Are you spending a lot of summer evenings under your gazebo visiting with friends and family? Or maybe you’d like to devote your evenings to working on DIY projects in your shed. In either case, it’s nice to have lights to turn on as the sun goes down. If you don’t want to take the time to install electrical wiring in your outdoor buildings, I have some alternatives you may want to try.
Five Ways to Brighten Up Your Outdoor Buildings
- Solar-Powered Lights. Did you know you can enjoy solar-powered lighting in your shed without installing solar panels in the ceiling? It’s true. Many big-box stores sell solar-powered lights with a small panel you can mount on an outside wall of your shed. This panel soaks up the sunlight, delivering power to the light you install inside your shed. Some solar-powered lights can operate for three hours when fully charged. I really like the idea of eco-friendly lighting for an outdoor building; don’t you?
- Strings of LED Lights. This is an inexpensive lighting option for a gazebo. They provide a soft glow for a party or any other kind of gathering. Strings of LED lights are available in white, yellow, blue, green, red, and other colors, allowing you to get as creative as you want with your lighting. LED lights produce light without heat, so they don’t present a fire hazard.
- Chinese Lanterns. Brighten up your gazebo with a collection of LED-powered Chinese lanterns. These lanterns are available in a variety of shapes and colors. They are perfect for casting light over a gathering with friends, a family reunion, a wedding reception, and other events. Hang a few LED-powered Chinese lanterns in your shed to give you some light and add some pizzazz to your practical outdoor building.
- An LED Chandelier. Give an extra touch of elegance to your gazebo by installing a chandelier powered by LEDs. Choose a chandelier in brushed nickel, bronze, gold, or plain white. There are dozens of options when it comes to the shape and design of these unique chandeliers. You can even have little shades on each of the lights! In addition, an LED chandelier with a simple design can be a fun way to light up your shed while you work on pet projects.
- Florescent Lanterns. These are lightweight lanterns with florescent bulbs powered by batteries. Personally, I like the freedom of being able to move my lighting when needed. You can set a lantern on the workbench in your shed or hang one from a hook on the wall. You may want to get more than one lantern so you can place them in different spots around your shed. Hang them on the posts of your gazebo or set them on the floor to add some light to the space.
Having a light source means you can enjoy your gazebo, shed, garage, or other outdoor building in the evening as well as during the daytime. This gives you more hours of fun in the summertime! Thanks for reading. – Alan
