8 Creative Ideas for DIY Outdoor Lighting

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It’s time to get ready for warm summer evenings full of backyard barbecues, garden parties and hours of lounging on the patio. For your guests to get maximum enjoyment, check that you have comfortable seating, a curtain or screen to keep out bugs and reliable lighting. Every outdoor activity depends on your yard being well-lit. If you want to pep up your space with creative and unique DIY outdoor lighting, check out these eight ideas from Hometalk!

1. Folded Paper Lanterns

How to Make Star Lanterns via Debbie @Me and My DIY
How to Make Star Lanterns via Debbie @Me and My DIY

Perfect for hanging from branches or arranging along your porch banister, these whimsical little lanterns are an inexpensive and fun way of adding some light to your night.

Looking for more inspiration?

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2. Mason Jar Votives

Upcycled Silver Lanterns via Kim @Too Much Time on My Hands
Upcycled Silver Lanterns via Kim @Too Much Time on My Hands

Upcycle your empty sauce jars or buy a bunch of low-cost mason jars for these sweet lanterns that you can fill with tea lights or electric candles and use to line your walkway or decorate your picnic table.

3. Candle Chandelier

Outdoor Living Room Chandelier via Corey @Tiny Sidekick
Outdoor Living Room Chandelier via Corey @Tiny Sidekick

If you’ve got any old chandeliers lying around, now is the perfect time to give one a bright, springy makeover and add little glass cups for tea lights. An elegant outdoor chandelier won’t only light up your space, it will dress it up too!

4. Sparkling Garden Orb

DIY Sparkling Orb via Melissa @Empress of Dirt
DIY Sparkling Orb via Melissa @Empress of Dirt

Now, here’s a genius DIY! Use four circular planters to create this sparkling orb light by simply shaping them into a large sphere and securing them with zip ties. Then, just wind string lights around and through your creation — what a bright idea!

5. Faux Stone Lantern

DIY Faux Stone Lantern via Tara @Anything & Everything
DIY Faux Stone Lantern via Tara @Anything & Everything

Turn craft store foam boards into high-end stone lanterns with this quick and clever DIY. Make a few of these, and use them to line your walkway or your porch steps.

6. Lighted Gazing Ball

Make a Lighted Gazing Ball via Julee
Make a Lighted Gazing Ball via Julee

Buy a standard glass gazing ball from your nearest garden or craft center, and give this clever fairy light idea a go! All it takes is a string of multi-colored lights and the perfect place in your garden to add a flower bed light that you just know you’ll show off to everyone.

7. Hanging Grapevine Orbs

Outdoor Grapevine Lighting Balls via Lynne @Design the Life You Want to Live
Outdoor Grapevine Lighting Balls via Lynne @Design the Life You Want to Live

Build your own orbs from grapevine, and then use tiny fairy lights to bring them to life. These glowing grapevine orbs will look like a true fairy tale in your garden, especially if you hang them from trees or arrange them throughout plants and bushes.

8. Mason Jar Solar Lights

DIY Mason Jar Lights via Dee @ThriftDee
DIY Mason Jar Lights via Dee @ThriftDee

Add hanging lanterns to your entire yard, with these super easy DIY mason jar solar lights. Energy efficient and super chic, these little hanging lights are just the thing to create convenient pathway lighting or hang from your fence or porch beams.

For more amazing and unique lighting ideas, check out our lighting page on Hometalk!

About Tikva Morrow

Tikva Morrow is the editor for Hometalk, the largest home and garden social network on the web. Millions of homeowners and professionals use Hometalk to share their knowledge and find credible information and sources of inspiration.

Note: This is a guest post; the views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Redfin.

If you are represented by an agent, this is not a solicitation of your business. This article is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional advice from a medical provider, licensed attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional. Consumers should independently verify any agency or service mentioned will meet their needs. Learn more about our Editorial Guidelines here.
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