I Love This DIY IKEA Patio Lighting Trick (It’s So Gorgeous!)

Lighting can be expensive — especially if you’re trying to source a statement chandelier above a dining or patio table. But if you’re feeling a bit crafty, you can get that designer look for much less with a clever lantern DIY. One Instagram user shared how she made a three-pendant fixture to install above her outdoor dining table using IKEA shades, camping lights, and a length of gold chain for just around $150. 

“We are not paying £123 per shade,” Carla Isolano from Location House of Beau said in a recent video. She was talking about a beautiful woven overhead lighting fixture from the U.K. brand Dibor that incorporates a wide variety of gorgeous pendant shades. “There’s a hack for that.”

Isolano started by draping a length of chain from her pergola roof, but she noted in her video that you could also just as easily use rope. If you’re not starting with a pergola, you can attach this chain using Command hooks or eyehooks that you can screw into a ceiling.

She then attached three IKEA TORARED lampshades to the chain, but you could, of course, use any of the other woven lamp shades IKEA offers at a similar price point and only use as many shades as necessary. You could really use any woven lampshade, but if you’re looking for a deal, IKEA is it. 

Because this fixture isn’t hardwired, Carla opted to use clip-on camp lights from Amazon to light it up. These bulbs are great because they’re weather-resistant, rechargeable, and come with three light settings. You can control the brightness and, therefore, better create the kind of ambiance you want.

Finally, Isolano sealed the shades and chain with a clear lacquer to keep everything from weathering.

Depending on the details, this project’s total price will fluctuate, but one thing is sure: You’ll be spending less on the entire fixture than purchasing just the shades from a high-end brand. IKEA comes in clutch once more — this time, it can make your backyard space look like a designer’s dream.