Battery Operated DIY Patio String Lights

ByAshley Last Updated on

Nothing sets the perfect dinner al fresco scene like a statement outdoor light! This DIY patio lighting idea is easy and battery operated!

We absolutely loved our DIY basket pendant light that we made for our breakfast nook. So we played off of that idea to create this battery operated outdoor light.

It’s a super easy home decor project that you can use anywhere. It also gave us a good reason to photograph our new Teaka outdoor dining table and chairs from Article that we’re in love with!

We’ve actually had them for a few months now. aAd the patina on it is so beautiful and the perfect spot for a woven outdoor pendant light. You can definitely tell it’s built to last.

Materials for a DIY Battery Operated Outdoor Light 

We have several strands of outdoor string lights around our patio and deck railing. But we still wanted to create a focal point above our new table. 

Since we don’t have a covered patio, it took a little configuring to be able to hang the DIY pendant light centered over the table. If you’re looking to install yours on a covered patio space then this project will be easy peasy!

  • Warm white LED light
  • Zip ties
  • Rope
  • Eye hooks
  • Synthetic rattan, bamboo, or plastic basket that can withstand the outdoor elements — Baskets that are made from the above materials can be used as indoor-outdoor decorations. Be sure that your chosen basket will weather the elements!

How to Make a Battery Operated Outdoor Light

1 — Since the battery-operated LED light comes with a hook for easy hanging, I used a set of two zip ties to create an easy way to hang the light from a zip tie loop inside the basket. 

2 — If you’re hanging your light from a ceiling, all you’ll need to do is hook the zip tie onto a ceiling eye hook and secure it with another zip tie to make sure it can withstand any wind or rain. 

In case you don’t have a ceiling to attach yours to, you can use a weatherproof braided rope to suspend your light over the table. 

Even though our outdoor string lights were right above the table, I didn’t want the weight of the basket on the existing light strings.

3 — Instead, we strung rope from the house to the tree just for holding up the basket so that it would carry it’s own weight.

4 — Once the basket is hung and secured, you can hook the battery-operated light bulb to the zip tie loop and click the light on. 

The LED light bulb is made of plastic so you don’t have to worry about any shattering.

The bulb casing is also made of plastic which helps to make it weather resistant, though you could easily take it out and put it away when not in use as well. 

How to Charge the Patio Light

There are several different types of battery operated lights. Some will allow you to simply change batteries manually and some will be rechargeable. 

The specific bulb we used is rechargeable and can be used in any traditional lamp or light fixture to recharge the battery. 

Once the lamp is turned on, it charges the battery in the light and allows it to replenish it’s battery life to be used as a portable light. 

Solar and Battery Powered Patio Lighting Ideas

We’re all about creating a warm ambiance when we have guests over. And the more cozy lighting we have, the better. Here are some of our favorites for additional outdoor lighting options —

  • Walking path lights for your patio garden
  • Motion sensor battery activated lights (or ones with security cameras)
  • Solar LED string lights
  • Attached decorative deck lights

How to Choose the Best Outdoor Light Fixture

Is the outside light weather-resistant?

You should always check if the light’s housing is weather-resistant. This includes being able to withstand the rain, wind, cold, or heat. You don’t want to have to change lighting fixtures every year because of the weather, do you?

Will it fit in my outdoor setting?

Sometimes it can be difficult for homeowners to find a light that fits properly in their outdoor setting. It’s important for this to be taken into consideration because you don’t want the light that you install to look out of place or damaged after a few months.

Is it easily cleaned?

You’ll definitely want to purchase a light fixture that is easy to clean, otherwise, it can become dirty and/or damaged easily.

Does it have an energy efficiency ratio of 10 or higher?

Look for a light fixture that has an energy efficiency ration of 10 or more because it’ll mean that you won’t have to spend too much on the lighting unit.

Bear in mind that these are just some factors to consider when choosing outdoor lighting fixtures. If you need more information, you can check out this article about choosing the best outdoor light fixture.

More Easy Home Decor Projects

What do you think? It’s a pretty great way to spruce up your outdoor seating without any extra wires. Our next outdoor project to conquer will be a fire pit area! And in case you’re looking for a few other easy home decor projects, here are a few of my favorites —

a pretty table scene in the backyard with a basket patio light

DIY Battery Operated Patio Light

Print
5 from 8 votes
A super easy home decor project to create a pretty battery operated outdoor light that you can use anywhere.
Total Time20 minutes
Course DIY
Category Lighting

Equipment

  • Scissors

Materials

  • 1 warm white LED light
  • 2 zip ties amount depends how on how easy your bulb can be hung from the basket
  • 1 rope
  • 1 eye hooks
  • 1 synthetic rattan, bamboo, or plastic basket that can withstand the outdoor elements

Notes

  • Baskets that are made from the synthetic rattan, bamboo, or plastic can be used as indoor-outdoor decorations. Be sure that your chosen basket will weather the outdoor elements!

Instructions

  • Since the battery-operated LED light comes with a hook for easy hanging, I used a set of two zip ties to create an easy way to hang the light from a zip tie loop inside the basket. 
  • If you're hanging your light from a ceiling, all you'll need to do is hook the zip tie onto a ceiling eye hook and secure it with another zip tie to make sure it can withstand any wind or rain. 
    In case, you don't have a ceiling to attach yours to, you can use a weatherproof braided rope to suspend your light over the table. 
    Even though our outdoor string lights were right above the table, I didn't want the weight of the basket on the existing light strings.
  • Instead, we strung rope from the house to the tree just for holding up the basket so that it would carry it's own weight.
  • Once the basket is hung and secured, you can hook the battery-operated light bulb to the zip tie loop and click the light on. 
  • The LED light bulb is made of plastic so you don't have to worry about any shattering.
    The bulb casing is also made of plastic which helps to make it weather resistant, though you could easily take it out and put it away when not in use as well. 
    There are several different types of battery operated lights. Some will allow you to simply change batteries manually and some will be rechargeable. 
    The specific bulb we used is rechargeable and can be used in any traditional lamp or light fixture to recharge the battery. 
Cost: $35
KEYWORD: DIY patio lighting idea

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5 from 8 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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19 Comments

    1. Hi Sheila! We have a section dedicated in the post on how to charge the lightbulbs that we used and linked. For ours, you just need to screw them in a regular lamp, turn it on and allow it to charge for a few hours. Then, you can unscrew it and it will still power on. Hope this helps!

      Reply

  3. I love this so much. Can you tell me the brand and wattage of the LED bulb you used? Thanks!5 stars

    Reply

    1. Hi Dianna! We actually linked in the blog post but here’s the exact bulb here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bH2P2 We purchased them off of Amazon: Rechargeable Emergency LED Bulb JackonLux Multi-Function Battery Backup Emergency Light for Power Outage Camping Outdoor Activity Hurricane 9W 850LM 60W Equivalent Daylight 5000K E26 120 Volt 2 Pack. Hope this helps!

      Reply

  9. This is an excellent idea! Been looking for DIY home decorations that I can do and this is definitely going to be on top of my list. Thanks for sharing this!

    Reply