Turn Terracotta Pots Into The Cutest Lighting Idea For Your Backyard

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Looking for new lighting ideas for your yard? There are probably a million options out there, from solar lights you stick in the ground to twinkle lights you hang from your pergola. You can even upcycle pickle balls into cool-looking garden lights for pathways! It's always good to have options, especially if you're looking for a unique lighting solution to add a little character to your yard. Well, here's another creative idea. With a bit of paint and a solar stake light, you can transform terracotta pots into cute, ladybug-themed lights for your backyard.

Now you may be thinking that terracotta pots aren't exactly a unique piece to add to your outdoor space. That's true. Terracotta is one of the most popular planter materials. But if you're already gardening with terracotta pots, you probably have a few spare ones lying around. It turns out these durable pots are great for outdoor DIY projects, like creating garden lights that look like one of the world's most endearing insects.

To get started, you'll need a terracotta pot (try this four-pack of Orceler Medium Terracotta Pots), along with spray paint or acrylic paint and a paintbrush. You'll need black, white, and red paint. Grab a Sharpie, a piece of chalk, a paint dauber (like this Vivinin Round Sponge Brush Set), and a waterproof sealant. Mod Podge Dishwasher Safe Waterbase Sealer is a good choice. Finally, you'll need a small stake-style solar light. The stake needs to fit into the drainage hole in the bottom of the terracotta pot. Now that you've gathered all the supplies you'll need, it's time to make some ladybug lights!

First, clean the terracotta with a damp cloth. Then you can start painting the upside down pot like a ladybug. Paint the the body of the pot red and the rim black. After the paint has dried (it shouldn't take more than 30 minutes), place something circular on the rim of the pot and trace around the top half of it with chalk. Then paint this large half-circle black. After the paint has dried, draw two oval shapes in chalk and paint them white. These are the cute, cartoon-style eyes of the ladybug. Add a black dot in the center of the eyes for pupils and draw two loopy antennae with the Sharpie. Use the dauber to adorn the pot with smaller black dots — add as many as you like! Once you're done, leave the paint to dry, then cover your ladybug with sealant.

To transform this adorable red-and-black bug into a garden light, simply push the stake of the solar light through the drainage hole of the pot. You're done! Not a fan of ladybugs? Consider making bees with yellow and black stripes. Another option is to skip insects altogether and paint the terracotta pots with any design or pattern you wish, from a wobbly Gen Z checkerboard to sweet daisies to tie-dye. You can also paint plastic or concrete pots, as long as the drainage hole is large enough to fit a solar light stake. Prepare your pots by cleaning them and using an appropriate primer. This Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch 2X Ultra Cover Spray Primer is great for plastic, and you can use the Nadamoo All-Surface Primer Spray on concrete. What will your cute terracotta pot lights look like?