If You Have Old Paper Doilies, You Can Make Stunning String Lights For Your Home

String lights have become a staple in home decor, but most look the same. To help yours stand out from the rest, adding a few paper doilies is a surprisingly easy way to transform boring string lights into a gorgeous home decor feature. There are several ways to turn leftover craft supplies like beads into adorable fairy lights, but paper doilies offer a unique effect. On Instagram, dhara.patel25 posted a video showing how small paper doilies can be formed into shades for your string lights. By shaping the doilies into a cup or cone shape around the lights, you can make a small lampshade for each bulb on the string. Alternatively, flat doilies can be added behind the lightbulbs for an easier version of this DIY.

The lacy edges and round, tube-like shape of the paper doilies can also make your lights appear similar to a string of bright, cup or bell-shaped flowers. Depending on how you form the paper doily shades, you may need scissors and glue or a muffin tin and liquid starch for this project.

All kinds of paper doilies will work to enhance your string lights. While the DIYer used small doilies, you can reuse larger paper doilies from your craft supplies. However, your lampshades will be bigger. White doilies give the lights a soft, elegant appearance, but colorful paper can make for a fun, vibrant decoration. Before adding the paper decorations onto your string lights, ensure the bulbs are LED and don't get hot enough to heat the paper. 

While some people grab paper doilies to DIY charming door decor, they are also a simple way to add style to string lights. To create the adorable look of bell-shaped shades, the DIYer folded a small doily in half and cut along the line. Only half of a paper doily was used to make each lampshade for her string lights. However, if you're using big paper doilies, cutting them into quarters will work better. 

The DIYer held one string light bulb in the middle of the cut doily, so that the bulb faced the curved edge. She then folded the flat ends of the doily together, wrapping them around the light. Finally, she added glue along the seam to hold the paper shape and keep it secured around the light. Double sided tape would work just as well. A ribbon could also be used to tie the narrow end of the paper cone around the lights' cord. 

To complete the look, craft a paper doily shade for every light along the string. If you'd prefer a more cup-like shape for the shades, a muffin tin can help transform your paper doilies. Apply liquid starch to the paper and arrange it inside the cup of a muffin tray. Once dry, the paper will take on the shape. Then, cut a slit or an X into the flat bottom to slip the lightbulb through the paper.

Besides creating small shades to fit around the string lights, flat paper doilies can also be used to accentuate each bulb. This will take less time and is much quicker, but it will give your lights a different look that's more like a paper doily garland. In the center of the doily, cut a small slit. Slip the light bulb through the opening to add a paper doily backing, and repeat with each bulb. If it doesn't sit evenly, slice an X into the paper instead. 

This method allows you to show off doilies with fun shapes, like hearts, while still accentuating your basic string lights. There are a few ways to style this technique depending on the look you want. Using doilies of all the same shape and size will create a stylish, uniform light feature. However, incorporating doilies of different sizes and shapes can provide dimension and texture to your decor.

Once you've upgraded your basic string lights, hang them up inside for a genius way to transform doilies into stunning wall decor. While these string lights may work to decorate a covered porch, they aren't the best choice for outside decor, as rain could damage the paper.