In years past, I have tried solar lights on my deck posts in the back of my home. I loved how they looked but unfortunately, my backyard receives almost constant shade during the summer months, so after a couple of years, the lights stopped working. I came across these solar lanterns recently and the reviews looked really good, so I decided to give them a try in my front yard which gets tons of sunlight each day.
I didn’t start unboxing the lanterns until about 30 minutes before dark, but they were so easy to assemble and activate, I had all 8 of them activated and in place where I wanted them in about 20 minutes. I was surprised and delighted to see them brightly working right out of the box. I guess they must be charged before leaving the factory. It’s so nice that they do that because you get to enjoy them right away.
These are the lights that I purchased here: Solar Lights for a Beautifully Lit Path or Walkway. I really love how they look–love the starlight design they create along my front pathway! It’s amazing how much ambiance beautiful lighting can give to the front of a home. Initially, I planned to alternate the lanterns from side to side along the walkway, but since the magnolia tree takes up so much space on the left side of the walkway, I started off by placing four lights down the right side of the path.
Once I got past the magnolia that comes up to the edge of the walkway, I started alternating them from side to side for the rest of the walkway. I really like how it turned out, I think the overall look is much more interesting with the lights along the right side at the start, then as you round the curve in the walkway past the magnolia, the lights change and alternate the rest of the way to the front porch.
I’m obsessed with the star design they throw out on the walkway–they are just so pretty!
I had an abrupt wake-up call this morning–my security alarm went off this morning shortly after 5 am. It took me a while to figure out what was going on. After a bit of research, I discovered when the painter was painting the garage door, the one that enters into my breakfast room from the garage, he painted right over the connection in the door and the surrounding casing. I’m amazed it worked well enough to let me activate it last night before turning in. I guess once the paint dried up and hardened, the connections/contacts became broken.
Anyway, I was amazed to look out this morning at 5 AM and see all the lights still aglow since I have them all turned up on the highest setting. I didn’t think they would last the entire night at the highest setting, but they did. So straight out of the box, they lasted the entire night! I love seeing them aglow from the inside.
I purchased two sets (they come in sets of 4) to cover the full length of my long, curving walkway. If you have a shorter walkway, you may only need a single set. You’ll find them available here: Solar Lights for a Beautifully Lit Path or Walkway.
Hope your Friday is off to a great start. Happy Weekend!
I love that you are so self-sufficient and install a lot of things on your own. I remember your post about Ring doorbells. We later bought one, and my husband installed it. We’ve had problems with it off and on, and he takes care of it. I often think what would I do if he wasn’t around, and then (honestly) I think I’d probably email you. Don’t worry – I won’t, but I really appreciate that you are clever like that.
Thanks, Mary! Sometimes I like a challenge and other times I’d rather leave to the pros. Usually, I’m too impatient to wait on anyone. lol
These lights are gorgeous Susan! I love how they throw that star pattern on the walkway. So pretty! Glad it was just a lost connection from the painting that made the alarm go off and not anything menacing. How fun that your lights were still going strong at 5 am! Love it! Hugs, Brenda
I know, it freaked me out a bit. It took me a few minutes to think it through and figure out what was going on…you’re not thinking very clearly when you get awoken at 5 am! lol Once I checked the door, it was really obvious what it was. I was able to scrap off the paint and used a little mineral spirits to get it all off.
Beautiful! And another great tip. We were looking for something to light our driveway at night. This could be just the ticket. Thanks, Susan. And sorry to hear about your alarm. What sort of person paints right over something like that?! I hope the rest of the job went well. Can’t wait to see the results!
I know, the guy who was doing the painting of the door looked very young, so I guess he just didn’t notice the contacts.
The solar lights illuminate the beautiful brick walkway. Great job.
Thanks, Libby!
XXX
These lanterns are so bright that you’d never guess they are solar charged. Great addition to the walkway. Looking at the second-to-last lantern (nearest the step) it seems to throw the first step into shadows; could it be turned to cast more light onto the step. Just wondering as that is exactly where these old eyes would need help
I know–solar lanterns have definitely come a long way since I last purchased them years ago. I love how bright these are! I bought an extra box just in case the guys who cut my grass accidentally damage one. I want to have these for a long time. I really love how they look at night! They are even pretty to see during the daytime.
I think I’ll take a couple out of the extra box and add those near the step…thanks for mentioning that!
Hello Susan,
I’m not sure if this is the right way to contact you, but wanted to forward a link:
https://nestwatch.org/learn/focal-species/mourning-dove/
I read an article that mentioned mourning doves’ sometimes ‘unusual’, i.e. not the smartest, nesting site choices, and I remembered your story about the nest in your son’s garage. The doves may well be attached to their choice after three years, but this article provides kid-friendly plans to build a proper nesting box for them. I thought it might be a fun and educational project for your grandsons.
I always enjoy your blog posts. I hope your garage renovation is going well; looking forward to photos!
Thanks, Kathy–I’ll share this link with my son. I know they would prefer they not continue to build there every year, they just haven’t had the heart to boot them out.
Those solar lights are beautiful. I recently bought some from Home Depot and am very happy with how they light up a pathway through a flowerbed. I’d love to have them along the sidewalk to our front door but I would have to take them up and put them back down every time I mowed the lawn, bummer. The design yours make on the path and the grass is lovely.
Thankfully only two ended up in the grass and I may break down and put one over in front of the magnolia so there’s only one in the grass. It would be annoying if all of them ended up in the grass.
Thanks, Vikki!
Great lights – I’m going to look into those! And sorry you had the paint/alarm mishap. Amazing what things get overlooked with contractors and projects. Hope they can fix it quickly. Thanks for another informative and cautionary post! Happy Friday and weekend!
Fortunately, I was able to just scrap the paint off the contacts…and used a tiny bit of mineral spirits to get the bottom layer off. Alarm is working normal again–thank goodness!
Lovely! They look beautiful along your sidewalk. Changes the whole mood.
I love the color of the lamps and love they are the soft white and not the harsh white light. I have a set in my Amazon cart!
It really does! It softens everything and makes if feel so much more welcoming at night. I wish I had done this ages ago.
Hi Susan,
Just wanted you to know that I have had those lights now for 3 years! We love them so much we now have a total of 4 sets around our gardens and deck in the backyard. We just recently needed to replace the batteries on 3 of them, but that is after all this time running on the highest setting. We found the replacement batteries on Amazon and they were very easy to replace. We do take ours in during the winter months here in PA. Hope you enjoy yours for years to come.
Wow, that’s awesome! Good to know about the batteries–amazing that they lasted so long!
Those lights look beautiful…and so great that they are solar. No worries with hiding wires and plugging them in. Enjoy !
So true! Plus, it would be so expensive to have electric ones installed. I really do like these!
Very pretty Susan! I just purchased some new ones also, but they don’t have your pretty star pattern and yes, I agree, I like looking out and seeing them all lit up. Hope your alarm system continues to work.
Thanks, Cyndi! It’s working again now that I got all the paint off the contacts. lol I need to remember to check that if get another door or window or painted.
Perfect timing! I have been researching outside solar lights for over a year – never quite satisfied with what I was finding. Will definitely be checking these out.
I really love these, very happy with them.