41 DIY Outdoor Lighting Ideas

Looking for some DIY lighting ideas for outdoors? When it comes to cool lights for your patio, porch, pool or backyard, what you find at local hardware stores and even specialty shops is usually not that impressive. When it is, often a single light will cost you several hundred dollars. If you want the best DIY outdoor lighting ideas, so you can have great looking lighting that is unique, inexpensive and refective of your style, then check out this list of 41 lighting ideas you need outside your home.

DIY Outdoor Lighting Ideas

1. Recycled Wine Bottle Torch

designsponge

Recycled Wine Bottle Torch, a backyard evening glow, quick enough to finish before nap time and a keepsake worth handing down

My favorite remake of a tiki torch, this wine bottle torch is so pretty, I’ve added 8 of them around our recently installed deck. If you want something super cool but cheap, make the DIY torches for your yard or backyard patio. You can even add citronella oil to them and keep away the bugs. We love being able to eat outside and have friends over without worrying about having the mosquitos join us.

2. $10 and 10 Minute Solar Chandelier

downhomeinspiration

$10 and 10 Minute Solar Chandelier, quick enough to finish before nap time and warmth that a plain corner was missing

An outdoor lighting idea that is quick, easy and cheap, this DIY chandelier can be yours by this weekend. Follow the step by step tutorial to learn how to make your own.

3. DIY Mason Jar Solar Light

findinghomefarms

DIY Mason Jar Solar Light, easy to scale up for a full batch and a finishing touch that ties the room together

If your patio or yard needs some gorgeous lighting, it does not get much better than this solar mason jar light. I made four of these with some pretty vintage jars that have a slight blue-green tint to them and am now wishing I had a few more. When I got to use them last summer at our pool parties, people could not stop commenting on them when they lit up at sunset.

4. Solar Mason Jar Lights

Sueeye

Solar Mason Jar Lights, a backyard evening glow, a fast weekend build even for a novice and a detail guests always ask about

Another inexpensive but really fabulous lighting idea that uses mason jars and solar power, this one casts a pretty patterned glow on your table. I highly recommend making a few now so you will have them for your next outdoor dinner party under the stars.

5. Outdoor Rope Light

christmaslightsetc

Outdoor Rope Light, flexible enough to fit whatever materials are on hand and a piece worth keeping out on display

Rope lighting can be found easily at your hardware store, but the one I bought never looked quite like this. When you light up a walkway properly, the effect can be transformational. I love this idea because it also makes it much easier to walk in the dark 😉

8. Easy DIY Porch Light

allthingsheartandhome

Easy DIY Porch Light, forgiving enough to redo without wasting materials and proof a small change makes a real difference

9. DIY Succulent Chandelier

erineverafter

DIY Succulent Chandelier, a backyard evening glow, a fast weekend build even for a novice and a keepsake worth handing down

10. Back Patio Light

twotwentyone

11. Hang Patio Lights

christmaslightsetc

Hang Patio Lights, gentle on the budget and the clock alike and a project that earns its spot on a shelf

12. Lighted Ladder Gate

kojo-designs

Lighted Ladder Gate, a backyard evening glow, simple enough for a first attempt at the idea and a keepsake worth handing down

13. Mobile String Light Poles Easy DIY

youshouldgrow

Mobile String Light Poles Easy DIY, cheap to pull off with items from a bargain aisle and a detail guests always ask about

14. Outdoor Fairy Lights

gardenexperiments

Outdoor Fairy Lights, quick to set up on a rainy afternoon and personality a plain space was missing

15. Tin Can Lanterns

growcreativeblog

Tin Can Lanterns, a backyard evening glow, no special skills needed to pull this together and a keepsake worth handing down

16. Paper-Bag Party Lights

marthastewart

Paper-Bag Party Lights, easy to pull off during a single afternoon and a detail guests always ask about

17. Cupcake Liner Lights

cfabbridesigns

Cupcake Liner Lights, budget friendly using stuff already sitting in a bin and a detail guests always ask about

18. Glowing Outdoor Orbs

theartofdoingstuff

Glowing Outdoor Orbs, a backyard evening glow, quick enough to finish before nap time and a keepsake worth handing down

20. Backyard String Lights on Posts

Taryn Whiteaker

Backyard String Lights on Posts, easy to scale up for a full batch and a keepsake worth handing down — Edison string lights on posts above a gravel patio at dusk. (Image credit: Taryn Whiteaker)

String lights remain the cheapest thing you can do to a backyard and still the most effective, and putting them on your own posts is what makes the difference between deliberate and temporary. Black poles set around the edge of the patio carry the runs at a proper height, so nothing sags off a fence and a tree and the layout is yours rather than dictated by whatever happened to be standing there. Warm edison bulbs at dusk do the rest of the work. Taryn Whiteaker has the how-to.

21. Homemade Rope Light Sign

abeautifulmess

Homemade Rope Light Sign, a beginner friendly build with no special tools required and a piece worth keeping out on display

22. DIY Outdoor Solar Chandelier

simpledetailsblog

DIY Outdoor Solar Chandelier, a backyard evening glow, quick to set up on a rainy afternoon and a keepsake worth handing down

23. Cozy Patio Lights

fixaodona

Cozy Patio Lights, forgiving enough to redo without wasting materials and proof a small change makes a real difference

24. DIY Outdoor Light Poles

cityfarmhouse

DIY Outdoor Light Poles, a fast weekend build even for a novice and a look that beats anything from a store

25. Mini Mason Jar Garden Lights

jennifersmentionables

Mini Mason Jar Garden Lights, a backyard evening glow, quick to set up on a rainy afternoon and a keepsake worth handing down

26. Old Lantern Lights

goodlifeofdesign

Old Lantern Lights, gentle on the budget and the clock alike and a project that earns its spot on a shelf

27. DIY Icicle Chandelier

theprojecttable

DIY Icicle Chandelier, simple enough for a first attempt at the idea and style that outlasts the trend it started with

28. DIY Mason Jar Tiki Torches

thefrugalhomemaker

DIY Mason Jar Tiki Torches, a backyard evening glow, quick to set up on a rainy afternoon and a keepsake worth handing down

29. Lighted Side Table Using Grapevine Orbs

allthingsheartandhome

Lighted Side Table Using Grapevine Orbs, quick to set up on a rainy afternoon and personality a plain space was missing

30. Beer Bottle Lights

beth.paperangelsvlog

Beer Bottle Lights, no special skills needed to pull this together and an accent that makes the whole room feel finished

31. Outdoor Globe Lights

lowes

Outdoor Globe Lights, a backyard evening glow, easy to pull off during a single afternoon and a keepsake worth handing down

32. Outdoor Dining Room Lights

thriftydecorchick

Outdoor Dining Room Lights, budget friendly using stuff already sitting in a bin and a detail guests always ask about

33. Backyard Patio Makeover With String Lights

pbjstories

Backyard Patio Makeover With String Lights, quick enough to finish before nap time and warmth that a plain corner was missing

36. Outdoor Hula Hoop String Lights

afterdorms

Outdoor Hula Hoop String Lights, a backyard evening glow, easy to scale up for a full batch and a keepsake worth handing down

38. Starry Lights

restorationhardware

Starry Lights, a beginner friendly build with no special tools required and a finishing touch that ties the room together

40. Solar Light Planter