Do you have old electric table lamps in your home you are not using? 1 easy DIY to transform old lamps into outdoor solar lights will show you how to repurpose your old lamps and upcycle them into solar table lamps, solar floor lamps, or any solar lamp you can imagine for your outdoor living areas using simple materials and very little time.
Outdoor solar lamps are a practical choice for your outdoor living spaces because they will light up that area without using electricity and instead use the sun.
Why You’ll Love The DIY For A Solar Light Lamp
Don’t worry about possessing any crafting skills because this is a very easy DIY project and in fact, you can make this DIY as easy or advanced as you prefer!
You’ll love making an outdoor solar light lamp because…
- easy to make
- simple materials needed to repurpose old electric lamps into solar table lamps or solar floor lights
- you can style these with any flair you prefer from fun colors to decorative accents
- no need to use electricity
- great for camping / RV’ing
- good for kids’ outdoor sleepover parties
- great around pool areas and patios
- bugs don’t gravitate as avidly to solar as they do electricity
- you can make more than one solar lamp from old lamps and you should share them with others
- no special tools are required to repurpose old lamps into new outdoor lighting via solar lights
Tools You’ll Need To DIY an Outdoor Solar Light Lamp
Scour your basement, attic, your parent’s homes, and your aunt’s home and find lamps that they are not using, and don’t worry about the lampshades you don’t need them!
You’ll need to understand the anatomy of a lamp because we will be working with either a table lamp or a floor lamp or any standing lamp you prefer!
Don’t worry if they are electric, they won’t be using electricity when we are done doing this solar lamp DIY using old lamps!
- diagonal cutting pliers (or really sharp durable scissors)
- gloves (disposable) optional
- glue gun (optional)
What You Need To Make A Solar Light Lamp
This project is like a junk-collector paradise and also for a person that loves to clean out and reuse what they have! 
- lamp body (no need to have the lampshade)
- spray paint – the color(s) of your choice
- solar light source (ground stake kind or any kind you prefer such as solar light bulbs) to fit inside the socket of the lamp body (pole)
- masking tape – which is optional however if you want to leave colors on the lamp body you will want to tape them off to maintain, I did that in one of my solar table lamps.
Where To Score An Inexpensive Old Lamp If You Don’t Have One
What’s worse than reading about a DIY you’d love to do, but not having the items to do it? NOTHING!
Here are a few places you can buy a cheap old lamp from or a few places you might even find one for free!
- Facebook Marketplace – is a great place to search for old lamps you can convert to new solar lights if you can survive the sale and the person selling them (lol)
- The Red White & Blue Salvation Army Thrift Stores
- Goodwill – they’ve got great finds all the time so you might find the next lamp to upcycle and convert into a solar outdoor table lamp.
- Garage Sales – you will find some really great deals here and if it is towards the end of the day most owners want to dump their items so you might score the best price of the day on old lamps that you can convert to solar lights here!
- Online Garage Sales you never know what you’ll find online and if you want tall solar floor lamps this is a great place to look!
- Canvassing trash nights (this is a goldmine!)
- Flea markets
How To Transform Old Lamps Into Outdoor Solar Lights (Solar Lamps)
Before I continue converting electric lamps to solar, please do not plug this lamp in, make sure the lamp is UNPLUGGED before you begin working with the old lamp!
There is a lot of personal choice in seeking out and converting old lamps (from floor lamps to table lamps) because you’ll want them to fit your style.
Remember to look at the colors of all the available solar lights as well as sizes before you start your project as solar lamp ideas are only as good as they are balanced when you look at them!
Things To Consider For Your Solar Lamp Ideas To Transform Old Lamps Into Outdoor Solar Lights
These are a few things to consider as much as this list is also how to assemble.
- For each upcycled lamp post, you’ll need to choose the appropriate size solar light (outdoor, width, and height because you have to place a fair-sized solar light fixture atop the lamp post or it would not look right.
- If you are upcycling an old lamp base that is more of a stick shape, you’ll want to find the appropriate solar-powered outdoor light to affix into the old bulb housing area and make it not too big yet not too small and you will know what looks right when you begin trying out different-sized solar light options.
- I worked with what started out as an old buffet lamp that ended up being tall enough to be a floor lamp that I could situate next to my patio couch.
- I shopped at Walmart (this time) which has a great selection of varying sizes of solar lights so that no matter what size lamp you are upcycling you are sure to find a great light that is solar for the outdoors. You can also find great solar lights at Dollar Tree, and Dollar General depending on what size you need.
- Don’t forget that you can also choose colors such as gunmetal, silver, chrome, black, etc. which also add to your repurposed old lamps and you’ll want to consider that when you are spray painting your lamp base!
Step 1 For How To Make A Solar Powered Lamp Is All About The Lamp Body
If you don’t have an old lamp (no lampshade needed) you’ll want to visit a thrift store (Goodwill, Red White & Blue) and find one
I suggest seeking out wood, or plastic, and don’t worry about what it looks like, we will repurpose old electric lamps and make them look fabulous when we spray paint them a little further down in this easy solar light lamp from old lamps DIY!
Wood is a great base as is metal and the right grade of spray paint will weatherproof the sucker!
Step 2 To Repurpose Old Electric Lamps Start By Cleaning It
Wipe off and clean the lamp body of the old lamp and then start your project as chances are it is old, dusty, and has been sitting around for a while.
The beauty of this DIY is that it does NOT matter if the lamp works, it just matters that the old lamp has a body that you can update!
Step 3 Of the Solar Lamp DIY Using Old Lamps Is To Disassemble The Old Lamp
Again, if you do not know the anatomy of a lamp and the lampshade refer here to quickly learn!
Just start by unassembling the lampshade, which means taking the lock off of the lampshade fitting and then the harp.
Don’t worry about the light switch area, or the harp holder as you will be using that as your base so leave it on the old lamp.
If you can take the harp holder off, that is great but most do not come off separately from the switch and socket area so leave them on!
Step 4 To Repurpose Old Electric Lamps We Need To Get Rid Of The Wiring!
There’s nothing like using diagonal pliers to snip that wiring that would have plugged into the wall off! I am telling you it is a powerful feeling knowing you are about to do something great and no longer have to use electricity to run a lamp!
Once you’ve got the wiring out, you are ready to reassemble the body of the lamp and you can move on to the next step.
I do suggest recycling anything from the lamp (lampshade, to the bulbs that can be recycled and make sure to properly dispose of all other pieces from the soon-to-be upcycled lamps.
Step 5: Prep Your Old Lamps For Updating
Now you are going to want to tape off any area you don’t want to refinish with spray paint using masking tape.
If you are going to refinish the entire lamp base then you do not need to use masking tape as you prep for the DIY project for old lamps!
Spray for even coverage and allow the spray paint to dry on your old lamp base that has just been updated!
Step 7: Use Adhesive To Attach The Solar Light To The Lamp Base
You’ll be attaching either the solar pole and solar light to the lamp socket or both pieces depending on how tall you want to make the repurposed old lamps.
If you are working with a table lamp you may not want the solar light to be too tall, then you would not add the solar light stake.
However, if you want to make solar floor lights the repurposed old lamps need to be taller and require you to affix both the pole and the outdoor solar lights.
Use the adhesive of choice and allow it to set and then charge your light in the sun and enjoy it by night!
Solar Light Lamp FAQs
Can I Use Any Lamp Base I Have?
Yes, you can. Really this DIY for a solar light from an old lamp is a very personal choice and based on the stuff you have in your home or that you can find inexpensively.
Could I Use an Old Candlestick Holder Instead of an Old Lamp to Create a Solar Outdoor Table Lamp?
Yes, you can use any type of base you want to use, just as long as it makes you happy.
Can I Use Old Floor Lamps And Convert Them From an Electric Lamp to Solar Floor Lamps for the Patio?
Yes! You can use table lamps or floor lamps or candle stick bases to create fabulous solar lamp ideas for your outdoor living space.
Do I Need A Lampshade For A Solar Powered Outdoor Lamp?
No! Donate the old lampshade or find a way to properly recycle that lampshade from your old lamp because these solar lamp ideas require no lampshades!
Can I Use Solar Table Lamps At My Camp?
Yes. Make sure to charge the solar light during the day and then of course you can use it inside without the worry of needing electricity as the sun charges those solar lights!
Could The Solar Light Lamp Be Placed Inside Of A Flower Basket?
No? If you are prepping an old lamp and converting it to a tabletop lamp, I would think that you would want to put a solar light lamp with its original stakes (those it comes with) into the flower pot instead as the lamp will have a nice base but that is really up to you in the end.
Make Sure To Come Back and Tell Me How You Did When You Used This Easy DIY To Transform Old Lamps Into Outdoor Solar Lights
DIY to Transform Old Lamps To Solar Outdoor Lamps
Quickly and easily convert your old table lamps and floor lamps to outdoor lamps.
Materials
- Old Lamp (unplugged)
- Solar Light
- Glue Glun
- Glue Sticks
- Wood Glue or Epoxy
- Spray Paint
Tools
- Glue Gun
- Pliers
- Disposable protective gloves (optional)
Instructions
- Find a great lamp that is not being used
- If you don't have an old lamp (no lampshade needed) you'll want to visit a thrift store (Goodwill, Red White & Blue)
- Wood is a great base and the spray paint will weatherproof the sucker!
- Start by cleaning off the old electric lamp
- Wipe off and clean the lamp body of the old lamp and then start your project as chances are it is old, dusty, and has been sitting around for a while.
- The beauty of this DIY is that it does NOT matter if the lamp works, it just matters that the old lamp has a body that you can update!
- Disassemble The Old Lamp
- Again, if you do not know the anatomy of a lamp and the lampshade refer here to quickly learn!
- Just start by unassembling the lampshade, which means taking the lock off of the lampshade fitting and then the harp.
- Don't worry about the light switch area, or the harp holder as you will be using that as your base so leave it on the old lamp.
- If you can take the harp holder off, that is great but most do not come off separately from the switch and socket area so leave them on!
- Now let's get rid of the wiring
- There's nothing like using diagonal pliers to snip that wiring that would have plugged into the wall off! I am telling you it is a powerful feeling knowing you are about to do something great and no longer have to use electricity to run a lamp!
- Once you've got the wiring out, you are ready to reassemble the body of the lamp and you can move on to the next step**.
- Prep Your Old Lamps For Updating
- If you are going to refinish the entire lamp base then you do not need to use masking tape as you prep for the DIY project for old lamps!
- Spray for even coverage and allow the spray paint to dry on your old lamp base that has just been updated!
- PLAN YOUR SOLAR LIGHT SIZE AND COLOR
- For each upcycled lamp post, you'll need to choose the appropriate size solar light (outdoor, width, and height because you have to place a fair-sized solar light fixture atop the lamp post or it would not look right.
- You'll use quick-set glue (whatever type you choose to match your lamp material) and you'll then take the solar light and separate it from its base, and you have 2 choices: use one of the solar light poles inside the light socket or just place the head of the solar light without any of its poles.
- Allow these to set up and dry (depends on what adhesive you choose to work with )
- I'd also suggest using a glue gun to further secure.
- Charge the light in the sun
- Enjoy your newly upcycled light by night!
Notes
Tips:
For lamp bodies I suggest seeking out wood, or plastic and don't worry about what it looks like, we will repurpose old electric lamps and make them look fabulous when we spray paint them a little further down in this easy solar light lamp from old lamps DIY!
**I do suggest recycling anything from the lamp (lampshade, to the bulbs that can be recycled, and make sure to properly dispose of all other pieces from the soon-to-be upcycled lamps
If you are upcycling an old lamp base that is more of a stick shape, you'll want to find the appropriate solar-powered outdoor light to affix into the old bulb housing area and make it not too big yet not too small and you will know what looks right when you begin trying out different-sized solar light options.
how do you charge the lamp ? where & how do you install the solar panel ? I don’t see one on your lamp.
The LIGHT is a SOLAR Light From Walmart. It charges with the sun. I stuck the LIGHT into the pole. If you watch the video and READ the article you will see all the things YOU asked. It’s right there. Imagine that
just make sure people do not take valuable lamps and redo them. do not destroy mid century lamps. they are worth money.
Hi there! We appreciate your feedback and concerns. We completely understand your point about preserving the value of mid-century lamps. At Merchynt.com, we encourage our readers to repurpose items responsibly and always consider the historical and monetary significance of certain pieces. We encourage our readers to choose lamps for transformation thoughtfully, focusing on ones that may not have a high historical or monetary value. Our intention is to promote creativity and sustainability, and we appreciate your reminder to be cautious about valuable pieces. Your feedback is invaluable