5 DIY Garden Lantern Ideas to Illuminate Your Outdoor Space
Making your garden more inviting doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few simple DIY lantern projects, you can add both beauty and warmth to your outdoor space.
These projects let you express your creativity and give your garden a personal touch. Plus, it’s honestly kind of fun to see what you can make with stuff you already have lying around.
You don’t need expensive supplies or special skills to get started. Just grab some everyday items and a pinch of imagination, and you’re all set to make your garden a little more magical.
1) Mason Jar Lanterns with Painted Interiors
Try painting the inside of mason jars with acrylic paints. Soft colors work for a mellow vibe, but bold shades really pop at night.
Once the paint dries, pop in a tealight or LED candle. These jars make lovely outdoor lights and honestly, they’re super easy—even if you’re not crafty. Here’s a handy DIY tutorial if you want a little guidance.
2) Recycled Tin Can Lanterns with Punched Designs
Empty tin cans can become simple lanterns with a bit of effort. Clean and dry the cans, then fill them with water and freeze overnight—it keeps them from bending while you work.
Use a hammer and nail to punch out a design. It helps to sketch your pattern first, but honestly, random dots look cool too. After the holes are done, let the ice melt and dry the can. Paint it or leave it as-is for a rustic touch. More tips are over at DIY punched tin can lanterns.
3) Fairy Light Lanterns Using Inexpensive LED Strings
Battery-powered LED string lights and some clear jars or lantern frames are all you need for this one. Tuck the LED string inside and arrange it until the glow looks just right.
It’s cheap, takes almost no time, and makes patios or gardens feel a bit magical. If you want a quick how-to, check out this easy DIY fairy light lanterns idea.
4) Dollar Tree Wood Lanterns Inspired by Pottery Barn
You can make surprisingly stylish wood lanterns for your garden using Dollar Tree finds. It’s inspired by those fancy Pottery Barn lanterns, but you won’t break the bank.
Try using frames, wood pieces, or even plungers from the dollar store. If you want a step-by-step, this Pottery Barn inspired DIY tutorial is pretty helpful. Sometimes, the simplest materials give the best results.
5) Hypertufa Japanese Garden Lanterns
You can make a Japanese garden lantern using hypertufa. It’s a lightweight blend of cement, perlite, and peat moss.
This stuff is surprisingly easy to shape, and honestly, it beats hauling around real stone. To get started, create some molds for each lantern part.
Pour in your hypertufa mix and let it cure. Once the pieces are ready, just stack them up and see how it looks.
If you want more details, check out this guide to making a Japanese Garden Lantern out of Hypertufa.
