Say Goodbye To Pricey Outdoor Lights — Use Old Hoses To Brighten Garden Paths

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There's something magical about walking through a well-lit garden in the evening. Maybe it's the way the warm light gilds the blooms you usually see by daylight or the way the shadows hide those weeds you forgot to pull that morning. But one glance at the outdoor lighting aisle at your local home improvement store might have you rethinking whether outdoor lights are really worth it. The answer? Absolutely, especially when you can repurpose that old hose lingering in your garage into the outdoor lighting of your dreams.

TikToker @Sami_Smith did exactly this by slicing up an old garden hose, attaching the ends to spikes, and sliding the spikes into the edge of her lawn. Then she arched each hose piece and taped holiday lights to it to illuminate her yard without the hassle of hardwiring lights. The hose acts as a brace for the lights, and you can shape them into whatever design you want. 

Creating this beautiful DIY that lights up your back patio, garden paths, or even your driveway is easy and budget-friendly, especially compared to the light ropes on store shelves right now. All you need is an old hose, some light spikes, leftover holiday lights (plug them in first to make sure they still work!), and electrical tape or zip ties. Oh, and at least a weekend; this is a straightforward DIY, but it's not always a quick job, so give yourself plenty of time.

Ready to use that old garden hose to make your outdoor space visually pop at night? First, decide what you want the lights to look like. The traditional light rope is always a great choice. It's versatile, easy to make and install, and can adapt to pretty much every garden path. Or you could take a page out of @wambamsam_'s book and create arches with it. This style adds a whimsical air and especially complements flowering garden beds. If the lights will border your garden, one thing to consider is how often you need to access the flowerbeds. If you need to weed weekly or you have kids that climb in and out of the beds, something lower to the ground might be best so there's no tripping hazard.

@wambamsam_

Christmas lights hack! ✨ We used an old hose that was leaking. You could also use hula hoops, or irrigation drip tubing! #christmaslighthack #christmashack #christmas #christmasonabudget #christmas2022 #christmaslights #christmasdecor #christmasdecorations #whitelights #foryoupage #fypシ #outdoorchristmasdecor #cheapchristmasdecorations #cheapchristmas #budgeting

♬ A Mad Russian's Christmas (Instrumental) – Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Found your design? Next, decide on decor. Or, in other words, let's give that hose a little polish before adding the lights. Yes, it's a little extra work, but it makes the DIY look cohesive. The best way to customize it is with paint. Give your hose a good scrub and sand if needed, then use a rubber-friendly paint, like Flex Seal Spray Rubber Sealant Coating or, if your hose is vinyl, something like Rust-Oleum Vinyl White Spray Paint.

Once your hose is properly done up, trim as needed (and necessary), and spike into the ground to secure. Then line up the holiday lights next to the hose and secure them. Clear zip ties may be the best option — they're unobtrusive, easy to use, and do the job well — but electrical tape can do in a pinch.