Upcycled Patio Lights

by Wendy at myfrenchtwist.com

6 Materials

$15

40 Minutes

Easy

Transform dollar store plastic planters into sweet hanging pendants for your patio - and it's so easy!

Spring is in the air! Before long we’ll be serving Mojitos on our balcony, and these funky little DIY lights are a great décor addition. Not only is this project easy and adorable, it’s inexpensive. The only supplies needed are plastic flower pots, spray paint, chain, S-hooks, velcro strips, and battery-operated LED lights.

My mind has been racing with all kinds of ways to decorate the plastic “shades,” from spraying them with mirror paint to decoupaging them with a graphic vintage fabric. Alas, I ended up finding some mustard yellow pots, and I used them just as they were. No painting necessary!Often, flower pots will have drainage holes in the bottom. If not, flip the pot over and drill a small hole in the center bottom. Run the chain through the hole and secure the end with an S-hook to keep the pot in place. I bought my chain for just a few cents from Home Depot. Attach a second S-hook to the other end of the chain for hanging.Lastly, attach the light to the inside of the pot with Command velcro strips. Just push the button on the light to switch it on, and you have some beautiful downward ambient lighting for your patio… for less than $7 per light.

My little urban balcony is small, but these hanging lights add a sweet touch (not as sweet as my pug spotted in the photo below!)

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Plastic flower pots (dollar store)
Spray paint (optional)
Chain
S-hooks
Velcro strips
Battery operated LED lights

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#outdoordecor #patioLights #upcycledLights

Frequently asked questions

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3 of 6 questions

Mary Suardi on Apr 17, 2017

how did you attached the led light (it looks like a flashlight)? Also, do you then have to climb up to turn them on?

1
Ardale on Jul 27, 2017

Since you drill a hole in the bottom of your pots to run your chain thru, do you have a problem with rain dripping down onto your little battery operated lights causing the to quit working? I think this is a very good idea and cute lighting but worry that the push on lights won't work long because of water getting on them.

4
Ardale on Sep 13, 2017

Wendy, could you tell me where you got your lights? I got those little puck type push on lights and made a couple of cute outdoor table lamps with them using some old but ornate cheap resin lamps I haven't used in several years. I used a clear plastic bowl for the shade, spray painted it white inside and out then added a pretty finial on top that matched the base and hung acrylic crystals around the bottom of the bowl on each table lamp and just used one of those puck lights in each lamp. The puck lights work fine in my table lamps but not sure about a hanging lamp. Your lights have a lot more bulbs in them so I imagine they'd put out more light then the puck lights do. If I can't find them then I'll go ahead and use the puck lights but I think I'll get the puck lights that come with a remote control since I'll be hanging my light above a little patio table and like you I'm fairly short and it'd be hard reaching over and above a table to turn them on and off.

1

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3 of 38 comments

Chalky-Cheek on Jun 06, 2017

Lovely idea......and so easy!

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- Wendy at myfrenchtwist.com on Jun 06, 2017
  Thanks!
  
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Krafty Kathy on Apr 05, 2020

Harbor Freight has free coupons for those little flash lights. They work great in lighting Dale Chihuly styled recycled plastic bottle sculptures. And they have magnets to attach them on things.

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