DIY Garden Lanterns are a cheap and easy way to brighten your yard. They’re also perfect for creating ambiance at a party, adding security when you have guests, or simply bringing some light into an otherwise dim space. There are many DIY Garden Lantern Ideas to create lanterns; the main materials you need are glass or metal containers and an electric light source. Most types of glass will work, but it’s essential not to use colored or painted glass as that can lead to fire hazards. Metal containers look great on their own, and they’ll enhance the glow of any electric lights you use inside them.
These DIY Garden Lantern Ideas are perfect for adding a soft glow or extra light to any area in your yard. This post will show you how to make stunning lanterns from various materials, including wood and terracotta pots, large glass bottles, and tea lights. All these materials are inexpensive and easy to find at any hardware store, dollar store, or craft store. If you want to add some decorative lighting to your yard but do not spend much money, consider making your own. This can be as simple as placing candles on a tree stump or hanging glass jars from the branches of an old tree.
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Garden lanterns are a great way to add light to your space without installing permanent fixtures. In addition to being easy and inexpensive to make, they can be customized in any shape or size you like. You can create a variety of different styles so you can find the one that best fits your style and design goals. Some materials are more fire resistant than others, so be sure that the materials used in your project meet the safety requirements in your area. These DIY Garden Lantern Projects are also particularly easy because they require little skill or training, and most importantly, they can be finished in one sitting!
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Whether you plan on creating a string of fairy lights for an outdoor wedding or evening party or just need a little extra light to illuminate your yard, we’ve compiled the most unique DIY Garden Lantern Ideas from all over the internet. With everything from rustic wooden candle holders to delicate twinkling tea light chandeliers, these DIY Garden Lantern Plans are perfect for any occasion and easy enough for anyone who knows how to turn a few simple tools into something amazing!
If you love the look of string lights but don’t have the power supply, or if you just want to add some unique lighting to your home, try making these simple DIY Garden Lantern Ideas perfect for any backyard gathering or night party!
Upcycled Beer Bottle Garden Lights
This easy craft project is one that you can do with your kids, and it will give you beautiful fairy lights for your garden. It takes just a few minutes to make and costs less than $10. You start with empty – and clean – beer or wine bottles and then fill them with clear or colored Christmas tree lights. You get beautiful lighting for your outdoors; it is eco-friendly because you are reusing old glass bottles, and it’s simply beautiful. The results will be stunning, and you can reuse those empty bottles simultaneously!
Birthday Hat Café String Lights
It’s a cake shaped like a hat. And, even better, it has colorful paper hats inside. So why not make string lights out of them? The Birthday Hat Cafe String Lights are perfect patio or garden decorations that add a little flair to your yard parties. Simply punch holes in the hats and string them onto a clear set of lights. Hang them on the porch or from a tree limb and watch people smile. Perfect for parties and other events, these lights are sure to keep your guests talking all night long.
DIY Mason Jar Chandelier
If you love the look of a chandelier, but can't afford to make a significant investment in one, consider making your own DIY mason jar chandelier. Mason jars come in various sizes, so this project is easily customizable. Drill holes in your mason jar lids and then attach them with twine or rope. Use LED string lights to illuminate the jars, and then hang your creation above any room that needs a bit more light or style. It’s a fun weekend project with your family that will surely be the centerpiece at any party or event.
DIY Grapevine Garden Lights
Our DIY Grapevine Garden Lights are a fun way to add color, texture, and shine to your outdoor space. Easily create them using a grapevine wreath, inflatable beach ball, and floral wire. Simply form the grapevine wreath around the beach ball or deflated balloon, then burst it or remove the air from the balloon and insert your lights. These gorgeous garden lights will surely be a show-stopper at parties, weddings, and more! It’s amazingly simple.
Mini Fabric Garden Lamps
Small plants and flowers help give our gardens a bright and cheery look. Using fabric scraps, clear lights, and Mod Podge, you can add a touch of color to your outdoor space with these mini fabric garden lamps. With a drill and some basic craft supplies, it’s easy to transform plain plastic cups into stunning garden lights that are perfect for hanging on the deck or stringing throughout your flower garden. This incredible project is simple, easy, and inexpensive to create; you’ll have more time to spend in your garden!
Repurposed Shot Glass Nautical Lights
These delightful nautical lights are repurposed from real shot glasses and come in a set of 2. They measure 2.5 inches tall and 1.5 inches wide and are battery operated, so you can easily place them anywhere you’d like to add some coastal flare to your garden, balcony, or porch area. They have anchor, sailboat, and other beach-themed designs, are made from glass, so they’re safe for outdoor use, and come with all batteries included! You can pick up these lovely outdoor lights at Etsy for just over $20.
DIY Fabric Chinese Lantern
This simple lantern is an easy project for fabric scraps left over from other sewing projects. Just cut the fabric into strips and wind them around the wire to create a globe shape. Trim around each decoration with pinking shears so the edges do not fray. Display your creations with colorful lights around the garden, or string several together to light up an entire area. You can customize them any way you like so they work best in your space or with the theme of your party.
Glowing Garden Light Orbs
You don’t need to wait for Halloween to light up your garden. These DIY Glowing Garden Orbs are unique projects that look great on any night of the year, not just in October. You don’t even have to buy the glass shades; any clear jar will work. Simply insert a strand of holiday lights inside and place them in your garden for an attractive glow. If you want more of a challenge, you can use plastic tubing instead of glass jars for a more permanent option, but both are simple projects.
DIY Hanging Railing Lanterns
If you’re looking for a unique accent for your home, consider building this DIY hanging lantern. You can use various jar shapes and sizes to give them a unique look and keep it all together with a few supplies like wire, candle holders, and candles. Use battery-operated votive candles if you want to save yourself the trouble of having to put these up every night. These are great for lighting your deck or hanging off your porch railing.
Easy Succulent Chandelier
A succulent-filled chandelier creates the perfect candlelit ambiance for your home or patio. Fully customizable, this design can be built from any piece of wood, in any size or shape your heart desires. The chandelier is hung from an overhead beam, while the candles are housed in small glass bottles on the hanging vines. Succulents are attached with wire and thread to sit perfectly in place and can be removed for regular cleaning by simply unwrapping them from their hook on the top tier.
Hula Hoop Garden Lighting
This easy DIY project will turn an old plastic hula hoop into a gorgeous chandelier for your garden! You’ll wrap clear Christmas lights around the hula hoop and hang it from your deck or patio. Hanging this light fixture is as simple as tying some rope to the hook on top of the hula hoop, then threading twine through the handle and tying it onto something sturdy. You can have this finished in no time; just make sure you plan where you will hang it first, so you don’t have to re-do any of it due to space constraints!
Upcycled Outdoor Tuna Can Lantern
This Upcycled Outdoor Tuna Can Lantern is the perfect way to create elegance, style, and ambiance in your outdoor space. Created using an old tuna can, a cheap glass globe, and a paint stick, this lantern will take home décor projects to new heights. Circles of light are projected by LEDs inside the globe, creating a romantic setting for nighttime dinners under the stars or intimate gatherings with family and friends sitting around your fire pit.
DIY Outdoor Cupcake Lights
Whether you have a party coming up or just want to add some flair to your backyard or garden, these outdoor cupcake lights are the perfect decoration. All you need are some paper cupcake liners and string lights to create a fun and festive look. Use them in the backyard or front porch at night to add sweet lighting. They make the perfect addition to any outdoor celebration, so pack them up when you head out on the trail, too!
Solar Powered Steam Punk Style Lighting
The solar-powered lantern is made using a vintage metal pipe, and the handles can adjust their height. The lighting fixture inside the lamp is powered by solar energy, meaning you don’t need to install any wiring to make this lamp work. The solar panel is long enough to span the length of your fence. Four lights are mounted on it, one at each corner of the panel. A 5-foot cord connects the solar panel to a 12v DC power adapter (included) that powers a fan that blows air through the tube to create a blizzard of dancing snow inside the lights.
Easy Glow In The Dark Planters
Brighten up your garden with this fantastic Glow In The Dark Planters. An easy way to dress up ordinary planters and make them look like you spent all day on them. All you need to do is add 4 or 5 coats of glow-in-the-dark paint, letting them dry well between coats, and then set them outside in your garden or on your patio for the beautiful lighting at night. Once the paint is dry, you can set these planters in your garden or patio for beautiful nighttime lighting.
Upcycled Liquor Bottle Light
This excellent plug-in light can be used in the yard or on your porch. The frame of each light is made from repurposed glass, and they can hold various liquor bottles to achieve a unique look. If you want to create a beautiful and unique decorative light for your garden, then this is likely just the right product. Find a small bottle to be held in your hand and large enough to fit a bulb and a socket. This low voltage LED light uses less energy than most other sources – equivalent to a 1-watt incandescent bulb.
DIY Decoupage Mason Jar Lanterns
Subtle and stunning, these decoupage mason jar lanterns are the perfect way to light up your outdoors. You can use whatever pictures you want – from magazines and old newspapers to actual pictures of your family – and then add them with Mod Podge. Once your pictures are all added, just stick in a tealight or small votive candle for lighting, hang or sit wherever you need them - they’ll provide a bit of ambiance while simultaneously making your entranceway or front door look that much more stylish.
Rustic Twine Jar Lanterns
The idea behind this project is to create a rustic and charming porch light for the garden. Mason jars can be purchased at the supermarket, craft store, or dollar store. Simply wrap some twine around the jar and hang it from your porch, using whatever method is best. Votive lights or tealight candles can be placed inside to add a little ambiance near your front door. It's an easy project you can do with little to no crafting experience!
Easy DIY Origami Mini Lanterns
These miniature lanterns are easy to make and make a stunning addition to any party. Made with just card stock paper and clear lights, this project is so much easier than it looks. These origami mini cubes are perfect for hanging outside on a warm summer night, or you can use them indoors during the holidays to bring warmth to a cold room. All you need is cardstock and clear lights. Hang them outside or use them indoors to add depth to any room. Plus, they’re great as nightlights!
Pottery Barn Inspired Rustic Lanterns
Get your outdoor decor up to speed with these Rustic Mason Jar Lanterns. Whether you’re hosting a wedding or setting the mood for summer, these lanterns are perfect for indoor and outdoor entertaining. They offer the rustic look of quilts and braided rugs, but their handheld design means they can go just about anywhere. Constructed from a durable polyester cord, these lanterns feature rope hangers for hanging or tabletop placement. They’re perfect for decorating your garden, patio, or backyard; each comes with a free metal stand.
Garden Polka Dot Mason Jar Lanterns
Add a little polka dot pizazz to your backyard with these easy lanterns. Mason jars are a classic, inexpensive and versatile choice for crafting and decorating, but you can take them in new directions by adding dots or other shapes to the glass. These mason jar polka dot lanterns are perfect for a country garden space. They will add charm and interest wherever you place them. Hang them in any shady area or near your back door for a quick light source.
Tissue Paper Jar Lanterns
Always think about reusing items that we get when we buy things. This lets us save money, and it creates less waste. One great example is the tissue paper that comes inside of gifts. Instead of throwing it away, you can use this to create lanterns using Mod Podge or glue. This way, you’re reusing something that would have ended up in the trash. Simply insert a candle, and your home will instantly transform into an ambiance-filled setting.
DIY Outdoor Globe Lights
Are you looking for a DIY project to bring the garden lights? Grab your supplies and make these unique industrial-style tube lights. These outdoor Globe lights are perfect for lighting up your walkway or putting in your garden to add some flair. It's a simple build that you can finish over the course of a couple of hours, even if you've never built anything before. You can even add lights on the inside, so they're perfect year round!
Rustic Twine Lights
Make your own rustic twine lights for Christmas using a few balloons and twine. Blow up some balloons to the size you want your lights, then fill them with water and add some glue. Let the mixture sit a few hours to dry before wrapping in twine. Once they're ready, pop the balloons and add clear Christmas lights. Hang up your new rustic twine lights as an elegant addition to any room this holiday season. You could even take this idea and make it in different sizes for different occasions!
Easy Scrap Wood Luminaries
Every December, we see many people making these lanterns as gifts. They’re easy to make and require very little time or effort. You can assemble them with simple tools like an electric drill, saw, and sandpaper. The basic design features two pieces of wood that interlock together and are held together at one end with a bolt. A candle sits in the center with its own holder, which is also incorporated into each interlocking piece for extra stability.
Upcycled Bicycle Rim Lighting
A handcrafted, collectible piece of outdoor art. This old bicycle rim has been cut in two and turned into a unique chandelier-type lantern for the porch or garden. The light is perfect inside or out, hanging from trees or poles, on mantles, and more. It holds small jelly-sized mason jars with a tealight candle that can be easily changed to match your decorating style. A cedar board is attached for hanging this unique light fixture anywhere.
Glowing Seashell Table Lantern
Warm up your home or office with this high-quality seashell table lantern. The sturdy base features an oversized shell, allowing you to showcase a sand-filled shallow tray and various seashells elegantly. This beautiful centerpiece is sure to create the perfect mood for any occasion. Perfect for your backyard parties and impromptu get-togethers, this exquisite lantern can be used inside or out - it's sure to make a statement wherever you use it.
Rustic Metal Star Lantern
This Star Lantern is large enough to hold a small votive candle or a light tea candle. It has a rustic, country feel and looks. The star is cut from card stock and punched with holes to attach the tin star accents. It’s easy to make and will look great hanging in the bed of your truck or on a porch or veranda all year around. Create this lantern by simply cutting out the pieces with scissors, then assembling each piece with glue.
DIY Clay Pot Lamp Shade
You can transform a boring old terra cotta pot into an outdoor light fixture with a few essential supplies and instructions. It just takes paint, a drill, and some other simple tools. Take an old terra cotta pot and turn it into a beautifully colored lamp shade that adds light to any room. Simply paint the outside, then add your choice of lighting on the inside. You can use anything from an Edison bulb to a string of solar lights for easy maintenance, and your garden or patio will look stunning at night with this simple DIY light.
Upcycled Tin Can Tea Lanterns
These adorable lanterns were created by upcycling empty tin cans. You simply cut the cans vertically and then use a heavy object to crush them a bit. Then just add your tealights and string them up. These would be beautiful hanging in the garden from a tree, trellis, or on the back deck. This is perfect if you are looking for something to do with those cans that would typically get thrown away! Just add a little creativity, and they will be no longer useless but handy!
