On Monday, I shared some of the updates we’ve been doing to get the garden summer ready. I love my pergola that we completed last year and while the entire thing is wrapped in tiny solar lights which light up at night, I wanted to include some larger hanging solar lights as well to finish off the space.Β  At the time, I couldn’t find anything I really liked so opted for some simple Chinese-style hanging lanterns which were fine but didn’t quite make my heart skip a beat.

What I really wanted was to introduce some natural textures and in my head, I was set on bamboo or wicker lighting for a bit of a boho vibe. The problem was, I couldn’t find any I liked. So, I figured I’d just have a go at making them myself!

Looking to add a bohemian vibe to your garden for summer? Check out how to create your own bamboo solar lights using my super simple DIY!

I got the actual pendants from B&Q and then worked with some stuff I already had around the house.Β As a little background info, I had these solar Chinese lanterns from last year but they were looking a little worse for wear. True confession: I had left them hanging out over the whole of winter (I know I should have brought them in when the season ended but I didn’t). Of course, they just got grimy andΒ didn’t look so hot anymore.

shopping at B&Q to pick up supplies for my DIY bamboo solar lights

In no way sponsored by B&Q but honestly, I feel like I live there over the summer.

Despite the fact they weren’t looking too great, I didn’t want to buy new solar lights because the solar bits still worked. So I decided, since I’m a cheapskate, because I’m so thrifty, I could reuse them!

So this is what I did and what you’ll need as well if you fancy doing this yourself.

Materials needed

DIY Bamboo Solar Lights Materials

A set of 3 white Chinese lanterns

2 twine ball pendant shades from B&Q

1 bamboo light shade from B&Q

Stanley Knife (or similar craft knife)

Silicon sealerΒ * Β (I used this as I knew it would be waterproof and we already had it around!)

Instructions for the round twine ball solar lights

DIY Boho Inspired Bamboo Solar Lights Twine Ball Step 1

Remove the centre light hanging fixture (the white bit) from the pendant

DIY Boho Inspired Bamboo Solar Lights Twine Ball Step 2

Discard the steel wires that prop the paper lantern open and fold it up so that it can squeeze through the hole at the top.

DIY Boho Inspired Bamboo Solar Lights Twine Ball Step 3

Re-pop open the lantern inside the pendant and adjust so that the hanging bit is facing upwards.

DIY Boho Inspired Bamboo Solar Lights Twine Ball Step 4

Hang up!

Instructions for the larger bamboo light

Now I got seriously lucky with this one as the very top of the larger paper lantern just happened to be the perfect size for the top of the larger bamboo light.

DIY Boho Inspired Bamboo Solar Lights Step 1

So if you want to replicate this with a different bamboo pendant, then you’d have to make sure the round solar charging bit fits snugly into the opening of the top of the pendant.

DIY Boho Inspired Bamboo Solar Lights Step 2

Cut away the paper from the top of the paper lantern using the Stanley knife and remove the wire so that all you are left with is the solar panel and hanging wires.

DIY Boho Inspired Bamboo Solar Lights Step 3

Remove the metal bit from inside the pendant (I just had to pull it gently and it came out) and discard.

DIY Boho Inspired Bamboo Solar Lights Step 4

Use some a clear silicone sealant around the edge of the solar portion that you just cut out and place inside the bamboo pendant so that the hanging wire and solar panel is facing upwards.

DIY Boho Inspired Bamboo Solar Lights Step 5

Once the glue is dry, hang and enjoy!

Edwardian home garden with black pergola and shed and DIY bamboo solar lights

I’m so happy with how these bamboo-style solar lights came out and I love how they give a bit of a bohemian vibe to this little patio area. I still need to style this area with a few more plants and accessories but I’m happy with the progress so far!Β So what do you think of my simple DIY today? Is it something you’d try?


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