Nothing sets the perfect dinner al fresco scene like a statement outdoor light! This DIY patio lighting idea is easy and battery operated!
I absolutely loved our DIY basket pendant light that we made for our breakfast nook. So I 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 me a good reason to photograph our new Teaka outdoor dining table and chairs from Article that I’m in love with!
We’ve actually them for a few months now and 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.
Article makes it easy to attain a beautiful, modern outdoor space — and right now, home is an important place to be!
If you’ve never shopped with them, I highly recommend it. Plus, they have $49 free flat rate shipping and in stock items always ship super fast, which you can’t beat!
All of this to say, I’m not sorry for how many table photos I’ve shamelessly shared in this DIY post. I can’t help it, haha!
Materials for a DIY Battery Operated Outdoor Light
We have several strands of outdoor string lights around our patio and deck railing, but I still wanted to create a focal point above our new Article 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
I’m all about creating a warm ambiance when we have guests over. And the more cozy lighting we have, the better.
Here are some of my 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.
My 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 —
- DIY Flamingo Ring Toss Backyard Game
- Jalapeno Skinny Margarita
- This battery-operated outdoor light could also be a unique gift for friends or DIY gift
- A DIY floor table to go with you outdoor patio lighting ideas
- Our original basket light how-to
- Make your own DIY diffuser for entertaining
DIY Battery Operated Patio Light
Equipment
- Scissors
Materials
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
- 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.
My apologies! i didn’t see the link. Thanx, again!
No worries! Let us know how it turns out!
Wonderful! Thank you so much!
I love this so much. Can you tell me the brand and wattage of the LED bulb you used? Thanks!
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!
Love the light idea! Where did your chairs come from?
Hi Kelly! They are from Article and we have a link to the them in the blog post.
Wow, that is stunning! I’m in awe!
Thank you, Julie! Come and see it in person!
Thank you so much! Definitely try this!
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You’re welcome!
What a brilliant idea! Thanks so much for this tutorial! Really helpful!
You’re welcome, Toni!
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!
You’re welcome, Natasha! It’s a really easy DIY!
Great idea – beautiful I love everything about it1
Thank you, Melissa! XOXO