Make An Eye-Catching Light Display With A Soda Can

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

When it comes to setting the mood at a house party, getting the lighting right sits near the top of the list. Bright or dim, moody or riotous, the lighting is often the first indicator of the sort of vibe you can expect when you step into a room. There are plenty of pre-made party lighting accessories to purchase, but it's arguably more fun to make your own from empty soda cans. Edith Luceroo of EdithLVR on TikTok posted her version of this smart craft using a Coca-Cola can. She punched holes in the can, following the lines of the cursive script and swoosh of the classic Coke logo. Then she bundled fairy lights with bulbs in varying colors inside the can. The light emitted dances, disco-style, on the walls.

If you have a party coming up, don't throw out those soda cans before trying this DIY project! You'll need to gather a bunch of soda cans together, and you'll also need a can opener and some tools for poking holes in metal. A hammer and a pointy, fine-tipped screwdriver or nail should do the job. Gloves to protect your hands and a towel to keep the can steady while working are also smart items to have on hand. And, of course, you'll need some string lights! Battery-powered mini lights, fairy lights, or even a handful of battery-powered LED tea light candles are all great options. While the projected light produced by this DIY is great for indoor use, these soda can lanterns are a creative lighting idea to upgrade your outdoor parties with, too, provided you use weatherproof lights.

First, decide on your light source. Will you use string lights or LED tea light candles? Colored or white bulbs? Tea light candles typically aren't as bright as string or fairy lights; your lanterns will probably emit a soft glow rather than project a light show. You'll definitely need that can opener if you go with LED tea lights. Your intended location will also influence how you use this unexpected way to repurpose empty soda cans in your home or your garden.

Wash the soda can with soap and water to rid it of any sticky residue. Use the can opener on the base of the can before washing it, taking care to smooth any sharp edges with a hammer or metal file. You can also line the edge with aluminum tape. Then get creative with your hole-punched pattern. Follow the shape of the logo on the soda can or create your own design. Use a fine-point marker to draw shapes, like circles or stars, or create a random pattern that mimics a twinkling starlit sky.

Lay the clean soda can on a towel and gently but firmly hammer the point of a screwdriver or nail into the metal, following your pattern. The can will probably dent as you go. Just keep popping it back into shape, or you can fill it about 80% with water and freeze it so it keeps its shape as you hammer. When you're happy with the design, push the string or fairy lights through the drinking opening and flip the can upside down. Or, if you removed the base of the can, set it over an LED tea light candle. You can make one soda can light or a bunch of them.

Once you've made your soda can lantern, you need to decide where you'd like to place it. If you fitted it with an LED tea light candle, which emits a soft glow, you can use it like a lantern. Place it in a mantel or window sill vignette or incorporate it into a festive tablescape. You could make a group of soda can lights into a garland to hang up indoors — along a bookshelf, across a window frame, or below a fireplace mantel. Use the same screwdriver or nail and hammer combo to punch holes for ribbon or jute twine. Alternatively, you could turn the cans into lanterns by fashioning handles from bendable wire. Hang the lanterns garland-style from string or individually.

Outdoors, you can use this DIY to turn your garden into an illuminated, enchanted escape — it's the perfect vibe for parties. You'll want to coat your soda can lights with a rust inhibitor or even a protective spray paint, like Krylon Fusion All-in-One Metallic Spray Paint and Primer, in your preferred color. Allow the finish to dry completely, then use the same string or wire handle technique to hang your creations from tree limbs, patio eaves, wall-mounted plant hooks, or shepherd's hooks set in the ground around your yard. Now, you are ready to share the magic of the starry night sky with your friends and family.