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For a straightforward backyard lantern, decorate a quart-size glass jar with glass paint and use a battery-operated LED light inside. You can set it on a stable surface or make a wire handle for hanging, but use outdoor hooks only as their manufacturer directs. A solar-cell light is another option; check that the actual component fits the jar and follow its instructions.
Choose a lantern design for your space
| Design | Power and materials | Best fit | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Painted glass jar | Quart-size jar, glass paint, 18-gauge floral wire, and a battery-operated LED light | Tabletop or hanging, depending on how you attach it | Paint drying instructions and, for hanging, the hook maker’s surface-preparation and weight guidance. No brightness, runtime, cost, or weather rating is established by the project source. |
| Solar jar lantern | A solar light source with a built-in solar cell | A project where you want to avoid complex wiring | Fit, installation location, outdoor rating, and product instructions. The guide does not establish universal compatibility, dimensions, or runtime. |
| Other craft forms | The City of Napa guide includes glass jars, paper, and punched tin cans | Choose according to the material and decoration you want | Assess each construction for its intended location; the guide does not establish that every form is weatherproof or suitable outdoors. |
The painted-jar steps below follow the materials and sequence in Command Brand’s outdoor lantern project. The solar option is a separate concept described by This Old House’s DIY solar lantern guide, updated June 2, 2026.
Make a painted glass-jar lantern
Gather the materials
- One quart-size glass jar
- Glass paint
- 18-gauge floral wire
- Wire cutters
- A battery-operated LED light
Paint and assemble
- Mask the bottom of the jar, following the project’s approach to keep that area unpainted.
- Apply glass paint to the outside of the jar.
- Let the paint dry according to the paint manufacturer’s directions. Drying time depends on the product; the project does not specify a universal duration.
- Wrap floral wire near the jar’s lower rim to make the handle or hanging loop, shaping and securing it carefully.
- Place the battery-operated LED light inside the jar.
Use the finished lantern as a tabletop decoration, or hang it only from suitable hardware installed according to that hardware’s instructions. The cited project uses outdoor terrace hooks; it does not provide a universal hanging-load specification.
Hang the lantern only after checking the surface and hardware
Before using an adhesive outdoor hook, check its package for the surface types it supports, how to clean and prepare the surface, where to place the adhesive strip, and the recommended weight claim. Command Brand’s project page says: “Follow all Command™ Brand package instructions for proper surface cleaning and prep, adhesive strip placement and recommended weight claims.” See the project instructions and the package-instruction note before hanging anything.
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Do not infer that a jar-and-wire handle is rated for a particular load, or that an outdoor hook suits every wall, post, or finish. If the proposed surface or installation is not covered by the hardware maker’s directions, choose a stable tabletop placement instead.
Adapt the idea for a solar light
A solar lantern uses a light source with a built-in solar cell rather than relying on the battery-operated LED specified in the painted-jar project. This Old House describes its DIY solar lantern as a way to add outdoor light without complex wiring; that description applies to its project, not every solar component or lantern design.
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Before buying a solar light for a jar, compare the actual light and jar dimensions, confirm how the light is meant to be positioned, and read the product’s installation and outdoor-use instructions. The cited guide does not verify a model, a universally compatible bulb or lid, runtime, or weather rating. Do not assume paint, a jar, or a solar component is weatherproof just because the lantern is intended for a backyard.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose materials with the intended location in mind
Paper and punched tin cans are among the craft forms included in the City of Napa’s 2020 Lantern Creation Guide. Those examples broaden the decoration possibilities, but they do not establish that every version is appropriate for outdoor exposure. Treat the material and the light source as separate choices, and assess each for the location where you plan to use it.
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Before you place or hang the lantern
- Use the specified battery-operated LED for the painted-jar version; the cited craft instructions do not establish open-flame use in an improvised container.
- Follow the glass-paint maker’s drying directions before handling or assembling the jar.
- For a hanging installation, follow the exact hook package directions and weight claims rather than relying on a general assumption about adhesive hooks.
- Check a solar component’s dimensions and product instructions before purchase; compatibility is not universal.
- Keep the lantern’s materials and construction appropriate to its location; the sources do not establish weatherproofing for painted jars or solar parts.
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