New and inspiring outdoor solar lighting ideas for backyards and patios are on our minds as the days grow longer. The sun is giving us all this free power – we might as well use it to jazz up the garden. As long as there is a clear path to the sun, you can put your solar lighting in any location. We’ve collected 27 of the best outdoor ideas for 2016 below.
The wide variety of designs available these days is astounding, from bottles to glass flowers to solar orbs to mason jars to solar planters and string lights. There’s solar lighting for your pool, for your pond, your terrace and deck. You can go whimsical, you can go funky and you can go ultra-elegant. Make no mistake, solar fixtures have gone upscale in the last decade. Some of the glass flower lights for your garden are exquisite. You can turn a plain backyard space into a funky grotto for entertaining with some creative lighting ideas. And all these lights can help keep your maintenance costs down, no power required. You see, they were right all along. The best things in life are free.
Solar Lighting Ideas for Bottles
Multi-color solar bottle lights will hang in trees in your backyard or you could sit them on your outdoor patio table. Source
This solar light started life as a bottle cap with lights attached – you bring the bottle. Save your most interesting bottles for these wire LED mini-lights. This one looks like Crown Royal. Much more personal to choose your own bottle, plus you save shipping fees. What a great outdoor solar lighting idea. Solar bottle light top available at Gardener’s Supply (one of our favorites).
These solar lights were built using the same bottle cap as the photo above – different bottles, different look. From Gardener’s Supply.
This outdoor solar idea is part of the popular bottle tree art garden trend. With the addition of lights.
Outdoor Solar Lighting for Mason Jars
Mason jars – they’re everywhere from your local discount store to the thrift store to the grocery. Who would have thought that they could be such a player in the solar lighting game?
It’s the tops of these jars that hold the key – and the solar light and collector. Because mason jars have one standard size top, selling the top as a stand-alone piece is one of the better solar lighting ideas we’ve come across in a while. Inspiring.
You can use assorted color Mason jar bottoms for your solar light tops. Hang them from hooks on the fence, as above, or hang them from trees. If you’d like to buy the jar and top as one piece, check out Etsy. To buy the tops and supply your own jars for these funky fixtures, Michael’s is your spot.
These canning jar solar lights cast an incredible glow – they are different from others in the way the light is distributed. From Amazon.com.
These solar lights are mercury glass mason jars and make for a great light display when activated by nightfall. Color changing LEDs bring a rainbow of color to the surroundings. There are a lot of pretty cool outdoor solar lighting ideas at Plow & Hearth. They have great taste.
This stunning chandelier uses six Ball Mason jars in that gorgeous recycled green-blue glass. It’s perfect for your outdoor backyard solar oasis. From Etsy.
Solar Lights as Flowers
The Bromeliad light, made from glass, is one of the nicest we’ve seen. It looks great in with other spiky (actual) flowers in your garden. Available at Home Depot.
Moon flower trio in glass – blue, red and yellow speckled art glass. Creating art glass flowers was another inspired solar lighting idea that was clearly embraced. From Gardener’s Supply.
Floating water lily solar lights look great in the pond at night. You really can create a wonderful space in the backyard with your outdoor lighting. Lights are such an easy thing to do, especially when you don’t even have to turn them on.
These glass Tiger Lily stake lights are available in a variety of colors. Another inspired outdoor solar lighting idea is to group a bunch of these flowers (all the same style, different colors if you choose) in a flower pot. Point their solar collectors in the best direction and your work is done. Use five (or more) and a tall pot for the intended effect. Source
As a rule, Morning Glories open in the morning – but not these babies. This vine of blue morning glory blossoms comes to light at night. From Gardener’s Supply.
Another find is this stunning Bird of Paradise light made from glass. Also a good candidate for the solar light flower bunch. From Home Depot.
Solar Ideas for Planters
Solar light planters are an incredible way to grotto up your backyard, your patio, your pool and pond areas.
Colorful solar light planters can really brighten up the pool area at night. And they cast a happy glow. From ebay.
Solar lighting comes to life in these planters. The white looks great contrasted against a deep green.
Spread your solar planters outdoors around the garden to provide enough light at night for an alfresco party.
Solar Lighting for the Backyard and Patio
And you can use solar lights on your balcony or terrace, too. Anywhere you can get a clear line to the sun and your lights can collect their solar power. There are solar string lights, stake lights, lanterns, even side tables. So many ways to execute those best outdoor solar lighting ideas you’ve been having all winter. There is no reason not to lit up your nights.
Solar side table lamps give off light and provide a tabletop. From Foscarini.
White solar bulb lights are an elegant idea for any backyard. When you are going through your outdoor ideas, consider all-white. It can be so elegant and graceful looking. From Amazon.com.
Colored solar tealights, lined up on a wall, present a pretty picture at dusk.
Solar light glass bricks – like glass building blocks but with lights inside. From Amazon.com.
Solar lanterns, made from metal with cutaways, cast great shadows at night. From Amazon (UK).
Hanging solar garden lights, cornet shaped, from Amazon.com
Solar twig lights are elegant starburst decorations. From Plow & Hearth. Who have some of the best solar ideas ever.
More incredibly delicate and elegant solar light ideas for the backyard and beyond from Plow & Hearth.
And because we would be remiss if we didn’t add at least one gnome picture, here you go (it was a toss up between these guys and a flamingo). Happy Solar Lighting Season!
Do you have cool lights in your yard? Upload photos and description below – just click on “Add Post”. We’d love to see your ideas!
