The easiest, cheapest landscape lighting hack ever. Set a few of these glowing outdoor orbs in your backyard and they'll have more impact than installing an outdoor kitchen and an infinity pool. Not really. But still - they're really nice and quick to make.
Get ready for it ... this one's a doozy. Doozie? Doosey. It's a humdinger. THIS is one of the posts that put me on the map when I started my blog over 10 years ago. Between this post and How to Make a Personal Fire Pit I was the reigning Queen of Pinterest for the summer of 2010. Or maybe it was 2011. Either way I wore a sash and started picking out Corgi names.
All of this from old light shades and string lights.
It looks high end with a side of huge impact, It costs next to nothing, And even if being "handy" to you means replacing your regular lightbulbs with eco-friendly ones ... you'll be able to do this in 3 minutes flat.
That's right. Some old glass shades, some old (outdoor) Christmas lights and BAM. You're a backyard badass baroness. (There can only be one Queen)
In my attempt to make my backyard a teensy bit more contemporary than my 180 year old house I ran into a few problems. Contemporary outdoor lighting is EXPENSIVE. That's what led me to creating my own.
If I'm gonna shell out a whole whack of cash for something in my backyard it's gonna be on a tenderloin for the BBQ. Or a better BBQ. Or a talking parrot who refers to me as Princess Leia. It isn't gonna be for lighting if I can help it.
So while perusing the local second hand store I came across some truly unfortunate stains on the carpet AND the ubiquitous opaque glass shades. You've probably thrown a few out in your lifetime. Stop doing that. Stop it right now.
And here's the best part! You know those stupid, anger inducing mini lights you have shoved in your basement? The ones where only half of the string lights up? Yeah, um ... this is a perfect use for them. PERFECT!
Just stick the glass shades anywhere you want and stuff them full of mini lights. Attach an extension cord if you need to and hide it under your garden dirt or mulch. I have my lights on a timer so they come on every night at dusk.
Would you like to save this stuff?
We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
When I first made these 10 years or so ago solar lighting was pathetic. 3 legged dog in the rain pathetic. Now they're a lot better and they'd be a good way to light these up as well as long as you have a place you can place the solar panel that gets a lot of sun. In the case of my backyard that isn't a good option.
These are the solar powered lights I'd use if you have enough sun.
I pulled the HUGE orbs you see in the second photo near the top of this post out of someone's garbage.
They look beautifull. And it wasn't a fluke that I found these in a second hand store. Every time I've gone into a second hand store I've noticed these shades there. Goodwill, Salvation Army, random Bible Stores ... they're always in there.
Flea markets have them as well! They're usually around $1 - $3 each.
If you don't have a second hand store near you, you can order these shades on Amazon. But the price fluctuates wildly. Sometimes you can get them for $4.99 each for a 6" shade and sometimes they're over $20. And it would be stupid to spend $10 - $15 when you can spend $1 - $3. Right?
Plus reduce, reuse, recycle and all that stuff. If a second hand store doesn't have them now they will, just keep checking back.
Trust me. Queen Princess Leia wouldn't lie to you.
p.s. Look here to learn how to turn these same glass shades into a birdfeeder and Look here to learn how I used them in the winter!
Becky @ Ballistic Gypsy
heh, thats like dumb easy. sheesh. Its times like this (after spending hours in Lowes looking a lighting ideas) that you just want to do a major face palm.
Karen
Becky - I know. I did that exact thing when I thought of it. Then I jumped up and down and squealed! :) ~ karen
Jen Hoover
this is super coolness!!
however, take my advice and just get a recorder device, NOT a parrot ;)
from jen a parrot owner!
Karen
Jen - Hah! My dentist has a parrot. It's outlived most of his relatives. ~ karen
Nancy
Love this! And your courtyard is FAB-U-LOUS. i am totally gonna copy it in my backyard. So if you find a random post somewhere that looks like your garden reproduced in Middle Tennessee... you can totally blame me.
Karen
nancy - Got it! I'll keep a look out for it next time in Middle Tennessee. :) ~ karen
Tracy
fabulous! This is def going into my lazy girl garden/backyard project! =) (even the bird feeders)
Genine
This was the best tip ever. Thank you for sharing :)
Karen
You're very welcome Genine. It is pretty, good isn't it, LOL? ~ karen
Valerie
This is genius! Thank you so much for sharing!!!
ceng
I forgot to ask. Did you do that backyard by yourself!!!???
Karen
Ceng - I did do the backyard myself. If you search "my backyard" or "my backyard like an idiot" you'll find the post on it. ~ karen!
ceng
I loved this idea and your site. tks I can't wait to see winter yard ideas.
Gina Smitasin
Love this idea and your yard.
AGN
LOVE your black circle chair hiding in the shadows. Where did you get it?!?!!?
Karen
Well, AGN ... I found it at the side of the road. :) ~ karen
Lindsay
This is such a good idea!So amazing for a for a front door or back steps is what I'm thinking.
Karen
Thanks Lindsay - Yup ... I've moved them all around the yard and house! If you search for my "outdoor planters" you'll see how I used them in my holiday planters. ~ karen
Bridget
I just found you through Pinterest, I love this idea, so simple yet stunning!! Way to go! I wish I hadn't thrown out those half lit light strands last winter! I will be trying this a soon as I find some orbs. Did you already make the winter version?
Oooh, I bet it would look awesome with colored lights??
Karen
Thanks Bridget! I did do the winter version. Here it is. https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/outdoor-holiday-planters/ :) And ... here's another way to use the shades for the summer. https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/outdoor-orbs-part-ii-how-to-make-a-birdfeeder-from-glass-shades/ ~ karen!
Susan
I love, love, love these lights. I also love that you made them out of things that readily available and *CHEAP*!!!
You have a new fan in me ;o)
Teresa
I love this idea! I've actualy bought two new lampshades as there don't seem to be any in the junk shops (I'm in the uk) ....would you believe my mini christmas lights have way too many lights on the string (I was jamming them into the shades and still had loads left over!)....so I am going to have to buy some new ones..... I don't care though as it will still work out cheaper than buying new garden lights.....I hope!
Karen
Teresa! My mini lights were too long too! Just keep adding more shades until you have enough to accommodate all the lights! Or bury the lights under mulch. That's another way to go too. :) ~ karen
Teresa
Ok... good idea! (better than just breaking the extra lights - which I had thought of doing.... :-S)
Love this website btw...have passed on to friends.
Karen
Thanks Teresa! I can use all the readers I can get. ~ karen!
Cindy
I LOVE the way these look! You're so smart!
thezenofmaking
Lovely! Thanks so much for sharing.
Karen
You're very welcome! No sense keeping all this information to myself. ~ karen
Sarah
Wow! I love this! This past January I bought solar powered mini lights from Canadian Tire - I might have to dig those out and use them! Perfect solution, when you don't want to run power cords, I just bought a house and I am fixing up our yard, it was a mess, and this is just what it needs to bring it up another level. Looks like I am stopping by Habitat for Humanity after work today!
Karen
Sarah - Last time I was in Habitat for Humanity they had ~scads~ of these lights! ~ karen
Sarah
I'm from the Sarnia area, and they always have lots of them! I'm heading there tonight!
Cerise
Fantastic idea! I'll be on the hunt for those glass shades! I already have a box full of those silly Christmas lights.
Laura
Thank you this is perfect! I want to have my wedding in a clearing in the woods. I want to have the path to the clearing lit with different kinds of things producing white light. These are perfect! I am going to use this idea for sure!
Thank you so much! I love them!
Karen
Laura - You're welcome! I think a wedding in the woods sounds beautiful. You're right! These orbs would be perfect. (provided you have a source for electrical) ~ karen!
Angela H.
Oh, this is awesome. I'm totally pinning it -- and I got here from the CRAFT blog, which is also awesome.
Karen
Thanks Angela! I'm actually going to show yet another fantastic thing you can do with these orbs on Thursday! ~ karen