Woman Uses Dollar Tree Solar Lights To Create The Cutest Outdoor Chandelier

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If you're only stopping by Dollar Tree for cheap snacks and greeting cards, you're really missing out on the DIY potential filling the aisles. Of all the Dollar Tree decor items you should stop overlooking, the solar light section is one of the best. And maker Rockette Fox proves that with a simple and inexpensive DIY chandelier. Rockette uses an upside-down wire hanging planter frame as the shade of the chandelier. A stake-style solar light goes in the middle, and lantern-style lights create dangling illumination. When it's finished, this hanging outdoor light fixture adds an overhead glow above a patio or seating area.

Grab one of these Garden Collection Hanging Wire Baskets for $1.50 for the main structure of the outdoor lighting. Stop by the solar lighting section for a simple stake light with a slender light portion. For the surrounding lights, the original creator uses lantern-style solar lights. If you can't find them at Dollar Tree, you can find a different hanging version, like these Solpex Hanging Lanterns. Or, use these Yeuago Solar Mason Jar Lid Lights with jars you already have. You'll also need lots of zip ties or glue and thin chains.

The chandelier that Rockette creates is cute and does the job, but it also leaves room for additional embellishment. Instead of leaving the wire basket plain, create an outdoor-friendly shade that adds more style and personality to the display. You can hang the finished product from a tree branch or the roof over your porch. If that isn't an option, a tall shepherd's hook lets you display the DIY chandelier anywhere without worries about the wiring, as long as it receives lots of sunlight.

The hanging planters from Dollar Tree come in black and white. You can spray paint the frames if you want a different color. You can also paint parts of the solar lights to make everything match or to create contrast in the display. Pop the stake off of the slender solar light, and position the top light part in the center circle of the planter basket. The solar panel should stick out of the circle with the planter turned upside down, similar to an umbrella. Zip tie or glue the light in place.  

@rockettefox

It's been a while but it's time again for another @Dollar Tree DIY! This time around I made a super fun outdoor solar chandelier to fancy up the place and all for under ten bucks ✨😻🌲Would you give this one a try? Ways you think it could improve? #diy #craft #dollartree #homedecor #witch

♬ Outdoor Adventure – Gaspar

In the original design, the DIYer suspends one lantern light in the center and three more around the outer ring of the planter basket. She creates a chain with small loops of zip ties for the center lantern to make it hang down lower than the rest. You can also use a thin, lightweight chain for this. Glue or zip tie the other end to the bottom of the center solar light. For the outer lanterns, simply zip tie them evenly spaced around the outside.

To hang the chandelier, attach the chains that came with the planter to the bars near the center light. Hang it up using the loop at the top of the chains. There are sneaky drawbacks to using solar lights, including the lack of recycling options and the need for a sunny location — keep that in mind when choosing the spot to hang the chandelier.

Personalizing your outdoor lighting ideas is easier to do when you DIY the fixture. In this case, you can cover the wire basket frame to dress it up. Wrapping the wires with rope made from synthetic materials softens the look of the metal and holds up better to weather elements than natural rope. Outdoor-rated string or fairy lights wrapped around the wires add a little more illumination to the piece. 

Another way to add whimsy to the display is by incorporating other dangling elements. Strands of beads or crystals help cast the light from the lanterns and also sparkle in the sun. Or, combine lighting with a windchime by adding bells to the strands for a soft sound when the wind blows.

You can also adjust the number of hanging lights you add to the display. You can squeeze one or two more lights around the exterior of the planter, or hang each lantern at a different height to make room for more lights. Another option is to swap out the hanging lights for the season — Dollar Tree often has holiday-themed solar lighting, like these Seasonal Collection Halloween Solar Lanterns. Simply cut the zip ties on the old lanterns, and hang the seasonal options up temporarily to add a festive look to your outdoor lighting.