Light Up Your Outdoor Space With A Thrifted Vintage Lamp DIY

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Antique and vintage lamps can be beautiful additions to your décor, especially if your space is retro-inspired or maximalist in nature. Decorative accents like carved metalwork and stained glass shades can add enormous amounts of interest. If you've stumbled on a pretty light fixture from a thrift store, flea market, or other secondhand venue and are looking for a way to incorporate the piece into your home, consider its possibilities for outdoor use. By adding a solar light and removing the existing electrical wiring, many lamps can be transformed into stunning outdoor lighting elements.

Not only do you gain the aesthetic and environmental benefits of repurposing old light fixtures in your home and yard, but these pieces are usually pretty budget-friendly. This is especially true for lighting that no longer works as intended and often gets passed up by buyers. While this solar hack works with hanging pendant lights and chandeliers, it's also a creative way to repurpose old floor lamps for your garden. With minimal effort and no new wiring needed, that stodgy indoor lamp becomes a decorative outdoor feature.

To adapt any lamp fixture for outdoor use, begin by removing the electrical writing, removing any cords or wires and snipping the outlet plug. Retain fastener hardware and chains you intend to keep or reuse. For a hanging light, use wire or an adhesive like E6000 to install a solar light near the top of the shade that will get enough sun exposure when hung. You could also use a corded solar mechanism, like this Solarmory Solar Glass Edison Bulb from Amazon, that lets you install a bulb and place the solar charger nearby with a connecting cord. You can use a similar process with almost any lamp, be they floor lights or table lamps. If you aren't getting enough sunlight, you can replace it with a battery-operated LED puck light attached to the top inside the shade.

These solar lamps offer many options for customization, including the above project that turns stained glass hanging lamp shapes into adorable umbrellas by attaching a wooden cane to the bottom of the solar bulb. Or add a pretty table or floor lamp in the garden for a cozy outdoor glow once the sun has gone down. You can also create a stunning full-solar chandelier for your outdoor dining table. Creating a simple solar pendant light with a bulb kit and some chain can also be a handy way to repurpose old lamp shades you love or repurpose baskets by inverting and hanging them in your outdoor space as lighting.