The Same Idea Can Work Outdoors Too
The PVC pipe idea doesn't have to stop with an indoor floor light. Another project from the same approach turns a shorter section of pipe into an outdoor solar light. This time, the pipe is cut into a smaller cylinder and transformed with a series of drilled holes. The holes aren't arranged in a perfectly repeating pattern. Instead, different-sized drill bits are used to create a mixture of small, medium and large openings scattered across the pipe.
After sanding the rough edges, the pipe is painted, including the inside. A small wooden base is built underneath, while a simple rope detail inside the top helps hold a solar light securely in place. Once everything is assembled, the cylinder can be mounted against a wall. During the day, it looks like a simple piece of outdoor decoration. But when darkness arrives, the solar light switches on and the glow shines through the holes in the pipe.
The result is particularly striking because the light doesn't simply illuminate the fixture itself. It also creates patterns of light across the wall around it. It's another example of how a basic piece of plastic can become something completely different with a little imagination.