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We Found 22 Genius Lighting Ideas That’ll Make You Want to Live in Your Backyard
Article created by: Eligijus Sinkunas
Does your backyard have some serious untapped potential? During the day, it's probably your go-to for questionable DIY projects or just soaking up some rays. But what happens when the sun clocks out? Does it transform into a shadowy no-go zone where only brave raccoons dare to tread? If you're nodding along, thinking "yep, that's my yard's sad evening persona," then you've stumbled upon the right corner of the internet. We're about to dive headfirst into a world where your outdoor space doesn't just exist after dark, it actually thrives, looking cooler than a polar bear's toenails.
Forget those single, sad porch lights that barely illuminate the doormat. We're talking about everything from whimsical solar-powered mushroom pals and chill turtle statues that light up their own little world, to sophisticated outdoor sconces that'll make your house look like it belongs on a design show. Picture twinkling string lights framing your garden beds like a VIP entrance, solar tiki torches bringing island vibes without the plane ticket, and even mini firepits that make every night s'mores night. Get ready, because your backyard is about to get the glow-up it so desperately deserves, turning every corner from "meh" to "OMG, when can we hang out here again?"
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
If You're Tired Of Your Backyard Bonfire Turning Into A Game Of 'Dodge The Smoke Cloud,' You Should Seriously Check Out This Smokeless Wood Pellet Burning Flame
Review: "This fireproof heat-resistant mat is perfect for protecting my surfaces under the fire pit! The 24-inch size fits just right, and it’s easy to clean after use. The non-slip design keeps it securely in place, and I love the waterproof feature —it holds up well in all conditions. A great product for tabletop fire pits! Highly recommend!" - Andrea G.
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#2
If Your Current Lightbulbs Are Delivering All The Excitement Of A Corporate Training Video, You Can Easily Swap Those Snoozefest Spheres For A 3D Fireworks Bulb And Suddenly Your Lamp Is The Life Of The Party
Review: "The bulb looks exactly like it does in the description on Amazon, and it looks awesome." - Doodle
#3
Your Pool Is About To Go Full-On Psychedelic Art Installation After Sunset, No Complicated Setup Required, Just These Colorful Floating Solar Pool Lights
Review: "Fantastic! They are great. Very pleased!" - Denny
#4
If Your Deck Is Yearning For That Don Draper Sipping-An-Old-Fashioned-At-Dusk Kind Of Mood, Then Adding A Retro Outdoor Table Lamp Will Definitely Transport Your Ambiance Back In Style
Review: "Best rechargeable lamp I bought yet. Battery lasts well, light is very bright, and love the option to charge your phone and portability." - Matthew pickens
#5
For Garden Paths That Want To Be Both Safely Navigable And Subtly Magical After Dark, Introducing Some Solar Pebble Lights Is A Seriously Bright Idea
Review: "These stones are not separate, they work together as one unit." - Arvazena Clardy
#6
Meet The Chillest Dude On The Block, This Solar Turtle Statue That's Here To Light Up Your Life (And Your Flowerbeds) With Its Fabulous Floral Shell Display
Review: "Very cute during the day. Sweet lights at night." - Katie45811
#7
To Keep Your Flowerbeds Looking Instagram-Worthy Even After Sunset And Prevent Any Guest (Or Yourself, No Judgment) From Taking An Unexpected Tumble On The Path, You Should Totally Check Out These Ground-Hugging Solar In-Ground Lights
Review: "I should have gotten more! I got the 12 pack and they are very bright but now I want more for the look. They have dressed up my front sooo much. They are super sleek and easy to install. Make sure you turn the button on before sticking them in the ground. I will be ordering more for my mulch beds in front of my fence. Im obsessed!!!" - Amazon Customer
#8
Your Backyard's About To Get That "Survivor: Island Of The Idols" Glow-Up, Minus Jeff Probst And All The Backstabbing, Thanks To These Solar Tiki Torches With Flickering Flames
Review: "I just love sitting outside with my Tiki style torches on. The flicker feels so real and they bring such a wonderful and fun ambiance to my yard. The light temperature is just right." - Wendy Williams
#9
Okay, If Your Garden Is Feeling A Bit Too Static And Could Use Some Gentle, Glowing Dance Moves When The Sun Goes Down, You Should Totally Look Into These Swaying Solar Lights
Review: "Really cool add on to my backyard 😊" - Alisha
#10
Let The Sun Do The Heavy Lifting So Your Backyard Can Look Effortlessly Fab At Night With These Hanging Solar Lanterns
Review: "So beautiful. I love it so much. It lasts all night long after being charged during the day. It is easy to set up. Looks incredibly expensive for a fair price. Frankly, I'm in love!" - Tiffany
#11
If You're Aiming For That Cozy, S'mores-Worthy Ambiance But Don't Want To Commit To A Full-On Backyard Bonfire, You Should Seriously Look Into Getting A Tabletop Firepit For Instant Glow-Up
Review: "Really pretty table top fire. The glass pieces that form the surround are unique and add sophistication. We purchased biofuel from Amazon rather than trying to go store to store to find it in town. The pictures show the fire pit with the medium flame control and it was still coming out of the top of the glass. Ours lasted about 1 hour. I'll probably use the smaller flame control more often so that the fire will last longer. I'm going to get one more. One on each end of the table will be perfect." - michelleleeOKC
#12
For That Moment When You Want Your Patio To Go From Just 'Outside' To 'Omg, It's Like A Fancy Outdoor Living Room,' Adding The Surprisingly Chic Ambiance Of A Tealight Candle Chandelier Is A Pretty Brilliant Move
Review: "Exactly as advertised. Cute chandelier for outdoors. Looks festive over our outdoor bar area." - Amazon Customer
#13
When Your Garden Gnomes Start Demanding A More Cultured Nightlife, This Glass Mosaic Solar Light Is Pretty Much Their Tiny, Glowing Art Exhibition That Powers Itself
Review: "I really like it! Mine just arrived yesterday and I immediately had my sister to sit it outside in the sunlight. Initially I wanted to buy a couple of these and line them up along the raised bed in my backyard. Then I thought, maybe my grandmother would like it as a gift. Either way, I'm gonna buy mor, now that I know for sure how colorful and bright it can be." - Bianca
#14
Give Your Garden Path That 'Effortlessly Chic, I Woke Up Like This But Solar-Powered' Vibe With These Easy-Peasy Bamboo Solar Lights On Stakes
Review: "These outdoor solar lanterns came in a set of two. The description did not make that clear, so I was pleasantly surprised. They look great and the weave pattern adds a charming effect to my front yard’s pathway with the light it casts. The mounting pole is heavy duty, much better quality than other solar light poles I have used. Overall, I am very pleased with this product. My wife wants me to order more." - M. Silva
#15
If Your Idea Of Garden Party Lighting Leans Less 'Twinkly Fairy Lights' And More 'Epic Rock Opera Candelabra,' Then This Metal Candle Chandelier Is Basically Your Backyard's New Headliner
Review: "The chandelier adds just enough to my new bench!" - SUMMER P.
#16
That Fence You Normally Ignore Is About To Have Its 'She's All That' Moment, But Instead Of Freddie Prinze Jr., It's These Colorful Solar Fence Lights Doing The Makeover
Review: "Got these lights to see how they would look in my backyard. I am trying to find lighting solutions for our shed, fence and gazebo. These lights are very simple to set up and install since no power or chargers need to be run, you simply screw mount them to wherever you want to have them." - Amanda G
#17
Prepare For Your Indoor Couch To Throw Some Serious Shade (Of Envy) Once Your Backyard Gets Its Own Stylish Outdoor Floor Lamp Making It The New Fave Hangout Spot
Review: "Used this outdoor solar lamp to read outdoors." - Mike C
#18
If Your House's Exterior Is Currently Giving Off Major 'Meh' Energy, These Modern Metal And Glass Outdoor Sconces Are Basically An Espresso Shot Of Sleek Style For Its Sleepy Walls
Review: "These are so nice! I was a little nervous they would be cheap for the price. Definitely not the case! I love them, ended up buying 3 more!" - Jessica
#19
For That Whimsical, Slightly 'Alice In Wonderland' Aesthetic In Your Yard, But Like, Solar-Powered And Less Likely To Involve Talking Caterpillars, You Should Really Consider These Mushroom Solar Lights
Review: "The mushroom solar light added another level of beauty to my backyard garden. Loving it." - Mathew I.
#20
If Your Tree Is Feeling A Bit Bare After Dark And You Reckon It Deserves A Starring Role In Your Backyard's Nightly Ambiance, You Should Consider Giving It A Luminous Hug With These LED String Lights
Review: "Very bright! We got the 100 foot warm white ones and kinda sad it doesn’t have a way to turn them off/on and dim them since there’s no remote but it’s ok they are really bright." - kayla goss
#21
That Sad, Dark Corner Of Your Yard Is About To Get A Major Glow-Up Thanks To These Curtain Lights
Review: "These lights are exactly what I was looking for. They are soft but bright, the color was exactly what I wanted. They were easy to install and the directions tell you not to unwrap each string until they are hung which was a great tip, it saved time as they for sure would have tangled. The remote control doesn’t have the best range, but it offers multiple light settings. Planning to buy more." - Tammy T
#22
Go Ahead And Make Your Garden Beds The Envy Of Pinterest Or Trace Your Home's Cool Silhouette With These Outdoor String Lights
Review: "Love the lights! The sequence options in the app cover about every effect you could want but if not, you can create your own." - Texan in Ohio
- You Might Also Like: 26 Of The Most Interesting Examples Of The “Butterfly Effect” Happening In History
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