DIY Dollar Tree Solar Chandelier (Under $5!)

In my 30+ years of DIYing, I’ve learned that the best projects save you a ton of money while making your outdoor space look completely magical. After a harsh summer storm, my original expensive garden light completely shattered. Oops! Instead of throwing money away at the big box store, it gave me the perfect excuse to raid my local dollar store. I figured out how to turn a basic wire flower basket into a stunning DIY solar chandelier for under $5. You don’t need to hire an electrician or deal with messy wires.For more ways to survive the summer heat in your yard, check out my Creative Solar Light Ideas for Summer Nights tutorial! You might enjoy my post DIY Solar Windchime from Vintage Utensils

Before picture of materials needed for a solar chandelier and after picture of the built solar chandelier diy

Quick Answer: How do you make a DIY solar chandelier?

Turning a dollar store flower basket into a glowing solar chandelier is a 15-minute, budget-friendly project requiring zero electrical skills. By flipping the wire basket upside down and upcycling a thrifted glass holder, you create a beautiful outdoor light fixture.

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Remove the chains and reattach them so the basket hangs upside down like a dome.
Place a standard solar light inside a flared glass hanging candle holder.
Feed the glass holder through the center hole of the basket.
Hang in a sunny spot and attach decorative crystals for daytime sparkle.

Materials You Will Need

I am all about budget crafting. By grabbing a few things at the dollar store and upcycling a thrifted find, this entire project costs less than a fancy cup of coffee!

My original flower basket solar chandeliers needed an upgrade as the solar light had burned out and it was time...

Wire Flower Basket: I found mine at Dollar Tree for $1.25. Look specifically for the ones with a removable three-point chain.
Hanging Candle Holder: Check your local thrift store; I scored a flared glass one for just a dollar. This is the secret to keeping your light secure!
Standard Solar Light: You can easily grab these garden stake lights at Dollar Tree or Walmart.
Decorative Crystals: I used Hobby Lobby clearance crystals to add a touch of high-end elegance.
Needle-Nose Pliers or Wire Cutters: To help pry off stubborn basket clips without ruining your manicure.

DIY Dollar Tree Solar Chandelier

Step-By-Step Instructions:

Prepping the Basket

Step 1: Remove the Basket Chains

First remove the chains for your flower basket. I saved mine and used them to make this.

To start, we need to remove the chains from your wire flower basket. These Dollar Tree baskets usually use a standard “S” hook or pinch clip. Grab your needle-nose pliers and gently squeeze the base of the clip to pop it off the top rim. Make sure you save the chains and the hooks because we are going to reuse them!

Step 2: Reposition for the Chandelier Dome

Save the hooks from the bottom of the chain.

Place your hooks on the circles of the flower basket where the chains originally attached.

We’re flipping the basket to get that classic chandelier dome shape. Take those chains you just removed and attach the hooks to the bottom circular rings of the basket. Make sure they are evenly spaced on the three sides so your chandelier hangs perfectly level.

Adding the Bling and the Light

Step 3: Attach the Decorative Crystals

This is where the magic happens. Take your glass crystals and hook them onto the chains or the rim of the wire basket. Why add crystals? Even when the solar light isn’t glowing, the glass catches the sunlight during the day, making it look like a gorgeous, expensive piece of garden art.

Step 4: The Solar Light Hack

Pull your solar light off the stem. Now this solar light was to little as it would fall right through the center hole, and I was having a hard time finding a solar light that would fit well in the flower basket.

I found this hanging candle holder at a thrift store. Place your solar light in your candle holder.

Here is the “Oops” moment I promised! Standard Dollar Tree solar lights are too narrow and will slip right through the center hole of the wire basket. To fix this, pop the solar top off its plastic garden stake. Take that thrifted flared glass candle holder and drop the solar light housing directly inside. The flared glass acts as the perfect wedge!

Step 5: Final Assembly

Put the chain of the candle holder through the center hold of the flower basket.

Thread the chain of your thrifted glass holder up through the center hole of the upside-down basket. Gather it with the three chains from the basket, and hook them all to your main hanging point. Boom—a sturdy, glowing fixture!

Enjoying Your New Outdoor Decor

I have 2 and I keep mine in my garden area.

Your solar chandelier is ready to hang! I currently have two of these, and I keep mine in my garden area. You can hang them from garden stakes or a shepherd’s hook. The soft light actually helps keep some night critters away, and I just love the elegant glow it casts across the yard.These would also be perfect hanging from the ceiling or overhang of a deck, adding a touch of romance to a porch or gazebo.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a solar light last at night?

It strictly depends on how much sun it receives during the day. If it gets 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight exposure, it can last several hours into the night. If it’s placed under a covered porch, it might only run for an hour or two.

Can I hang a solar chandelier in a tree?

You can, but remember that solar lights are designed to harness energy from sunlight. Hanging them in the dense shade of a leafy tree will significantly reduce their ability to charge efficiently. Aim for a branch that gets decent afternoon sun.

Will the Dollar Tree wire basket rust outside?

Yes, untreated wire will eventually rust if left in the rain. If you want to prevent this, or if you just want a different color, give the wire basket a quick coat of Rust-Oleum outdoor spray paint before assembling!

Easy Flower Basket to Solar Chandelier Video

Expert Tips for Customizing Your Chandelier

You don’t have to stick strictly to wire flower baskets for this project! I’ve found incredible woven and wire baskets at Target, IKEA, and HomeGoods that work beautifully with this same method.

Want to bring this look indoors?

Flower Pot Hanging Star Lamp - lamp on in dark

You can easily adapt this project for your living room or bedroom. Simply snip a hole in the bottom of a basket and thread a standard pendant light kit through it. If you don’t want to mess with electrical cords, just drop a battery-operated puck light inside. (If you love indoor lighting hacks, check out how I made a Flower Pot Hanging Star Lamp

Flipping Old Chandeliers

DIY Upcycled Porch Decor (6) Solar Chandelier

I hung it in a tree. Here is an important tip. I needed to make sure that the chain was long enough so that it would get enough sunlight during the day under tree branches to glow at night.

If you want something a bit more formal than a dollar store basket, check Facebook Marketplace. I constantly find outdated dining room fixtures for just a few dollars. You can rip out the wiring, spray paint the brass, and drop solar lights where the bulbs used to be to create a stunning upcycled outdoor solar chandelier. If you liked this light you might enjoy all of the other solar chandeliers I created:

More Budget Lighting Ideas

Do you love Dollar Tree? Me too! I sharing fantastic Dollar Tree Candle Holders DIY with you that are easy and inexpensive.

I am a huge fan of creating outdoor ambiance without spending a fortune. If you have leftover solar lights from this project, you can easily turn them into budget-friendly dollar store candle holders for your patio table, or toss some solar string lights inside a jar to make a quick mason jar lantern. See this easy DIY solar lantern: Super Easy Dollar Tree Candle Holders

Dollar Tree Solar Chandelier

In my 30+ years of DIYing, I’ve learned that the best projects save you a ton of money while making your outdoor space look completely magical. After a harsh summer storm, my original expensive garden light completely shattered. Oops! Instead of throwing money away at the big box store, it gave me the perfect excuse to raid my local dollar store. I figured out how to turn a basic wire flower basket into a stunning DIY solar chandelier for under $5. You don't need to hire an electrician or deal with messy wires.

Active Time15

Total Time15

Yield: 1 solar chandelier

Cost: 5

Materials

1 Wire Flower Basket with chains
1 Flared Hanging Glass Candle Holder
1 Solar Garden Stake Light
Decorative Glass Crystals Optional

Instructions

Use pliers to remove the chains from the top rim of the wire flower basket.
Flip the basket upside down to create a dome shape.
Reattach the chains to the rings on the bottom of the basket, spacing them evenly so it hangs level.
Hook decorative glass crystals onto the chains for daytime sparkle.
Remove the solar light top from its plastic garden stake.
Drop the solar light into the flared glass hanging candle holder (this prevents the light from falling through the wire basket).
Feed the chain of the glass candle holder through the center hole of the upside-down basket.
Hang your new chandelier in a spot that gets 6-8 hours of direct sunlight!

Notes

Expert Notes: If you want to customize your chandelier to match your patio furniture, spray paint the wire basket first! Just make sure it is completely dry before adding the glass holder and solar light.

39 Comments

Chloe says:

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If you had a lot of trees to hang these from, it would be so pretty. I could see these sparkling at night. I certainly get enough sunlight to get them glowing every night. You have an amazing garden, I can’t wait to see it all planted and growing this summer!

1. Chas says:
  
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  Thank you so much Chloe, and I’m kind of addicted to solar lights lol
  
Kim | Shiplap and Shells says:

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I love this idea Chas! I really want to make one of these for my garden this season. Thanks for the inspiration my friend. Pinned.

1. Chas says:
  
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  Thank you so much Kim, I’m flattered you want to make some for your beautiful garden 🙂
  
Niky says:

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What a cool idea! It looks so prettyin your garden too! Pinned.

Niky @ The House on Silverado

1. Chas says:
  
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  Thank you so much Niky
  
Andrea says:

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What a fun idea! Great for outdoor parties. You answered all my questions, too. I love the idea of hanging in the garden on a hook. Your garden looks huge!

1. Chas says:
  
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  Thank you so much friend, I am so glad you like it. I can’t wait to get gardening this spring
  
Kim | Shiplap and Shells says:

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I love this idea! Thank you so much for sharing with Charming Gardens and Homes!

Marilyn Lesniak says:

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Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn
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1. Chas says:
  
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  Thanks Marilyn for another wonderful party.
  
Amy says:

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Now that is pretty fancy. I love the things that you come up with.

1. Chas says:
  
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  You are so very sweet Amy, thank you so much 🙂
  
Cynthia says:

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I’ll be featuring your fun project on the Happiness is Homemade Link Party. Thanks for linking up.

1. Chas says:
  
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  You are so very sweet friend, thank you so much for the feature!
  
creativejewishmom/sara says:

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brilliant! i have a basket like this somewhere that I thought of using for a beaded chandelier, but this solar idea is even better. thanks for sharing on craft schooling sunday!

1. Chas says:
  
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  Thank you so much Sara and I’m thrilled you’re going to create one for your yard too 🙂
  
Michelle says:

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What a fun project!

Thanks for sharing with Creative Compulsions!
Michelle
mybijoulifeonline.com

1. Chas says:
  
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  Thank you Michelle 🙂
  
Karins Kottage says:

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Such a cool idea!! So creative and looks amazing! I would love to have you come link up to my party on my blog karinskottage.com/2020/06/centerpiece-wednesday-linky-party-is-back.html and have you share your ideas with us!
Karin

1. Chas says:
  
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  Thank you so much and thanks for the invite.
  
Donna @ Modern on Monticello says:

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I still need to make some solar lights for my yard and you keep sharing some great ideas. I need to get started! Thanks for sharing. #HomeMattersParty

1. Chas says:
  
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  Thanks Donna -and once you start you’ll want to keep creating 🙂
  
Sarah @ The DIY Mommy says:

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What a great idea! It’s super cute!

1. Chas says:
  
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  Thank you so very much Sarah 🙂
  
Linda S says:

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what a beautiful touch to a backyard space – thank you for sharing!

1. Chas says:
  
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  Thank you Linda we enjoy being outside a lot. My kids tell me I’m a little solar crazy though… they said they need sunglasses at night now in our yard 🙂
  
Joanne says:

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That is very pretty! Pinned.

1. Chas says:
  
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  Thank you so much Joanne 🙂
  
2. faith bremmer says:
  
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  cool
  
  1. Chas says:
    
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    Thank you Faith

DIY Dollar Tree Solar Chandelier (Under $5!)

Quick Answer: How do you make a DIY solar chandelier?

Materials You Will Need

DIY Dollar Tree Solar Chandelier