The Stunning Dollar Tree Hula Hoop Upcycle That Will Light Up Your Backyard
With spring and summer right around the corner, you may be thinking of ways to enhance your backyard without having to spend much on decor. Luckily, this Dollar Tree hack will allow you to create a gorgeous light fixture for your patio or yard with a few hula hoops. This DIY project is rather simple and is an easy way to decorate your outdoor space. To make your light fixture, you will need at least one hula hoop from Dollar Tree, some string lights, and some fishing line or twine to hang it. You may also consider using spray paint to change the color of your hoops, or adding decorations, such as faux greenery and flowers, fake birds nests with eggs, or other outdoorsy features.
There are several ways to use your hula hoops to create unique outdoor lighting. With one hula hoop and some icicle lights ($10 on Amazon), you can make a gorgeous chandelier to hang over a sitting area. You could also wrap a few hoops in lights and hang them throughout your yard or in a tree. Additionally, three hula hoops could be connected to make a beautiful light sphere, decorated to match your yard's aesthetic.
Upcycling your Dollar Tree hula hoop into a light fixture
If you'd prefer your hula hoops not be a vibrant color, start by spray painting them white, silver, black, gold, or a muted hue that matches your decor. This is a great way to use up spray paint from previous projects too. Alternatively, if your hula hoops are covered in a decorative tape, you may be able to peel it off to have plain white hoops. Once the paint has dried, you'll need to decide how you want to style your hoops before starting. To make simple hoop lights, wrap battery operated string lights, such as this 12 pack of fairy lights from Amazon for $14, around each hula hoop. The hoops can then be hung with fishing line wherever you'd like. This is the easiest way to create your upcycled lighting.
For a chandelier, use twist ties to attach the main string of your icicle lights around the hula hoop so that the loose strings dangle downward. Now, tie four pieces of twine, fishing line, tulle, or ribbon to your hoop, and then tie the strings together at the top. This will form a hanging mechanism that ensures your hoop stays level. You can further decorate your hula hoop chandelier by wrapping faux flowers, ribbon, or greenery around it, though you'll need to be careful that your embellishments aren't covering the lightbulbs. This is a great option for decorating a small backyard, since it shouldn't take up much room.
Making a lighted sphere with a Dollar Tree hula hoop
While this method is more complicated, it will allow you to create a beautiful light fixture that will make your backyard more unique. After you've painted your hula hoops, slip one inside the other and tie them together with flexible wire, such as paddle wire or floral wire. Now, put your joined hoops through another hoop and fasten it in the same spot, making your sphere. If you'd like, the hoops can also be attached by drilling a hole in each one, lining up the holes, and securing all three with a large screw and a nut. This method will also allow you to attach a cheap plastic plate, like this decorative cake plate from Dollar Tree, to the base of your sphere to neatly hold faux flowers or other decorations. Simply make a hole in the center of the plate, place it over the screw on the bottom of your sphere, and add another nut above the plate. If you're worried it won't be sturdy, use super glue to ensure everything stays in place.
Begin wrapping your lights around your hoops however you'd like, leaving the battery packs on the edges of the plate or balanced in the bottom of your sphere. For those using a plate, try gluing a piece of floral foam to the center to attach your decorations. Now, you can adorn your unique light fixture with flowers, using the decor to hide the batteries.