Retire Your Old Outdoor Lights: Brighten Garden Paths And Patios With A Compact Walmart Find

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Revamping your garden doesn't always require a complete overhaul. It can be as simple as putting in a specimen plant as a focal point or adding a few planters with seasonal annuals. Incorporating lighting is another option. A tree bathed in a warm spotlight or a garden path lined with soft glowing lights can transform the ambience. There are some beautiful DIYs that will light up your backyard patio, but if you're not a DIYer, you can create the same inviting atmosphere with Rirool Solar Brick Lights.

These lights, which resemble frosted ice cubes, measure 2⅕ inches tall and 2⅘ inches on each side. The scale of the product photos can be deceiving, so just picture one cube fitting in your palm. Made of high-strength safety glass and a lightweight polymer, the lights are durable enough to withstand the elements. The internal battery recharges with sunlight, eliminating some common concerns, such as the hassle of hardwiring lights when illuminating outdoor spaces, finding suitable outlet locations, dealing with ugly visible wiring, and avoiding tripping hazards from cords.

With a compact, flat footprint, these brick lights can be tucked into spots that larger products might not fit. If you're looking for more subtlety, these cubes can serve that purpose while still accenting your yard with luminescence. Another plus is that the solar panel, which can be starkly obvious and unattractive with some solar lights, is well hidden inside the cube.

Solar lights that need to be staked into the ground are restricted to areas with dirt, but these Rirool brick lights can be placed on nearly any surface. Considering the best spots in the garden to place your solar lights? Good locations include flower beds and rock gardens, pathways and steps, and areas around the base of trees, as long as they're bathed in sunlight for much of the day. You could also put them on outdoor dining tables, patio side tables, plant racks, or along a driveway or patio. Avoid areas that are susceptible to flooding. While the lights are waterproof, they might not perform well when submerged.

Reviewers on Walmart's product page have so far given the lights an average rating of four out of five stars across 249 ratings. They primarily liked the sturdy construction and the appearance of the lights. One customer said they periodically moved the bricks around the backyard for different visual effects. Another noted that they preferred these lights over taller solar lights, which tend to get jostled or end up leaning over.

The main complaint about the product was its size, which many reviewers said they were unaware of when they placed their orders — though some customers admitted they didn't thoroughly read the product description. Some reviewers also mentioned that the cubes are more decorative than practical and don't sufficiently illuminate a pathway. There are also mixed reviews about the product's ability to hold a charge. The bottom line: These lights can add coziness and whimsy to your yard, but keep your expectations in check.