Upcyled Garden Lamp Posts

4 Materials
$20
4 Hours
Easy

I am always trying to find ways to incorporate fun solar lighting into my patio space and each year I remove some of the older lights that don't work anymore and create more. This is a fun process for me.


These old lamps were just hanging out in the garage doing nothing so I decided it was their turn to be upcycled! They were perfect for little solar lamp posts.

The first thing that needed to be done was to remove the electrical parts of the lamp. So I cut the cord at the top up where the light bulb goes and pulled it out the bottom of the lamp.


I also removed the pieces that holds the shade and the spot where the bulb would be screwed in.

Next they got a light sanding to help the paint grab on and then a good cleaning! They needed it.

I purchased some solar lights at Menards for the top piece. They needed to be taken apart for painting. This involved removing the solar "lid" piece and removing one screw from the bottom. After that I was able to take out the glass piece inside.


I masked off the solar part of the "lid" piece so it wouldn't get painted.

Everything got a couple of coats of Apple Green spray paint. I love this color.

The next step was to add the solar light to the top of the lamp post. We needed a piece that would fit inside the bottom of the solar light but still allow us to fit it onto the post.


We were unable to find a piece that was just right that would fit onto the threaded tube inside the lamp so PVC was going to be our next choice. I think that would have worked nicely so if you make these look for that.


We had another option. We have a 3D printer so my husband printed a piece to fit.

Then we mixed up some epoxy and glued it onto the lamp.

I love the way they turned out! They are perfect by my back door.

I love looking at them each time I walk in and out of the house and am so glad I took the time to make them.


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Michelle James
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  3 questions
  • Yvette Mozol Yvette Mozol on Jun 29, 2019

    Is the part your husband printed, the clear light under the solar light & how did you decorate the inside. Did you use the base of the solar light to insert in the bottom of the glass piece.

  • Penny Mintyala Penny Mintyala on Jun 29, 2019

    Have you ever tinted or used a color on the solar glass? If so, would you use inside or outside of the solar lamp? This is incredibly nice looking. Love your art metal cats?

  • Jerry Russo Jerry Russo on Jun 30, 2019

    Where did you get that spring head cat sculpture?

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3 of 34 comments
  • Judy Judy on Jun 23, 2021

    Now I know what to do with the lamps I have been saving! Too cute...Meow

  • Lynn Lynn on Jun 23, 2021

    Thank you. I am inspired! Question.....if/when the rechargeable batteries need replacing, how do you access it?

    • Michelle James Michelle James on Jun 26, 2021

      Hi Lynn. Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I got the message at work and kept forgetting to check when I got home. The top part of the solar light comes off with a little twist. That is where the battery part lives. I have never had to replace anything and have been using them constantly for 2 years.

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