Do-it-yourself garden lantern - detailed instructions with photos and videos

How to make a street lamp with your own hands

You can surprise your loved ones not only with pleasant little things, but also with voluminous gifts, which will undoubtedly be useful in the household. This is exactly what garden lamps are considered to be, because lighting devices for summer residents are an irreplaceable attribute that will organically complement any area. To please relatives or friends, we suggest you consider master classes on how to make a street lamp with your own hands.

Types of street lamps

A street lamp must easily cope with and withstand weather conditions such as heavy rain, wind, snowfall, hail, high and low temperatures, and various types of physical impacts.

One of the most popular types of lamps for street lighting are wall-mounted devices that are installed near doors, in gazebos, and on buildings near paths. Such lighting is good because the lamp takes up practically no space, and its location does not in any way interfere with movement around the yard.

Wall lantern made from cans, an original solution

Thanks to the lampshade, the light is perfectly diffused and well illuminates a fairly large area, and by placing several of these lamps on the porch, you can easily organize an evening dinner outside or immerse yourself in your favorite book.

Floor lamps

Well suited for illuminating paths, flower beds, various bushes or for installation in gazebos and near benches. Such devices look almost the same in appearance as home floor lamps, but their shade is made of glass or plastic and completely covers the light bulb and all wires from moisture getting inside.

Outdoor floor lamp made of wire and LED garland

Ground lamps for cottages and homes have quite a wide range of possibilities. Using such lighting, you can illuminate the facade of the building, highlight the main objects in the yard, divide the area into zones, create various glow effects, etc.

Pendant lighting fixtures

Pendant lighting fixtures are usually used under various covers, such as a gazebo or porch. They have a structure similar to a regular chandelier, can accommodate several light bulbs, and serve as the main source of light in your area.

Glass bottle pendant lights

Possible light sources

In this case, there is also no shortage of applicants. To organize lighting on the street use:

1. Regular incandescent lamps. The most budget devices, however, are a very impractical option, since they provide too bright light, and saving on electricity with such lighting will remain only a pipe dream.
2. Halogen lamps. This, on the contrary, is a more economical type, famous for its durability. But even here there are some drawbacks: the lamps are afraid of temperature changes, dirt accumulating on the bulbs, and they also get very hot.
3. LED devices are champions when it comes to saving energy. Their small disadvantage is the price, which is still justified by the long service life of the lamps. The advantages also include the enviable strength of the case.
4. Solar panels. The advantage of this light source is the ability to place it in the very “wilds” of an area where it is impossible to install an electrical network. The solar energy battery can work for approximately 12 hours, but to install such a lamp you need an area where the sun shines constantly.

Power supplies for street lights

1. Classic incandescent lamps. Such light bulbs have been on the market for a very long time; they provide good light, but are absolutely not economical as outdoor lighting. These lamps consume a lot of energy and are very bright.
2. Halogen lamps. This option is more economical and will last much longer than incandescent lamps. Their light is moderately bright. The main disadvantage is strong heating and sensitivity to voltage changes and dirt.
3. LED bulbs. A very economical option. Compared to previous options, it will save up to one hundred percent of electricity. The cost of such lamps is high, but the duration and quality of their service are maximum. They also do not contain mercury or other harmful substances. It is almost impossible to break the outer casing of such a lamp.
4. Solar panels. The main advantage is that such a battery can be installed anywhere, even where wiring cannot be done. When the battery is fully charged, the lamp will work without interruption for up to twelve hours. But you need to take into account the installation location, because you need the maximum amount of sun to charge such a battery.

DIY street lamp made from glass jars

If you have unnecessary ordinary glass or Masonic jars at home, then you can use them to make an original street lamp with your own hands. To do this, you will need candles, which must be installed inside these jars, light bulbs or LEDs. As decoration you can use beads, ribbons, flowers and other decorative elements. Note that using glass jars you can create street lighting with your own hands in the form of a chandelier. To do this, you will need to place them in pre-made holes in a wooden board, or, making lanterns out of them (attaching metal wire), hang them on the planks using hooks.

Garden lighting is divided into two types

• functional – ensures the safety of the local area and its comfortable use. It includes lighting of travel routes (stairs, paths, entrance to the house), as well as buildings on the territory (gazebo, veranda, summer kitchen, bathhouse, etc.) and the perimeter of the site.

A chain of lamps is displayed along the garden path

Decorative lighting of steps using LED strip

Functional lighting is characterized by flooding bright light (however, it is advisable to equip the lamps with brightness controls). Street lighting lamps also serve as additional protection - on the one hand, the illuminated space does not attract unwanted guests, on the other hand, it makes the operation of the video surveillance system effective

Drop-shaped garden lamps

• decorative lighting - adds romance to landscape design, creating lighting effects and compositions, due to the magical play of light and shadow, transforming ordinary elements (gazebos, bushes, trees, garden furniture, ponds, stones and boulders, paths) of garden design into mysterious and unique ones. It helps to place accents, emphasize advantages and hide shortcomings in the twilight.

DIY street lamps: 10 simple and cool options

Lamp made from glass jars and lamps

To create this outdoor lamp you will need jars with metal lids. In the latter you need to make a small hole so that the wire can be inserted into it. A little skill - and there will be a socket with a light bulb in the jar, and the lamp will be ready.

Photo: michelesapples blog

You can make a single version or a whole “bouquet of lamps”, as in the photo. You can also decorate the jars in different ways, for example, paint them or cover them with old newspapers.

Pendant lamp made from cans and garlands

Another option for a street lamp made from glass jars. This time a garland is used as a light source. It is inserted into several jars, which are secured together and create a beautiful composition. An excellent decoration for the facade of a country house!

Lamp made from tin cans

To make such a lamp with your own hands, you first need to freeze water in an empty tin can. When the water turns into ice, use a nail and a hammer to knock out dotted patterns in the jar (if you skip freezing, the jar will bend).

The next step is to paint and equip the jar with a wire handle, with which you can hang the lamp outside or on the veranda. Now all that remains is to place the candle inside.

Garland decorated with cupcake wrappers

If you have used or new paper cupcake wrappers, you can turn them into mini garland lampshades. To do this, you need to make small holes in the base and insert light bulbs into them.

Lamp made from a plastic bottle

To make such an unusual lamp, you will need a matte white plastic bottle, for example, from a fabric softener or liquid laundry detergent. The bottom is cut off from it using a zigzag cut, so that the structure begins to resemble a flower, then the plate together with the lid is attached to a metal rod or wooden stick. A candle is inserted inside. You can choose a safe LED candle if you are afraid of fire.

Oil lamp in a jar

Another very beautiful (though not very durable) version of a street lamp made from a can. To make it, you need to place flowers, herbs, fruits, berries in a jar - whatever you consider necessary to create a summer composition. Then the contents are filled with water, and oil is poured on top (ordinary sunflower oil will do), the thickness of the oil layer is 0.5-1 cm. At the end, a floating candle is placed inside - the oil will definitely prevent it from sinking.

The candles, of course, can be changed, but the lamp will still not last too long. But it will definitely be suitable as a decoration for a romantic picnic or street party.

Lamp made from hoop

An ordinary hoop can be an excellent basis for a pendant lamp - paint it or otherwise decorate it, wrap it in a garland and equip it with pendants. This “chandelier” can be hung on the veranda or outside if the garland is long enough.

Photo: sarahontheblog

Lamps made from beer bottles

Another simple idea for lighting with string lights is to insert them into a row of clean beer bottles and place them along the paths or around the perimeter of the porch. It will look very original.

DIY garden lamp - lighting options

Do you want your garden to be beautiful not only during the day, but also in the evening? Then start lighting it. After all, it will help you see the beauty of trees and flowers hidden in the dark, give them unexpected bewitching forms, and also help you move around your property without obstacles.

Alternatively, you can purchase a lamp in a store, but if you are a creative person with a good imagination, then the best solution would be to make a garden lamp with your own hands. Firstly, it will help you save your budget, and secondly, you can choose the shape, color, material and lighting option yourself. Do-it-yourself lighting fixtures for the garden can include:

• garden lamps and lanterns made from tin cans;
• garden lamps and lanterns made from glass jars;
• solar garden lamp;
• wooden garden lamp;
• garden lamps made of concrete;
• garden lamps made of thick thread;
• other possible options for garden lamps.

What can you make your own lamp from?

Very often, homemade street lamps are made of plastic , but this solution is not the best, since the plastic product is easily damaged and broken. It is best to make a metal lantern with your own hands:

• brass;
• copper;
• bronze

It is worth noting that the steel model will be maximally resistant to precipitation and other external influences, but its appearance leaves much to be desired.

But copper lamps will harmoniously complement the retro-style exterior, but do not forget that over time, copper on the street oxidizes and acquires an unsightly greenish tint. A bronze lamp tends to darken, so it will have to be cleaned regularly.

The most optimal material for a lamp is brass, which is durable and visually attractive.

What are street lamps most often made of?

Often, mainly for dachas, street lamps are made from scrap materials. These can be glass and sometimes tin cans, remnants of PVC pipes, unused building materials, wood chips, and plastic dishes.

By the way, even a DIY paper street lamp is not very rare. It is made from thick cardboard, for example, it can be used clean juice packaging.

Of course, such creations are original, but not durable. For example, if this is a residential country house, then it is better to decorate it with metal lanterns.

And for a dacha, such options are what you need - there is room for your imagination to run wild, and you can come up with different models every year.

What types of street lamps are there?

Before we start manufacturing, let’s figure out what types of street lamps there are.

1. Floor lamp, or lamppost. It is a stand on which the lamp is installed. Floor lamps differ from each other not only in shape, but also in height.
2. Wall lanterns. The name speaks for itself. These are lighting fixtures that are attached to the wall. As a rule, they are fixed near the front door of the house, veranda or terrace. Can be of various shapes and sizes.
3. Ground lamps are installed in the ground. Used to illuminate garden paths, highlight beautiful tree crowns or landscape elements, lawns and artificial ponds.
4. Pendant lamps. They are attached to hooks, chains and suspended in an area that requires lighting.

Installing a DIY decorative street lamp on your property is not difficult. The lantern will not only serve as a source of light, but will also add a touch of individuality.

You can make a lantern for the garden from various materials. This is wood and metal, glass and tin cans, plastic.

Tin can lantern

You can make an exclusive street lamp from an ordinary drinks can. To do this, cuts are made on the walls of the jar using a hammer and nails of different diameters, forming a pattern. They can be contoured, simple, as in the photo below.

But with a little more time and creativity, the perforations can turn a tin can into a work of art.

A socket and a suitable light bulb are inserted inside the jar. This DIY street lamp is ready to take its place.

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DIY LED street lamp made of wood

A stump on your property or part of a cut tree trunk can be turned into an LED street lamp. To do this, make several vertical cuts along the trunk, attach a strip of LEDs in them, and connect them to the network.

Street lamp made of rope

A stylish round lampshade made of jute rope can decorate an ordinary street lamp.

We moisten the rope well with PVA glue, immersing it in a bath of glue, then wrap it around the ball.

Let it dry and deflate the ball.

We paint the lampshade with paint.

We raise a standard solar-powered street lamp to the desired height using a metal pipe.

We install lampshades on the lamp. When the flowers rise in the flowerbed, our lamps will look very nice.

Or you can take care of a beautiful support for our lamp.

You can make wonderful street lights in 5 minutes from ordinary cans and even without LED strip - just using luminous paint.

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