Christmas Brass Decor Ideas: 9 Ways to Use Brass This December

Four kinds of brass piece do most of the work at Christmas: candle stands on the table, hanging bells on the door, a Jesus or nativity figure in the prayer corner, and an urli of floating candles as the centrepiece. The nine ideas below are arranged by spot in the house. Christmas is on Friday 25 December 2026, and every piece here stays in use long after the tree comes down.

Why brass works with red, green and candlelight

Brass is a warm yellow metal. It sits easily beside red ribbon, pine green and white linen, and it throws candlelight back into the room instead of absorbing it. It is also heavy, so a stand does not tip when someone reaches across the table. Most of all it is not seasonal. The same stands hold candles at a dinner in March.

The dining table: candle stands in pairs or threes

• 1. A matched pair. Two stands of the same height, one on each side of the centrepiece. This is the simplest table and the hardest to get wrong.
• 2. A group of three. Three stands in stepped heights at one end of a long table or on a sideboard, with greens at the base.
• 3. One at every other place. Short holders down the length of the table for a large dinner.

The lighting range has 35 candle stands and holders from ₹230, from 1.2 to 25.5 inches tall. They are not all brass: 18 are brass, 10 aluminium and 7 iron, and each title names the metal. See the candle stands collection.

The front door and windows: hanging bells

• 4. Bells on the door. Tie a cluster of three small bells to the wreath or the door handle with red ribbon, so they ring when the door opens.
• 5. A string in the window. Hang bells at different lengths from the curtain rod, with a strand of greens.

There are 126 bells from ₹110. The hanging bells come with a chain or loop, which saves you tying knots around a clapper.

The prayer corner: Jesus, Mary and cross figures

• 6. A nativity corner. Set a Jesus, Mary or cross figure on a shelf or side table with a white cloth, one candle stand on each side and a few fresh flowers. Churches and prayer groups often use a larger figure on the altar table.

The Jesus and Christmas range has 24 pieces, all in pure brass, from 5.6 to 19 inches and from ₹550. Pick the height by the shelf: the figure should stand a little taller than the candles beside it.

The centrepiece: an urli with floating candles and greens

• 7. A floating-candle urli. Fill a brass urli three quarters with water. Float tea-light candles, add red rose petals or cranberries, and lay pine or fern around the rim. It works on the dining table, the coffee table or by the front door.

Use an urli wide enough that the candles do not touch the rim, and put a mat under it. Empty and dry it the same night.

Gifting: small brass pieces for Secret Santa and neighbours

• 8. Secret Santa. A single small bell or a short candle holder fits most office gift limits and is easy to wrap.
• 9. Neighbours and church friends. A pair of candle holders or a small curio, boxed with a card.

The Christmas brass decor collection gathers the lighting, Jesus and Christmas figures, bells and curios in one place. It asks for orders by 18 December for delivery before the 25th.

Polish before the party and store after

Check first whether a piece is lacquered. Lacquered brass needs only a soft dry cloth. Raw brass takes lemon and salt or a brass polish, then a full rinse and an immediate dry. The method for each kind of piece is in how to clean brass.

After the season, scrape candle wax off with a wooden stick, not a knife. Warm water loosens what is left. Dry each piece, wrap it in cloth and store it on a dry shelf. Avoid plastic bags, which trap moisture.