Shopping at thrift shops is loads of fun when you spot lighting finds like these. These and other lamps and lanterns are the beginnings of brilliant recycled lights for the garden. Some make use of collections and are portable and we’ll show you how to do it all.
Cindy Sullivan collected a few lamp parts and then found this treasure, the golden globe of a 19602 style table lamp. She adding a string of lights and used the parts to create the top.
Cindy says, ”We re-purpose lights and globes all the time to create unique fixtures. We found this amazing base, took a finial from another light and filled the globe with Christmas white lights…voila!”
Nine old mining lanterns were used in this hanging light fixture found at a cabin in Shaver Lake, California. This part of the state has a rich mining history, so the homeowners used their amazing collection of lanterns, set them on a 12x 30″ rusty grate and hid the wiring underneath. Four huge bolt hold the chains on each corner. This is great for indoors or out. The colors of the lanterns are the best thing about this rustic chandelier.
Nancy Carter says, “This light was made with a wall hung light fixture, glass gems and battery timer string lights.” Simple!
Carol Dial tells us “My Dear created this for me from our hanging lamp. He is looking for a solar to make it light at night. I am enjoying it just the way it is.”
If you find it hard to find these discarded globe lights, it’s because Flea Market Gardeners around the country have been snapping them up! Luckily they are plentiful and so versatile for use in the garden. Here are some easy ways to use them!
Popping the top of a solar cell on each globe and hanging them in a tree is one special way to display them.
Jeanne Sammons explains,“My globe solar light is hung in the tamarack tree just out from the porch garden where we can see it in Winter and where the birds enjoy a feeder and waterer. We recycled an amber ceiling fan light globe, added top of a solar stake light, painting the edges with a black permanent marker, some old black chain and ta-da … globe lights!”
Marie Niemann shows how to attach the chain. You need slender metal chain, a 1inch metal ring, one solar light and needle nosed pliers, that’s all!
Discarded chandelier and fan lights or bathroom vanity light shades can also be used in the garden. Carrol Dahl says, “I found these discarded hanging lights at a second hand store and my husband removed all of the wires and welded on some supports to stand. I love the way they match our shutters.”
Billie Hayman chose a favorite bold color to brighten up a drab recycled chandelier. The spray paint brings out all the frilly detail.
Lisa Burns tells us,“My chandelier is an old solar light turned upside down with added teapot and teacups to create a birdfeeder planter.”
Theresa Jones says, “My solar chandelier at dusk. Another project idea I got from your page! Was an ugly gold from Habitat Restore, painted to match gazebo and glued on $1 solar lights.”
Nancy K. Meyer found this simple iron fixture and added her signature touch. She says, “My new chandelier, all blinged up.”
Have an old pole lamp? Becky Norris says, “I made this planter out of an old stand lamp by upturning the metal shade and adding a glass globe upside down to hold my former hanging basket. I added some vinyl stars to the shade to help it blend into my red, white and blue area of my garden.”
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View Comments
Brilliant and beautiful. Quite creative. Thanks for the inspiration.
How do you keep water out of the lights that hang on the chain?
For recycled light globes with solar lights set on top, like 'Marie Niemann’s ‘collector’ lamp shade' above....any rainwater could go right through. When I use a globe with no opening OR for setting the solar lights on Mason jars, I run a thin line of GE II silicone to seal the solar top to the top of the jar or globe. It's easily pried off when you want to change the battery.