After several years in the home decor industry, I can tell you proper lighting has the power to remake any room, from romantic and dramatic to lively and celebratory, and all without breaking our bank. We’re here to tell you that you can use materials that you probably already have lying around the house to make beautiful lighting projects to satisfy you.
That’s right, you don’t need expensive materials or expert techniques. You simply need some imagination, patience, and materials you have lying around the house. Not only are all of these 10 DIY lighting ideas affordable, but they also prevent piling up waste. Light up a bedroom, patio, or reading corner with these DIY projects, and you’ll introduce warmth and personality into any space.
1. Using Mason Jar Lanterns
Materials You Likely Already Have: Glass jars or mason jars, twine, wire, candles, or tea lights.
Mason jar lights are beautiful and ageless. Those vintage jars transform into rustic lanterns so easily. Just wash any jar you have, wrap a small wire around the rim to create a handle, and add an LED tealight. Frost the jars for more muted lighting by placing white glue and tissue paper on them. Hang them from hooks or branches, or string them along your porch or balcony, and voila, you have an instant charm!
2. Tin Can Luminaries
Materials You Likely Have on Hand: Fairy lights or tea lights, nails, hammer, tin cans.
Instead of throwing away those tin cans, you could create lovely punched lanterns. Start by washing the cans and removing the labels, then fill the cans with water and place the cans in the freezer overnight. This helps to keep the can from warping when you punch holes in it with a hammer in a design (like stars, hearts, or initials). As the ice melts, put in a candle for a starry night effect on your walls or sidewalk.
3. Wine Bottle Lamps
Materials You Likely Have: Fairy lights, wine bottles, optional: cork light stopper.
If you have your own bottles of wine, do not recycle them yet. Put a string of battery-operated fairy lights inside them (bonus points for owning a cork light which contains a switch at the top). The colored glass makes a beautiful ambient light, which is upscale and warm. These are lovely as centerpieces, night lights, or bar accents.
4. Paper Bag Lanterns
Stuff You Likely Have On Hand: Scissors, pebbles or sand, brown paper lunch bags, LED tealights.
Paper bag lanterns (luminarias) are an inexpensive, simple means to light up any walkway or patio. Simply cut small holes or designs in the bags (geometric forms, hearts, or stars are good choices), add some sand or small rocks to weigh them down, and add an LED candle within. They’re enchanting, standing in a row at dusk.
5. CD Mosaic Lamp Shades
Materials You Most Likely Have: Used CDs or DVDs, strong adhesive, an ordinary lamp or lamp shade.
Still got a collection of your outdated CDs you don’t listen to anymore? Cut them up (gently!) and decoupage them onto a plain lamp base or shade. The reflective side of the CDs provides an amazing mosaic effect, especially when the light is switched on. It’s a cheerful, eco-friendly way to add a sci-fi sheen to any room.
6. Fairy Light Photo Display
Materials You Likely Have At Home: Fairy lights, paper clips or clothespins, printed postcards or photographs.
This project brings warmth and sentimentality to any space—a wonderful decoration for your bedrooms or dorm rooms. Simply add string fairy lights along your wall or bookcase and add pictures, notes, postcards, or even artwork with clothespins. You have ambient light and a sentimental display all in one.
7. Egg Carton Flower Lights
Things You Likely Have: Paint, fairy lights, scissors, egg cartons made of cardboard.
Did you ever dream that your egg carton would end up being a decor item in your home? Cut out flower forms from the carton (each petal is a section), paint them soft pastel or bright colors, and punch a hole in the center. String each of the fairy light bulbs through the flower. They are delightful on a headboard, mirror frame, or above a window.
8. Glass Bottle Torch Lights
Materials You Likely Have: Tiki torch wicks, lamp oil (optional), wine or soda bottles.
If you like outdoor torches, you need this. Take some empty glass bottles and put a tiki torch wick in them. You can buy a regular wick set, but if you just need light for a short time, even a piece of cotton cloth rolled and dipped in citronella oil will do. These bottle torches are great for backyard barbecues or for ambiance on hot summer evenings.
9. String Light Chandeliers
Stuff You Likely Already Possess: Zip or wire ties, hula hoops, wire baskets, and string lights.
This do-it-yourself project adds drama and glamour to a space, and at a modest price tag. Bend string lights around a hula hoop or wire basket and suspend from a ceiling hook or pergola beam using hardy twine or chain. The result is a boho-chic chandelier ideal above patios, dinner tables, or even indoors, in a snug nook.
10. Ladder Light Display
Materials You Probably Already Have: Old ladder, string lights, and greenery or photos, if desired.
An old and worn-out wooden ladder can be turned into an Instagram-worthy lighting element in a matter of minutes. Stand it up against a wall and drape string lights between the rungs. Suspend mini hanging plants, framed artwork, or seasonal ornaments, depending on the season. This installation brings vertical personality and is especially helpful for small areas where wall space is valuable.
Conculsion
The best part of these easy DIY lighting ideas is that you don’t have to buy new materials or be a seasoned crafter. They’re fun, rewarding, and completely customizable. You can do them indoors or outdoors. They’re also a great way to recycle items that would otherwise be landfill-bound, making your home more sustainable and better lit in the process. So, go ahead and take a good look at your house. You might be sitting on the materials for your next DIY lighting art project. Thank you.
