Aside from the rainy season, there’s nothing better than spending evenings in my backyard. As the days warm up, it’s the perfect opportunity to plan barbecues or casual outdoor gatherings with family and friends.
Setting the right mood with lighting is essential for any space where you’ll spend time, and your backyard is no exception. From string lights to lanterns to creative repurposed chandeliers, here are ten DIY ways to add a touch of homemade charm to your outdoor space.
These DIY lighting ideas are budget-friendly and use simple materials—some are even made from recycled items like Mason jars, wine bottles, and even hula hoops turned into chandeliers. Keep your backyard lively well into the night, and you’ll be glad you added these unique lights.
1. Upcycled Plastic Bottle Frosted Garden Lights
Source/Tutorial: easypapercrafts
Recycle plastic bottles into cute party lights. It isn’t tough and can be made in less than an hour. These frosted garden lights will look so stunning at night. Start by trimming the bottles and then apply a coat of frosted spray. This is so easy to do DIY, which helps to make such gorgeous outdoor lights. Are you going to upcycle your old plastic bottles today?
2. Repurposed Tomato Cage Outdoor Chandelier
Source/Tutorial: consumercrafts
You can make this rustic chandelier for your garden by reusing your old metal tomato cage. It’s a simple yet beautiful DIY outdoor lighting project. You can add other materials to decorate it more.
3. DIY Tiki Torches
Source/Tutorial: adventures-in-making
Make these tiki torches with old glass bottles, replacement wicks, and tiki torch oil. Trust me, they are so so easy to make. They just look awesome! And they’re the perfect backyard lighting and decoration for summertime. Next time when you enjoy a refreshing beer with friends, remember to save the bottles to make these nice DIY outdoor lights.
4. DIY Citronella Candles
Source/Tutorial: gardentherapy
If your favorite thing in the summer is warm nights outside, then likely one of your least favorite things is getting eaten alive by mosquitoes. Making citronella candles in cans is a great recycling project that is inexpensive and effective, and it works as a great DIY backyard light project. These Citronella candles are perfect for lighting up your garden. It’s super easy to make. You can reuse empty tin cans or mason jars to save some money. I think it’s an adorable way to upcycle tin cans.
5. DIY Colorful Sunshine Jars
These little jars contain solar lights. Don’t you think they will look great in your garden? Use tissue or crepe paper to make the sunny golden effect. These lights are great to place in your garden. Source/Tutorial: foxandfeather
6. Adorable DIY Cupcake Lights
You need very little time to make these cupcake lights, and it hardly cost any. Start with some cupcake liners and clear lights. Trust me, they look so stunning in the night. Hang these lights on the porch or stakes or trees. If you’re using these indoors – the paper liners are fine. However, outdoor use won’t stand up to rain – so you’ll have to slip them off when you’re through. Video/Tutorial: cfabbridesigns.com
7. Upcycled Pickle Jar Stained Glass Lanterns
Empty pickle jars are of great use to make these lights. You need colorful tissue paper triangles to make these giant pickle jar DIY lanterns. Source/ Tutorial: hellonatural.co
8. Recycled Tin Can Lanterns
If you have some used tin cans, then you can turn those old empty tin cans into these gorgeous little lanterns for your garden. It’s going to be a really fun DIY recycling project to try. Source/Tutorial: growcreative
9. This DIY Washi Tape Lantern
Combine washi tape and a glass jar, and you’ll have a beautiful lantern. Find a washi tape with a nice pattern, and be sure not to repeat the pattern when you tape it onto the glass jar. When done, light a tea light and set the mood. Follow this tutorial for further instructions. Source/Tutorial: morningcreativity.com
10. Cute DIY Shuttlecock Garden Lights
I think these shuttlecock lights are so perfect for your garden. They are super easy to make. You do need a bunch of shuttlecocks. Shuttlecocks are not that expensive. Once you have them, then you just add garland lights.
Source/Tutorial: kittenhood.ro
Pin This Collection of DIY Garden Lighting Projects for your reference.
