More Rustic Than Plain String Lights: Brighten Garden Paths With A DIY Lantern Made From A Gourd

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There's nothing quite like the warm, soft glow of string lights, but most can agree that they add little to a space's design beyond their trademark cozy illumination. Visible cords and bulbs detract from the effect, creating a look that feels more like leftover Christmas decorations than year-round whimsical decor. The simplest solution is to put the lights inside of another vessel to create a cute lantern, but we've already become familiar with plenty of these design hacks, from using nail polish to transform old glass jars to cutting cute patterns in empty tin cans. This DIY utilizes something a bit more unexpected: a gourd.

Clever creator @sustainablyamber shared an Instagram video laying out the process of turning a dried birdhouse gourd into a pretty hanging light, and the final result is nothing short of magical. The best part? This transformation is incredibly easy to take on yourself. All you'll need is your dried gourd, a saw, a drill, your lights, and some string. After just a few minutes of work, you'll be left with a stunning display that's ideal for finishing off the perfect fairy garden, adding a touch of autumnal coziness to your decor, or simply bringing some fresh light to your space. Because the gourd is fully dried, it should last far beyond one season. Sorry, pumpkins — you've been dethroned.

Getting your hands on a birdhouse gourd, also frequently called a dipper gourd, will be the most difficult part of this DIY. If you're a gardener you can, of course, grow them yourself, but an abundance of patience is required for that approach. Even after harvest, you'll have to wait up to 6 months for the gourd to dry. Otherwise, check out the farmer's market or search online — you can get a Box of Five Dried Dipper Gourds from Meadowbrooke Gourds from Amazon for about $27. Other dried gourds will also work for this project, so there's plenty of opportunity to play around with different sizes, shapes, and textures depending on your desired final look and what's available to you.

To replicate this creator's DIY, you'll begin by cutting off the bottom, bowl-shaped part of the gourd. Don't toss it — you can use it in other crafting projects, as a decorative bowl, or even as a planter. From there, use your drill to create a couple holes along this newly-created edge, then continue drilling holes throughout the body of the gourd for light to shine through. A rotary power tool can also be used for this task if you want a bit more control. Make simple dots, add lines of holes, or attempt to create patterns like simple flowers and swirls. More holes means more light, so cater your design to the amount of illumination you want.

All that's left to do is string your lantern, add your light, and hang it up. Using the holes you created, weave through some twine, yarn, or thin chain, knotting it at the bottom or using small hooks to attach it to the gourd. Toss in your battery-operated string lights to see the beautiful glow. If you plan to use your lantern as a garden decoration, be sure to choose waterproof string lights. Something like these Genswim Waterproof Outdoor Votive Flameless Candles could also work if you're going for a cozy, flickering look.

These lanterns can be hung just about anywhere you see fit — eaves, windowsills, trees — but a shepherd's hook will give you even more flexibility in placement, especially if you want to illuminate your garden path. The autumnal look is sure to pair well with your existing Halloween or harvest season decor, but it would also look great next to some DIY mini fairy houses. Just make sure you cater your placement to the type of light you chose — while some options are truly waterproof, others are simply water-resistant, meaning that the battery pack should still be stowed somewhere that doesn't get direct exposure to rain or snow.

Dried gourds can last for decades if they're kept in dry conditions, but if you live somewhere particularly rainy, it might be a good idea to bring your lanterns in ahead of storms to extend their lifespan. Beeswax and shellac coatings are also great for protecting your gourds from exposure to the elements, so after you've fully carved your lantern, consider adding a protective layer before setting it up outside.