do it how I have it shown in the following steps, but at the end, I realized I wanted more space for a taller candle, so I ended up flipping the "bracket" to the other side of the half circle. So...from here on out, even though you see the photos with them like this, just know you should have the bracket on the other side :)

Step 8:

Use a fine grit sandpaper, sand all the pieces, and round out the edges.

Here's a good before and after of the sanding and what a difference it makes.

Step 9:

Next step is to secure all of the pieces with wood glue.

You can clamp them into place, but to speed up the process I just used my bradnailer with 3/4" brad nails into the back. 

Step 10: 

Apply stain. I used Minwax Dark Walnut. I then realized how dark it was, and went over it immediately with a clothe. It's still pretty dark...so if you don't want it this dark, look for a lighter stain :)

Step 11:

Grab the top piece of a candlestick. I got these off of Amazon. You can also just cut off a piece from a cheaper dollar store one. If you do this, you'll have to drill into the top of the half disk to put it on. 

These ones below had a thick enough bottom that super glue had a place to hold. So I used it to secure it into the middle of the disk.

Now add a candle! This being made of wood with stain, do not use an actual flame against it. You can easily tuck in a plate between the wood and candlestick top if needed before you light a flame. But make sure the plate is secure in some way.... Otherwise, use a battery operated candle! Works great and is safe! Or if you just want the look and no flame, use a candle that has already been lit with the dark wick and wax drips. 

Now for the fun part of figuring out where to put this. Here are the three places I'm thinking. 

The first is this unfinished gallery wall in my bathroom above my tub. 

Second place is on both sides of my bed by the small gallery walls above my nightstands.

Third is in my front room flanking these paintings. 

What do you think? I'm seriously torn! Might have to make more to put them in all three spots! Let me know if you end up making these and tag me in social media so I can see them! 

Pin for later:

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”