Thrift A Vintage Bird Cage To Add Beautiful Light And Charm To Your Yard

Statement lighting is still wildly popular, but thus far, the trend's been mainly an indoor phenomenon. Adventurous homeowners have been brightening up living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and even closets with attention-grabbing illumination. It's about time for this fad to get some fresh air by stepping outdoors. A thrifted birdcage is an ideal object to turn into an outdoor statement light. Its metal structure will hold up against weather and let tons of light through the bars in unexpected style.

There are as many ways to morph a birdcage into a light as there are light fixtures and types of bird cages. The one you end up with will likely dictate how you use it. Purely decorative metal bird cages are not uncommon, either. Keep your eyes out and mind open, because you could stumble across another type of pet cage that would make a cool shift to a lighting feature. You may even luck out on a quirky cage still outfitted with colorful birdy toys that you'll want to leave as part of the light. However you use a bird cage to make your outdoor space visually pop at night, any kind of setup is sure to be unique.

What sorts of existing outdoor lighting do you have? A lackluster wall-mounted porch light or uninspired lamp post near a walkway may be itching for an avian upgrade. The switch could be as simple as removing the current covering and attaching the cage in its place. Solar stake lighting is a handy outdoor accessory, but they can be plain and utilitarian. Many ornamental bird cages are small and can slide over these types of lights with few adjustments, adding ambiance while making your yard safe. Source cages with open or wire bottoms and tops that aren't solid so that the sun can still reach the solar panel. If the cage has a wire base, use wire cutters to remove all of it or just enough to slide over the bulb. And two or three well-spaced landscape staples pressed into the ground over the lowest rungs of the cage will prevent wind and minor bumps from dislodging them.

If you have a covered outdoor area with a ceiling-mounted light, this sheltered area gives you more leeway with the type of cage you use. It may be protected enough to make using a wooden decorative cage feasible. An ornate cage inverted over the bulb and anchored to the ceiling with U-brackets is an offbeat take on this bird cage upcycle. Even a more obvious pendant light-type cover made from a bird cage will still catch the eye. Many homeowners have made string lighting a year-round yard enhancement, and hanging either small decorative cages or larger ones several bulbs apart on the string gives a charming effect without much effort.