Do you plan on hosting a few outdoor parties now that summer is almost over? If so, you’re probably going to need to add some outdoor lighting to your home and the party area so that your guests can see what’s going on after the sun goes down. You could easily be like most people and buy a few strands of string lights but have you ever thought about making your own party lights? It’s not as hard as you might think and not only will you save money, but you’ll make your lights much more personal and unique.
Here are some quick and easy ideas for making your own outdoor party lights:
Do you have Christmas lights in your garage? Most homeowners have a strand or two of white string lights waiting to be put up for the next holiday season. You can take them and use them to make your own decorative centerpieces for your tables quite easily. There are two simple ways to do this: Do you have access to a few large sea shells such as conch or clam shells? If so, wrap your lights around the shells (making sure to place a few inside the shells as well, so that they reflect out of it) and then place the bundle of lights and shells on an old piece of driftwood or serving platter in the center of the table. An even easier idea is to buy a few large glass jars from a dollar store (they won’t cost more than a few dollars) and then place all the lights inside them. After you place them in the center of the tables and turn them on it will look like you jars of light to light up each table without have to go to the expense of buying specialty decorative patio string lights at your local lighting store.
Do you know what luminaries are? They are colorful paper bags that have candles or small battery operated lights in the bottom of them. Usually they are used to line the pathways of the area that you’re having your party. They are quite easy to make as well. Just a buy a few dozen colored paper bags (lunch size works the best) and then cut fanciful designs in the sides of the bags. After you’ve done that, place an inch or two of sand in each bag so that it doesn’t blow over in the wind, place a small tea light candle or light in the bottom of the bag and you’re done. The candlelight will spill out of the holes you cut into the sides of the bags, making a fun and colorful pathway lights for your guests. Just make sure that you don’t close the tops of the bags once you light the candle or they can burn from the flame.
As you can see form these two quick and easy lighting ideas, making your own party lights isn’t that difficult. Not only will you be saving money by repurposing your old lights but you’ll be adding a touch of ambiance to your party that your guests will be sure to notice.