Don't Get Rid Of That Old Garden Hose, Turn It Into Cool Light-Up Home Decor Instead

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Even with proper storage and care, your garden hose probably won't last forever without developing kinks, holes, or springing a leak. Of course there are some simple ways to deal with a leaking garden hose — grab the super glue for a quick fix, for example. But even then, the repairs are just temporary. Luckily, with so many unexpected ways to repurpose a garden hose around your house, you can give your old hose a new lease on life. Instead of going through the hassle of patching it up and eventually tossing it in the trash, repurpose it into a beautiful DIY lamp base for your living room or bedside table. 

For this project, you will need one heavy-duty cardboard roll or tube mailer used for packaging posters and documents. You will also need an old garden hose, some strong glue, utility scissors, paint, scrap cardboard, a light cord with a socket, a lightbulb, and a lampshade. With all those supplies on hand, this project comes together pretty quickly. In the end, you'll have a stylish light fixture that no one would ever guess was once an old hose. 

Start by thoroughly cleaning your garden hose to remove any stuck dirt or debris. Then, measure your cardboard roll and begin cutting strips of hose that are the same length as the cardboard. Use a hot glue gun or some E-6000 to cover the outside of the roll with your garden hose strips until the cardboard is no longer visible. Now that the basic lamp base structure is complete, you can add a little personality by painting it. Opting for a shade of brown will help give the illusion of slatted wood, but any color you like will work. Wrap the base with canvas ribbon for added decorative flair. 

Next, cut out two circles of cardboard to cover the top and bottom of your lamp base. Attach the bottom cover with glue. Then, cut a hole in the center of your top cover, string your lamp socket and wire through the hole and into the lamp base structure, then seal the top cover with glue.

The final step is to screw in an appropriate light bulb. Because the structure is made with cardboard, it is essential to use a low-heat light bulb such as LED to prevent the risk of a fire. If you don't feel comfortable using wires and bulbs, you can skip this step and attach an LED puck light instead. Alternatively, these Ovyiech Rechargeable Battery Operated Light Bulbs with Remote Control would also work great. Finally, you need to add a lampshade. Thankfully, these are easy to find second hand. Or, if you're still feeling crafty, give a thrifted lampshade new life by treating the fabric with dye to match the aesthetic of your lamp stand.