How to Make Solar String Lighting for a Gazebo

If you love your gazebo during the day, you will love it at night with the help of solar string lighting. Lighting is a terrific way to decorate for a party or a romantic evening. Do-it-yourself tin can solar lanterns are an easy and colorful way to dress up your gazebo for any occasion or everyday pizazz without spending a fortune.

Instructions

Measure the distance around your gazebo where you want to hang the lights.

Collect enough empty tin cans of the same size to space about 5 inches apart around the gazebo.

Remove the label. Soak the cans in a bucket of warm, soapy water to remove any additional pieces of label and glue. Dry the cans with towels.

Paint each can with a high-quality outdoor metal spray paint. Paint all of the cans the same color or mix it up for a festive look. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly.

Create two holes opposite one another close to the bottom of each can, using a drill. Make two more holes just below the first holes.

Drill evenly spaced holes in each can. Turn the cans upside down. Make one hole in the center of the can bottoms just large enough to allow the string light bulb to fit.

Cut the galvanized metal into 12-inch pieces. Thread the ends of the metal through the holes on the side of the cans by going into one hole and out the other on each side. Wrap the wire around itself to hold it in place.

Place the lanterns in a line on a flat surface with the open end down. The wire handles should be vertical to the line.

Place the string of solar lights out on top of the cans so that the hole in the bottom of each can has a light bulb in it. Place a piece of duct tape on top of each hole to secure the light in place.

Install cup hooks along the underside of your gazebo. Hang the tin can lights by their metal hangers from the cup hooks. Install extra hooks if necessary to keep the cord between the lights from sagging.

Locate the solar panel for the lights in a bright location.

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