The Easiest DIY Dual Purpose String Lights And Umbrella Stands

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While it may seem like you're at the weather's mercy when you want to relax on the patio, you may have more power over the situation than you realize. No, you can't magically stop the rain, lighting can be well within your control. As Instagram creator @gatheratthebooths discovered, it only takes one addition to gain instant shade on sunny days and extra light for night-time entertaining. We're talking about a DIY umbrella stand with a twist, combining a sturdy container, quick-setting concrete, and PVC pipes in an easy, adaptable design.

Following the basic premise of the IKEA hack for turning your planter into an umbrella base, you'll use concrete in a container to hold a PVC pipe upright. Set the pipe in the center of the container. Pour enough concrete around it to give the base a decent amount of weight, generally at least 10 pounds for every foot of umbrella diameter. Use a level to keep the PVC pipe vertical as the concrete sets. Once it dries, fill the top with stones or gardening soil and your favorite plants.

A DIY base for an umbrella supplies immediate relief on overly bright days. But the secret to this hack is the extra poles you can swap in to hold string lights. When the sun goes down, pop out the umbrella and insert a wood support into the base to hold up the lights as they illuminate the area. If you're not ready to splurge on a dual-purpose backyard umbrella, this offers a versatile setup on the cheap.

For this dual-purpose outdoor DIY to work, you'll need to make a few planter bases. Having several PVC pipe planters on the patio provides points for putting poles that can carry string lights around the area. At the same time, you'll have more spots to place umbrellas. You can make the poles for the string lights from resawn pieces of lumber, such as cut-down two-by-fours. Using 8-foot pieces is ideal because they'll raise the string lights to a comfortable height for anyone walking around. Just be sure to choose wood that can survive in the elements, like pressure-treated pine boards. Many types of wood that are easy to build with, including cedar and white oak, are also naturally rot-resistant and perfectly fit for a durable outdoor project.

After cutting your post to fit into the umbrella base, you only have to install a hook at the top end. Pre-drill a hole about an inch from the end so you can screw in a hook, like this FSAH Q Hanger. Then, put the pole in the PVC pipe in the planter, and hang your string lights from the hook at the top. Make a few more poles for the other DIY bases to complete a setup circling your hangout area. Since the concrete-loaded base will be a bit hefty, consider putting it on a wheeled base, like this Tadpolebaby Heavy-Duty Plant Caddy. Now, you can roll each stand anywhere you need it, letting you dictate the perfect amount of light and shade to improve the experience.