Outdoor Lights Without Power
I love the look of lanterns on the front of a house. I had a slight problem, though. Our house didn't have those lights. I figured it would cost a fortune to have wire dropped through the attic into these brick columns. I decided to get creative with my solution. I don't want to sacrifice what I want just because it's too expensive or not an easy option.
Instead, I bought these light fixtures from Home Depot. They're supposed to be hard-wired in so, if we decide we ever want to pay for it, I can still use these lanterns. I had a bit of a tricky time figuring out how to mount these to the brick. But, as I'm always trying to teach my 3yo Lucy, you must persevere. First, I tried using the mounting bracket supplied with the lantern that would normally be secured to the electrical box. That didn't work because I couldn't get the mounting bracket to be flush with the brick, and the screws for securing the lantern to the bracket were too long.
I decided to forego the mounting bracket altogether and just use the 2 holes and screws for the lantern itself. First up, I measured the distance between the 2 holes. For this particular latter, it was 2.75 inches. So, I used my tape measure and a level to mark 2 spots where I wanted the lantern to go.
Next up, I used a masonry bit to start drilling the hole. I just used a 1/8" but because I knew I would be using a larger bit next. After starting the hole, I used a 3/16" bit to drill all the way through the brick. Depending on how many of these lights you plan to put up, buy several extra bits. They go dull quickly on the brick, and my arms were killing me by the end of this because I was having to push so hard. Now, it's time for the anchors. It's really important to use anchors that are meant for brick. I used these from Home Depot, and they worked like a dream. Use a rubber mallet to gently tap the anchor into the brick. It might not be completely flush, but that's preferable to smooshing the anchor so you can't get the screw in there.
The next part is a little bit weird. I didn't use the screws that came with the anchors because I didn't want exposed silver screws with my black lanterns. Instead, I used the screws that came with the lantern that were supposed to secure the lantern to the mounting bracket . They don't have a head or a point so I had to be a little unconventional with how to get them into the anchors. I just used them like they were any other drill bit instead of a screw. I measured how far the screw needed to stick out so I could use the black decorative nut provided with the lantern to hold the lantern in place. I marked that distance with the nut that was already on the screw. Then, I inserted the screw into my electric drill and used that to put it into the anchor. I stopped once the nut was flush with the anchor. Then, I just had to fit the lantern over the screws so the screws stuck out from the holes. Attach the decorative nuts and the hard part is over!
I didn't just want these lanterns to be for show (although they sure do add some great curb appeal) but I had no power going to the lights. I went through some different options (Brooke at nestingwithgrace.com has an awesome idea to use "magic" lights that you can find here, but that wasn't going to work with my lanterns where you would be able to see the light.) I decided to use battery-operated LED taper candles with a remote. Each of my lanterns has a spot for 3 bulbs, which is why I went with the taper candles instead of a pillar candle. The ones I got even have a timer so I can turn them on in the evening and then they'll turn off automatically after a couple hours. I will warn you that, if you're looking for a bright light, then this isn't the option for you. I love the soft glow that my lanterns provide so it worked perfectly for me. And there you have it: a way to add light to your outdoors, even when you don't actually have any power!
