Hanging solar light using glass chandelier bowls and dollar store items!
How to make a DIY hanging solar light by upcycling glass bowl light shades off of a chandelier and a couple of dollar store items. So when my mom and I gave her house a makeover it also included replacing several of the light fixtures. She has a small, quaint little place and the light fixture in her dining room was just way too big for the space so it was the first one that we replaced. I didn’t keep the actual fixture (Ah hindsight and regret!) however, I did keep all of the glass bowl light shades because it just seemed like I could use them somewhere…
If you have a glance at my deck makeover from last fall you can see I have several 8 foot 4×4 posts along the entire length. Each of these posts I hung a shepherds hook on for flower pots, bird feeders etc. but I’ve wanted something different for a while now.
I have six of these glass bowl light shades and knew I had room to hang four of them. (the remaining two I have another plan for!) It was only natural for me to think that I certainly needed to find a way to add a solar light too!
My first stop was a trip to our local Dollar Store because I needed to find a way to hang each hanging solar light. I purchased the four solar lights for $1 a piece and the four hangers for the same!
Removing the bottom part of the solar lights I was left needing to run to my local Ace hardware for the perfect washer. It needed to be bigger around then the hole in the bottom of the glass bowl but the center hole had to be large enough for the solar light to slide into it.
Love Ace Hardware! I purchased the four washers for less then $2! All in these four solar lights cost me about $13!
I applied Gorilla Glue to the bottom of the washer and the bottom of the solar light before attaching them all together. (I did not quite go all the way around the bottom of the washer because I still wanted some drainage so these lights wouldn’t become water buckets every time it rained.)
At first I was gong to remove the chains from the hanging baskets and just use the chains but I liked the caged look around the bowl and it sat so perfect in them! (I added a little glue between the two of them too.)
After hanging them up I have been really quite pleased!
Of course the coolest part is how pretty each hanging solar light is at night. You can see my old solar jar lights I made years ago are still going strong, but these really look elegant I think and put out a surprising amount of light!
Tutorial on how I used the last two bowl shades on the top of my posts is coming up soon! ๐
Make sure and check out the rest of the garden projects from the Farmhouse Hens this week, be prepared for some really creative ideas!
DIY Rustic Farmhouse Outdoor Bench
Stephanie at Abbotts At Home! Blog / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter
How to Make a Cute Garden Scarecrow
Denise at My Thrifty House! Blog / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter
How To Make DIY Wine Bottle Torches And Solar Lights
Michelle at Our Crafty Mom! Blog / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter
Repurposed Old Vintage Plate Garden Idea
Sam at Raggedy Bits! Blog / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter
Scrap or Pallet Wood Flower Box
Leanna at FaeriesandFauna! Blog / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter
I am absolutely stoked to be a part of a group that contains SO many spectacular DIY bloggers! Can’t wait to see what we all come up with next month and share it here on the blog with all of you!
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I’m Tarah!
It’s been a hell of a ride since I started this blog and renovated and moved into this old farm house back in 2015. I got married, divorced, lost my doggo soul mate, spent two years as a single gal, remodeled everything, threw my back out countless times and was even found by an amazing guy in my own backyard! (The story behind Storyhardt Farm.)
Around here we’re totally fearless when it comes to bettering our home. We love to refinish old furniture, re-purpose old pieces, build it from scratch and totally renovate anything that needs it! If we can do it – so can you. We’ve got some serious plans for this old farm and, for first time ever, I have a real partner!
This is gonna be so much fun!
You can also find out more about the amazing Grandma behind this blog who moved in to this old farmhouse with my Grandpa nearly 70 years ago!
I love this idea! We started using the solar lights just last year and they are so nice. Your deck looks great with these on it and I bet it means you can enjoy the outdoors just a little long.er
Whoever invented those little solar lights was a genius! They’re so easy to use and I can’t believe how long they last, I have lights on my deck from over two years ago that are still going strong!
Tarah, this is such a great project! I absolutely love how they look at night. Very serene on your beautiful deck!
Thank you Michelle!
Such a great idea! They look so pretty hanging in your yard!
Thank you Sam! Hope you have a lovely weekend!
Tarah! You always have such clever ideas for reusing things. Nice job!
Thanks Stephanie!
What a great idea, they turned out really pretty!!
Tania
Thank you so much Tania!
Tarah….these turned out awesome. Such a clever idea with a purpose. Love it.
Thanks Denise, hope you’re having a good weekend!
They look great!!
Thank you Lydia!
Love the lights—thanks for the inspiration. I am planning on making some for around our pool area. We’re out in the country with woods all around, so we have no street lights. I think it will provide enough light to see without being too bright. Thanks!
Awesome Tina! For a little more money (I think like $3 a light) they make much bigger and brighter solar lights too that would give you even more light!
I absolutely love these hanging solar lights. This is such a great idea. I am going to go buy the stuff to make them today. I’m thinking that you must have the cutest place around! Thank you for sharing at Dare to Share Saturday.
Thanks so much Amy!
Your solar lights look beautiful, Tarah! What a fabulous, fun and frugal idea. Thank you so much for sharing, and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party. I’m featuring this post at the party this week. Hope to see you there!
Thanks so much April!!
This is such a cool idea, I have been looking for some extra lighting ideas for my back patio will have to try these. Thanks for sharing on bloggers pit stop
Thanks Connie!
Genius! I love this. I want to make one! I even have the basket and globes just waiting
to be repurposed. Thanks for sharing at The Fabulous Party. I will be featuring your post.
Look for it on the sidebar and on my Happy Homemaker Monday post at My Journey Back.
And I am adding something this week! I will be tweeting the features!
Thanks for linking. The new link will be live soon.
http://ourholidayjourney.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much Sherry!!
I have both solar lights and wire baskets lying around here. I’m really impressed!
Thanks for coming by!
I love this idea. Is there a way for the water to drain if it rains?
Hi Barbara, I did not put the glue all the way around so they drain great!
They look really nice , but what keeps them from filling with water when it rains?Maybe better to flip them and then put in the light?
Hi Leslie! I didn’t put the glue all the way around so they drain just fine but I’ve seen several folks put them together flipped over and they are SUPER cute like that too!
Great idea! How does the water drain out when it rains?
Hi Maria, I left a gap in the glue so its a slow trickle but it drains great!
What a wonderful peaceful view from your deck.
Thank you Susan!
Will these hold water when it rains?
Hi Sharon, I didn’t glue them all the way around so they would still drain properly.
I am so sorry Tarahlynn. I thought I had read all your instructions but failed to read the section about the drainage. I love your idea and can’t wait to place some around my padio.
Hi Sharon, no problem! In hindsight instead of not going all around with the glue I think I should have just added a washer to lift up one edge a bit and glue all of it, it probably would last longer and be more dependable for drainage. Thanks!
These are awesome! I have made many upcycled vintage electrical fixtures into planters(my dad owns an electric company) but I have a few large glass globes that I was debating on what to do with them or how to hang them in a unique way… I think you have just solved this problem!! I’ll borrow your fantastic idea but also add a few trailing plants to the outside of the globe (maybe even do one with plants on the inside too)!! Thank you!!
Thank you Mose for coming by!
Used an old hanging light fixture for my deck, removed electrical stuff and the cups. Glued the solar lights in, after I spray painted fixture.
Bonus….if power goes out I can bring it inside and use it!
Love your idea
That’s awesome Jenny, I’ve been drooling over that idea for awhile now, can’t wait to have a place outside to hang a chandelier like that!
Great minds think alike! I also used the Dollar Tree baskets, but I also got the oversized S-hooks to hang them from a pine tree. I used globes from ceiling light fixtures and mosaic glass candle holders. The solar lights I used have the wide, flared top so they cover the opening to keep the rain out. I wish I could attach a photo.
Love your idea of using the bigger solar lights, I’ve been thinking about that myself! Thanks for coming by and checking out my project!
These light fixtures are beautiful but it is so hard to find the chandelier bowls! I have tried few different stores and the reuse store but no luck. Do you have any ideas as where to get these bowls. thanks
Hi Tammy I would try your local antiques dealer. Mine has an entire spot devoted to glass bowls from light fixtures, most of them come from center ceiling lights and not chandeliers but it could be fun to mix and match! Thanks for coming by!
Love this idea. Wonder if the bowls could be turned upside down to keep from holding any water when it rains? Just a thought. Thanks for sharing this idea!!
Thanks Lisa! I didn’t glue the washer all the way around so they drain properly ๐
Tara. I really like these little lights! My question is
How large are the washers and how did you glue them on to leave Space for water drainage??? Looking at the washer in your photos looks like you put the glue all around the washer so I’m confused
Hi Sharon, I used a little piece of stick actually, I just pushed it in there under the washer, can’t even see it but it worked fine. It was literally just a tiny piece of a stick I picked up off of the ground lol. The washer is a a 2″ washer. thanks!