Upcycle Any Glass Lampshade Into Beautiful Walkway Lights

Your home's curb appeal sets the stage for first impressions. A well-maintained exterior signals that you care for and value your property. In addition to yard and home exterior maintenance, outdoor accessories can also help elevate a home's appearance, taking first impressions to the next level. Walkway lights are a popular accessory and upgrade the look of a home while also making walking up to your house at night a little safer. Of course, there are plenty of walkway light sets available for purchase. Your home is filled with personal touches, though, so why not extend that personalization to your walkway by customizing your own set of lights? Using only thrifted glass light shades, stick solar lights (the unused ground stake can be used for a garden hose guide or another project), wire, industrial-strength adhesive, and light hooks, you can make a set of walkway lights that will bring your home's exterior to the next level.

This glass lampshade upcycle doesn't require any extra customization to make your walkway look amazing, but there are still plenty of fun ways to give this project even more of a personal touch. Whatever you decide to do, you will end up with a beautifully lit outdoor walkway with a look unlike any other. This is a great accessory for an outdoor walkway DIY for both homeowners and renters alike, as it doesn't require any underground wiring or landscaping changes. 

To begin this project, cut a piece of wire to extend from one side of the top of a lampshade to the other, with extra length for hanging slack and securing the wire at the ends. This will be the hanging hook. Use a wire strong enough to hold the lampshade and light, or you can double a thinner wire over itself, as well. Cut a second, smaller piece of wire and wrap it around the rim of your lampshade loosely. On both sides of the lampshade, attach each end of the long hook wire piece to the smaller wraparound one by twisting it around the smaller piece tightly. Then, pull the rim wire tight, twist the ends together, and fold it onto the rim. Next, turn on a solar light by removing the lamp cover and flipping the switch. Replace the cover and apply a strip of heavy-duty adhesive to the top of the lampshade rim. Finally, place the solar light, bulb-side-down, onto the lampshade and hang the unit on a light hook.

To further customize your new outdoor walkway lighting, you can use glass paint and a clear weatherproof finish to give the lights a pretty tint. Another option for painting the lampshades is to use stencils to paint little flowers or designs. This is a great idea for lampshades that don't already have a decorative flair. Further, if you want to change your custom walkway lampshades seasonally, you can use hot glue instead of strong adhesive.