Home accessories: Adventures in DIY Outdoor Solar Lighting

Outdoor accent lighting has always fascinated me.

Years ago, when we lived at the ex-funeral home, we got an estimate for outdoor lighting, but before we could make a decision (we mulled it over for a few weeks, as the estimate was pricey), the owners were suddenly impossible to find. They were reputable, too. I never found out what happened to that business. Now, it's gone.

This was before the days of Internet shopping, and I ordered a few solar path lights from a catalog. They were puny little things, barely emitting a glow, no bigger than a firefly.

Fast forward a decade or so. LED and Solar lighting had made a huge leap--best of all, it had become widely available at DIY stores, such as Lowes, Home Depot, and at many online stores, from Gardeners.com to Frontgate.

Outdoor accent lighting had become so popular, you couldn't open a design magazine without seeing enchanting dusk and night-time photographs.

Traditional Landscape by Sterling Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers SURROUNDS Landscape Architecture + Construction

But what if the homeowner isn't keen about messing with electricity? How to illuminate inaccessible places?

Traditional Landscape by Boyne City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Common Ground Landscapes

Solar lighting was our solution. It's not as bright as low voltage lighting, but it wasn't dangerous to a novice like myself.

There are different lights for different effects. Path lights, solar and battery-operated string lights, and fixtures for "wall washing" and "highlighting."

Below, you can see an example of highlighting. This was achieved by staking three solar lights around the base of a tree (one of two in our front yard) and angling the lights at the trunk and branches. I chose a fixture with a bright 70 lumen output.

An example of battery-operated sting lights. I found these at Home Depot. You can also find them online.

You can see the string lights in the distance--they're bright and warm.

That's another thing--you can choose "warm" or "cool" (colored) solar lighting.

I was beguiled by Solar Mason Jars. I hung them from little, metal shepherd's hooks.

You can make your own, too.

Eclectic Outdoor Lighting

Solar lights can also be staked in flower pots--don't they make a charming centerpiece?

Traditional Porch by Opelika Garden & Landscape Supplies SolaRadiance

At night, solar lights add a glow along the driveway. I bought the path lights on sale and had no qualms about mixing finishes or styles. However, I tried to group the fixtures. The solar "Mason jar" lanterns went along the front walkway. I have two different styles of path lights--the more traditional ones are black and were placed in the flower beds; the "transitional," bronze lights line the driveway.