The Colorful Hack That'll Instantly Upgrade Your Boring Solar Lights

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Solar lights are one of the best ways to boost your home's curb appeal, since they're easy to install and cost way less than hard-wired alternatives. But while they're a practical and affordable option for illuminating a walkway or porch steps, most solar lights consist of a plain black stake and bright white light that don't offer much decorative appeal. Popular TikToker @ShowAndTell figured out a cheap way to turn a boring solar light into a colorful feature by wrapping inexpensive Colored Gel Sheets from Amazon inside them.

Whether you're trying to dress up your front door for Halloween, add some festive touches for Christmas, or you just want your outdoor lighting to complement your existing landscaping, colored solar lights immediately amp up your home's exterior. The trouble starts when you have to buy new fixtures every season, which can quickly eat into your decorating budget. Even if your existing solar lights can accommodate colored bulbs, you'll still have to contend with storing the pumpkin orange or pine green ones when they're not being used.

Investing in expensive color-cycling solar lights is another option, but this colorful hack also beats that approach for two unique reasons. First, it's a $10 project that can be quickly tackled with nothing more than a sharp pair of scissors, even if you're a crafting beginner. But more importantly, instead of being limited to a typical eight-mode range, gel sheets come in a wide variety of colors that can be combined to completely tailor the look of your solar lights whenever you want.

Most colored gel sheets are made from a very thin polyester material that's extremely flexible and easy to cut with scissors or a sharp utility knife. If you want to change the color of several solar lights that have already been installed, it may be helpful to remove one of them to create a template rather than trying to find the perfect length and width for the gel sheet while they're sticking out of the ground.

First, remove the cover of your solar light. This may involve twisting off a lid, unclipping various elements, or unscrewing the entire housing. You can create a template using a gel sheet, but we recommend starting with a plain piece of paper to avoid waste. Twist it around the inside of your solar light housing, using a pencil to mark the top edge and where the paper meets itself. These marks will serve as a guide. Cut the paper to size until it neatly fits around your solar light. Then, use the paper template to cut your colored gel sheets to size before tucking them inside, reattaching the covers or lids, and standing back to enjoy the colorful hue your upgraded solar lights will cast around the yard.

Once you start playing around with colored gel sheets in your boring solar lights, you may find yourself wondering if they can work for other types of landscape lighting. Unfortunately, while solar lights remain cool enough for direct exposure to colored gel sheets, higher watt bulbs are too hot for this hack and can cause them to melt or even catch on fire.