Easily Turn a Birdcage Into a Remote-Control Lantern

Brighten up your deck or patio with an inexpensive birdcage, painted in vibrant hues, then outfitted with convenient remote-control LED lights.

DIY Birdcage Lantern

Give your deck or patio a welcoming, exotic vibe with these DIY birdcage lanterns painted in vibrant hues and outfitted with convenient remote controlled LED lights.

Photo by: Tomas Espinoza

Tomas Espinoza

By: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Materials Needed

birdcages in assorted sizes
2 colors of spray paint
drop cloth or tarp
remote control battery-operated LED lights
AA batteries (for LED lights)
twine or rope (for hanging)

Paint Birdcages

For this project, any birdcage will do but the more detailed it is, the prettier the final effect. Lay out a drop cloth in a well-ventilated area and with a light, sweeping motion, spray paint the bird cages in vibrant colors. We opted for a bold blue (Image 1) and punchy orange (Image 2).

For this project any cage will do but the more detailed it is, the prettier the final effect. Lay out a drop cloth in a well-ventilated area and with a light, sweeping motion, spray paint the bird cages in vibrant colors. We opted for a bold blue and punchy orange

Tomas Espinoza

DIY Birdcage Lantern

For this project any cage will do but the more detailed it is, the prettier the final effect. Lay out a drop cloth in a well-ventilated area and with a light, sweeping motion, spray paint the bird cages in vibrant colors. We opted for a bold blue and punchy orange

Photo By: Tomas Espinoza

DIY Birdcage Lantern

Photo By: Tomas Espinoza

Add Batteries and Test Pack

Add batteries and test the LED lights. Once you confirm they’re working properly, move on to the next step.

DIY Birdcage Lantern

Add batteries and test the LED lights. Once you confirm they’re working properly, move on to the next step.

Photo by: Tomas Espinoza

Tomas Espinoza

Paint Battery Pack

To help the battery pack blend in with the birdcage, paint it to match using the same or a similar shade of paint.

DIY Birdcage Lantern

So that the battery pack isn’t that obvious in the bottom of the bird cage, paint it to match the cage itself, using the same or a similar shade of paint.

Photo by: Tomas Espinoza

Tomas Espinoza

Place Battery Pack

Once the battery pack is dry to the touch, you’re ready to place the lights in the birdcage. If your lights are super long, fold the string back on itself and twist the loose ends together to halve the string which will save time on the weaving process (Image 1). To start, place the battery pack in the bottom of the cage (Image 2), then pull the end of the light string all the way through the top of the cage and begin weaving (Image 3).

Tomas Espinoza

DIY Birdcage Lantern

Once the battery pack is dry to the touch, you’re ready to place the lights in the birdcage. If your lights are super long, fold the string back on itself and twist the loose ends together to half the string which will save time on the weaving process. To start, place the battery pack in the bottom of the cage, then pull the end of the light string all the way through the top of the cage and begin weaving.

Photo By: Tomas Espinoza

DIY Birdcage Lantern

Once the battery pack is dry to the touch, you’re ready to place the lights in the birdcage. If your lights are super long, fold the string back on itself and twist the loose ends together to half the string which will save time on the weaving process. To start, place the battery pack in the bottom of the cage, then pull the end of the light string all the way through the top of the cage and begin weaving.

Photo By: Tomas Espinoza

DIY Birdcage Lantern

Once the battery pack is dry to the touch, you’re ready to place the lights in the birdcage. If your lights are super long, fold the string back on itself and twist the loose ends together to half the string which will save time on the weaving process. To start, place the battery pack in the bottom of the cage, then pull the end of the light string all the way through the top of the cage and begin weaving.

Photo By: Tomas Espinoza

Add Lights

To give it that glowing effect at night, weave the lights into the walls of the bird cage. Start at the top of the cage and work your way around the perimeter, protecting the cage’s paint finish with your fingers as you work (Image 1). Once weaving is complete, hang the finished lantern with twine and light up the night (Image 2).

Tomas Espinoza

DIY Birdcage Lantern

To give it that glowing effect at night, weave the lights into the walls of the bird cage. Start at the top of the cage and work your way around the perimeter, protecting the cage’s paint finish with your fingers as you work. Once weaving is complete, hang with twine and enjoy. The fact that the LED lights are remote controlled is SUPER convenient and totally worth the extra cost.

Photo By: Tomas Espinoza

DIY Birdcage Lantern

Give your deck or patio a welcoming, exotic vibe with these DIY birdcage lanterns painted in vibrant hues and outfitted with convenient remote controlled LED lights.

Photo By: Tomas Espinoza

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