Garden Lights

Gardening expert Marianne Binetti suggests recycling old chandeliers to create an outdoor garden room full of color and light.

Steps:

1. Beautiful old chandeliers can be found at yard sales and antique stores. The first step is to clean them well with a wire brush to loosen dirt and particles.

   

   Jazz up an outdoor lamp with an old string of pearls or delicate artificial flowers.

   

   

2. Spray paint the fixture with an outdoor paint, working in a well-ventilated area. Binetti prefers using either white or green paint for outdoor lights to create a natural look.

3. Try hanging miniature garden tools from the bottom of the chandelier for a whimsical look.

4. Attach crystals for a more elegant look.

5. Put candles in the electric socket where the light bulb used to go. Look for lights with larger sockets for a better fit of the candle. Use a little florist’s clay inside the socket to secure the candles.

6. When you are ready to hang the chandelier, keep the electrical cord that comes out of the top of the fixture and use it to tie the fixture around a branch. Be sure the flames from the candles will be far from branches and leaves.

7. If you don’t have trees, you can still add light to a patio. Use old canning jars as a base and insert a small clay pot to hold votive candles. Decorate the pot with things like garland, wire, stones and jewels.