How to Make Decorative Solar Lights With Wood

Use the power of the sun to create energy in solar lights.

Solar lights make a beautiful outdoor decoration. They light up pathways and dimly accent bushes and flowers in garden landscaping. They are found in home and garden centers and are available in simple colors, like black, copper and silver, making them plain, but also creating the perfect opportunity to create something decorative and unique for your yard. With just a few supplies, making decorative solar lights is easy and a great project for the whole family.

Things You'll Need

• Staked solar light
• Saw
• 4-foot-by-4-foot wood plank
• Drill
• Paint
• Sandpaper

Instructions

1. Cut the wood plank into a 12-inch section. This length is long enough to encase the stake of the solar light and keep it steady while it is on display.

2. Drill a hole down the center of the cut plank. Use a new drill bit to make cutting faster and easier. Hold the drill evenly until you have drilled at least 6 inches. Test the depth with the staked solar light to make sure that it is deep enough to hold it. If the hole is too shallow, drill deeper. Not all solar lights are made to the exact same length, so be sure to test it by placing the stake in the hole and seeing if it fits.

3. Sand the wood plank with 220-grit sandpaper. It is a grit that will smooth rough edges without leaving scratch marks across the wood. Be sure to sand down any splinters or any surface marks in the wood.

4. Paint the wood plank and decorate it. Use glossy acrylic paints to protect the wood and embellish it. Glossy paints are also more water resistant, so it will help keep your wood better protected from outdoor elements. For additional embellishments, glue glass beads to the wood or drip various colors of paint all around it.

5. Place the staked solar light into the hole you drilled. Place it outside in an area where it will receive the most light.

Tips & Warnings

• Make various heights of wood planks to create layers of solar lights throughout your yard's landscape.

References

• Solar Lights Site; Solar Lights FAQ; Admin; October 2010