Say Goodbye To Pricey Outdoor Lights — Use A Hula Hoop To Brighten Your Yard

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If you're assembling a garden or patio living space, outdoor lights aren't something you should skip over. In almost all of their various forms, the fixtures add warmth and visual character to the exterior of your home. There's only one real drawback to them, and that's how much they could potentially cost. If you're shopping for outdoor lights and you find that the price tags are a bit too unreasonable, consider DIYing your own fixtures with inexpensive battery-powered string lights and spray painted hula hoops. When you wrap the string lights around the hoops, you'll turn them into surprisingly elegant decor elements. Hang up a few hoops together, and they'll collectively create an appealing focal point that looks like a modern art piece.

You can get the plastic hula hoops necessary for this project from a variety of retailers without spending more than a few bucks. At Walmart, a Kess Round Duo Twisted Hoop will only set you back about $3.50. Sets of battery-powered string lights can also be found at a reasonable cost. For example, a 4-Pack of EXF's Waterproof String Lights is about $16. The completed DIY should suit covered porches nicely, as well as garden gazebos. No matter where you hang them up, the lights' aesthetic flair should help you set up a space of comfort and ease in your backyard.

You'll need one set of battery-powered string lights per hula hoop to complete this DIY. Before you start wrapping the lights around the hoops, though, you'll need to break out a can of spray paint that's suitable for plastic. Use it to give your hoops a uniform color. Black arguably works best because it provides a dark backdrop, so the lights will stand out. Other neutrals like grey and white can also be appealing if they look cohesive alongside other elements of your home's exterior, such as your siding or your favorite DIY outdoor furniture projects.

Once you've wrapped your lights around your hula hoops, hang them up with the help of some zip ties. These will allow you to install the lights around railings, fence posts, and trellises, as well as through eye hooks. Ones designed for outdoor use, like Anoson's UV Resistant Black Cable Ties, can provide durability. But if your hoops aren't black, you may want to seek out a product that better matches their color. Clip the tails off of your zip ties with wire cutters, so that they're harder to spot. 

You can also use zip ties to attach your hoops to one another, in an overlapping formation. This will create a single eye-catching light display. For some, though, spreading out the hoops may still result in a more balanced arrangement. If your fairy lights alone end up being a bit too dim, try combining them with other outdoor lighting ideas that'll brighten up your home's exterior.