Light Up Any Room With An Easy Dollar Tree DIY Using Paper Doilies

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As charming as their glow can be, sometimes a simple strand of string lights is, let's be honest, a little boring. Luckily, you can elevate the look with this creative way to repurpose string lights all over your home. All you need are some inexpensive Dollar Tree paper doilies to transform a strand of tiny lights into something that feels warmer and more intentionally styled. All you have to do is attach doily spheres to each bulb, almost like paper lanterns, for a vintage garland-like effect that also diffuses the light. The glow from each light is softened and the whole strand is elevated with a trending cottagecore or romantic aesthetic.

When used like this, paper doilies are more than just decorative statements — they are really effective light diffusers, too. Depending on the color of the doilies, they can even affect light temperature, turning a cool bulb warm, for example. They create something interior designers love for comforting spaces in a home: ambient lighting. It's a more relaxing lighting option than the often harsh glow of ceiling-mounted bulbs. Plus, paper doilies have cutouts through which the light filters, casting visually interesting shadows around a room. This small upgrade is incredibly cost-effective — a Dollar Tree Multipack of Round Paper Doilies in Assorted Sizes costs just $2 and a strand of Jmexsuss LED Warm White String Lights goes for about $14. The only other supplies you need are a Crafters Square Sewing Thread Set, also from Dollar Tree, a large needle, scissors, and a hot glue gun.

This clever idea is arguably one of the most creative ways to turn Dollar Tree's paper doilies into stunning home décor. Here's the method: First, fold four Dollar Tree doilies in half, then stack them so the folded edges match. Hot glue each doily along the folded edge. Once the glue has hardened, you can gently open the flaps and join them together to create a ball. The aim is to create a lantern-like sphere that evenly distributes the light from each bulb. Secure the flaps with glue, forming a circle. Repeat the process with all the flaps until you have a ball or sphere.

Stitch the neck of the bulbs of your string lights to the center of each doily sphere using white thread and a needle. You'll get the best effect if you intentionally shape the doilies around the bulbs as opposed to just haphazardly stitching them on. Don't let the bulb touch the paper.

Ready to take this string light DIY in a more playful direction or customize it for whatever room you're mounting the lights in? Soak the doilies in water with food coloring, paint them with watercolor paints, or DIY a warm brown dye for all your crafts using coffee before transforming them into spheres. This turns a simple string of fairy lights into a thoughtful décor that you would probably pay good money for. Colorful spheres look great in children's bedrooms. While LED string lights generally don't pose a fire hazard, always use safe practices, like only turning them on when you're in a room. Never use string lights with incandescent bulbs, either — they can get hot enough to ignite paper.