How To Diy String Light Planters
DIY String Light Poles Tutorial: Quick, Easy & Cheap!
You want the look of string lights for your outdoor patio however, you are stuck on how to hang them. Sure, you could attach them to your house, install a few hooks and hang them from a post, or even wrap them around nearby furniture. Yet youll quickly grow defeated after that first thunderstorm results in a tangled mess of lights and the need to start from scratch. Instead, what you need are heavy duty planters utilizing conduit posts, cement, wire, and more. You need a full tutorial for DIY string light planters, and Im here to help! CustomizableBelow is a step-by-step tutorial that includes materials, tools, and directions to replicate our exact outdoor lighting display . It is important to note, that the number of string light planters and in-ground posts will vary dependent upon your outdoor patio square footage and personal taste. Planter SelectionAdditionally, when selecting planter pots for this DIY process, Id recommend not choosing plastic. Not only do these not provide the additional weight necessary to withstand strong wind storms, but they also risk cracking in colder temperatures. Pictured below I utilized faux ferns to decorate mine . That said, if following the exact tutorial shown below and including a drainage hole, you should be free to add soil and plant live flowers. From the Inside, to the OutsideHanging The String LightsCommercial LightsWhen we first started this project, we had these commercial-style lights. Commercial lights are heavier with thick cords, and are supposedly more durable. Because we had the heavier style lights, we initially tried to follow this tutorial by Blue I Style. We found that the materials used in this tutorial were very expensive . Installing the wire also took us a solid two to three hours, and that was on only half of the patio. After doing half of the wire, we decided to test out how the lights would look. Remember how I mentioned that we went with the skinnier wood posts and smaller 5-gallon buckets? Well, this ended up being a huge problem with the heavier, commercial lights. When we hung them on the wire, they were so heavy that they looked just saggy. Ultimately, we realized the commercial style lights are not ideal for use with light poles, because the light pole may tip over under the weight of the lights. I would recommend commercial style lights if you are hanging them permanently between two solid structures, such as between your house and your garage or shed. Regular LightsWe went with these instead, which are much more cost-effective, lighter, have amazing reviews, and have held up well for us. Because we were now working with lighter string lights, we didnt do the tension wire on the second half of the patio. Instead, we simply tied a knot in the string to hold tension around the hooks. Stabilize The 4x4s With Corner BracesThis next part is also optional, but we decided to be safe and attach the posts to the planters using corner braces on two sides, to keep them in place while the concrete dried. Once the braces were attached to the 4×4s, we centered it inside of the barrel , then used screws to secure it to the bottom. The bottom of the barrel was thin wood so the screws arent very solid and the post can still wiggle around, but its enough to keep it steady. Read Also: How To Identify Vintage Wrought Iron Patio Furniture Diy String Light PolesOnce the posts are in, you are ready to finish up the project. No waiting time! I decided to use 10.5-ft L 17-Gauge Vinyl Coated Steel Chain Link Fence Top Rail poles for my posts. They were the height I needed and were thick enough to withstand a little pressure. I also liked how these 1-3/8 Black Rail End fit perfectly on top and created a hook system for the lights, which means I didnt have to drill through the metal to add a hook. To ensure everything was secure, I added Loctite Construction Adhesive to the inside of the cap before I placed them on top. The glue dries quickly and is made for metal. Step : Making A Square Concrete Planter This Is A Complete Diy Project That Can Be Designed To Fit Your Space Concrete Planters Are Durable And Easy To Decorate Such As Adorning Them With MosaicsHow to make CONCRETE PLANTER?Materials: the cheapest plywood Lowes offers 6-50 lb.bags of quick-set concrete the trusty nail gun and large staples Steps: First: Draw a sketch of the concrete planter according to the size of your plan. Next: create square inset with bottom plate according to your sizes, then staple together outer frames. The size of the bottom plate should be the same as the size of the insets. Next: Find a flat ground to place the outer frame, then mix the concrete. Spread about 1.5 thick concrete on the bottom, then place the inset on it. You need to reserve a drain hole at the bottom. Finaly: Fill the frame with concrete. Detailed TUTORIAL can be seen here ===> modernmaizy.blogspot.com Also Check: Outdoor Pergola Ceiling Fan Wooden Planters With BuiltI love how these planters have built in poles for string lights: we can plant them with summer flowers and enjoy the ambiance of string lights at night! Earlier in the summer, one of my friends asked whether Id ever used concrete to make a planter with a pole for holding up string lights. My answer was nope, but I offered to make one out of wood so it would be a little more stylish and a little less heavy. Thanks so much to those of you asking about the instructions hopefully these make sense, but leave a comment with ANY questions! Unfortunately when I build I kind of make it up as I go so its not always so easy to write up when alls said and done. Building The Diy PlantersFor the wood planter boxes, we chose to follow Tabitha Blues Outdoor Planter Boxes plan on the Fresh Mommy Blog. Head over to her page for information on the materials and the cut list. But, keep in mind that we discovered some parts of her tutorial that were incorrect. If you want to build these same planters, I would recommend reading my post first so you know what to expect and do differently, then head over to Tabithas post for the plans. Then, come back here to read on how we secured our light poles in cement we did this differently than Tabithas tutorial. This post will detail what we learned, what we would have changed, and what we think worked well. You May Like: How To Install A Ceiling Fan On An Existing Aluminum Patio Cover How To Hang Outdoor String Lights From Diy Posts: Add LightsArrange the planters in a rectangle no more than 10 apart. Secure one end of the string lights to one of the cup hooks with the hook attached to the light, or with cable ties or twist ties if no hook exists. Continue stringing the lights, making an outline of the planters. When you have reached the first planter and have formed a rectangular outline of lights, begin zigzagging the lights from one side of the outline to the other, spacing the passes of string far enough apart so that they will be evenly distributed to the end. Secure the end to a cup hook as you did the beginning of the string. Attach an outdoor-safe extension cord and plug into an outlet. Sam Henderson When you have reached the first planter and have formed a rectangular outline of lights, begin zigzagging the lights from one side of the outline to the other, spacing the passes of string far enough apart so that they will be evenly distributed to the end. Secure the end to a cup hook as you did the beginning of the string. Attach an outdoor-safe extension cord and plug into an outlet. How To Create Patio String Lighting With Diy Pole
DIY STRING LIGHT POLES | EASY DIY
Lighting is an important feature when it comes to outdoor space, especially at summer night. It will make the evening special and cozy. If there is a pergola in your homes outdoor, that will be easy to string some outdoor globe lights around it. However, not every house has pergola, this time you need a solution to set your STRING LIGHTING. One of my friend adviced to use concrete and gallon bucket to make a planter with a pole for holding up string lights. It is a good idea. And since you dont have to install anything permanent for this set up, its cool diy project for a rented house as well. Lets get started! Read Also: Deck Or Patio Cost How To Make Diy String Light PolesStep One: Drill holes into the bottom of barrel for drainage. Step Two: Attach a #6 Screw Hook to the top of the post. Step Three: Place the barrel where you plan to keep it. Once it is filled with soil and plants, it will be difficult to move. Center bottom of post in barrel. It will be useful to have a second pair of hands to hold the post in place. Use L brackets and screws to attach the post to the inside of the barrel. I considered using concrete to secure the post but decided that the large brackets and weight of the soil and plants would be more than enough to hold the planters in place. We had some strong winds with this summers storms and the planters didnt move an inch. Step Four: Once the post is secure, you can use a paint brush to apply stain to the post. You can skip this step but I think the stain better matches the aged appearance of the whiskey barrel. I chose an oak color for the stain and really like how it turned out. Step Five: Once the stain has dried, add soil and plants to the barrel. We chose inexpensive annuals which gave us beautiful blooms all summer long. Be sure to generously water your new plants. In a couple of weeks, Ill be swapping them out for some mums in the colors of fall. Im really looking forward to the cooler weather. Well definitely spend most evenings outdoors and more comfortably be able to do more entertaining. Diy String Light PoleBrighten your backyard with these DIY string light poles. Using concrete, lumber and string lights, you can illuminate your yard in style.
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