DIY Lighthouse {Using Flower Pots}

In today’s post: Learn how to make an adorable DIY lighthouse for your yard using terra cotta flower pots and a solar light. This is an easy craft you can complete in under an hour.

This DIY lighthouse is very easy to put together! Just paint three or four terra cotta pots, stack them together, and top with a solar light. I glued everything together to make sure it would be sturdy and it looks so cute out in the yard. The solar light automatically turns on when it gets dark out making it look even more like a light house.

You can choose any colors you’d like for your lighthouse! I used white and red, but a pretty blue would look beachy and fun. I kept the decorations simple, just adding a door, but you could add windows or other embellishments if you wish. Find the step by step instructions below.

DIY Lighthouse Supplies

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own flower pot lighthouse:

• Terra cotta flower pots in sizes that stack. I got my pots at Hobby Lobby and they are 8.5 inches, 6.5 inches, 4.5 inches, and 3.5 inches in diameter. I used four pots but you can use more or less as desired. Check craft stores and home improvement stores for pots.
• Terra cotta saucers. You’ll need one saucer that is larger than your biggest pot as well as a small saucer. Mine are 11 inches and 4.25 inches in diameter.
• Acrylic paint and paintbrushes. I used cheap craft paint from Walmart and foam paintbrushes. I also used a smaller paint brush to paint on the door.
• E6000 or other strong glue.
• Solar Light + a way to cut off the stem. I used a $5 solar light from Walmart. Some solar lights have stems that will easily snap off. I used a small hacksaw to cut off the stem.
• Masking tape (optional) for cleaner paint lines.
• Poly Sealant spray (optional)

How to make a DIY Lighthouse

This is a fun project you can complete in about an hour. You do need to paint all the pots but craft paint dries quickly and you can speed up the drying process with a hair dryer if you’d like. Here’s how to make it:

Remove the Stem from the Solar Light

The first step is to remove the stem from the solar light so it can sit flush on top of your lighthouse. Some solar lights have stems that can be snapped off pretty easily. I was able to pull most of the stem off my light, but there was still about an inch long section of plastic that I wanted to remove. So I used a small hacksaw to cut it off.

Paint the Pots + Saucers

The next step is to paint your pots. I painted all four pots white. It took two coats to get good coverage, but the paint dried quickly enough that after I finished the first coat on the last pot I was immediately able to start the second coat.

After two coats you can give the pots a little extra dry time and paint the saucers. Paint the large saucer black and the small saucer red (two coats).

Next, paint the raised rims of each pot red. You can tape them off with masking tape for cleaner lines, or just paint carefully. Again, you will need two coats.

Assemble the Lighthouse

Once everything is dry, you can begin assembling the lighthouse. Start by placing glue all along the top rim of the largest pot, then invert it onto the large saucer.

Then place glue around the bottom edge of the inverted pot (now the top edge) and stack the second pot on top. Repeat with the remaining pots.

Next, glue the solar light to the small saucer. You may need to let this sit for 10-15 minutes for the glue to really set. (In the meantime, you can paint on a door and any windows you’d like.) Then you can glue the small saucer to the top of the lighthouse.

Decorate

I like a simple look so I only added a door, but you can add windows or other embellishments if you wish. I taped off the sides and bottom of the door, then traced a measuring spoon to get the curved top. I used a small paintbrush to paint the door black.

Then I filled the outside of the saucer with pebbles and a couple of seashells.

NOTE: If you would like, you can spray the entire lighthouse with a poly sealant to help it stand up to the elements betters. Cover the solar light with a plastic bag and remove any pebbles or seashells. Then give the lighthouse one to three light coats of a spray poly sealant, allowing it to dry in between.