THE $125 GLOW‑UP

In a small house like Perkins Place, you learn quickly that small touches can make a big impact—mostly because there’s nowhere to hide your mistakes. If you hang a crooked picture, the whole house knows. If you buy an ugly rug, it becomes a personality trait. But every now and then, a tiny upgrade lands squarely in the category of “Why didn’t I do this sooner?”

Enter: my solar bistro lights.

Yes, friends, I have joined the ranks of people who casually refer to their patio as an “outdoor living space” even though it’s roughly the size of a yoga mat. And honestly? I regret nothing.

First, I ordered a set of poles designed to hold lights, windchimes, plants, or—if I ever lose my mind—macramé. The whole project cost about $125 and took less than an hour, which officially qualifies it as one of the easiest home‑improvement projects I’ve ever taken on.

The poles I ordered are no longer available, but you can easily find those at Amazon or Lowes. The lights I ordered are still available at https://amzn.to/48RWlxZ.

Installation was simple. Here’s the entire process:

1. Drive the poles into the ground;

2. Stick the solar charger in the dirt; and

3. String the lights up between the poles and the house.

The lights charged so well that first afternoon that I got to enjoy them that very evening. I felt like I had unlocked a new level of adulthood—one where I sit outside with a beverage and say things like, “Ambience really matters”.

Because Perkins Place sits in hurricane territory, I do take the lights down before I leave for the season. But the poles stay put, so when I return in the fall, it takes approximately five minutes to restring everything. Honestly, it takes me longer to remember my Wi‑Fi password.

The best part? The lights are visible from both the living room and the dining room, which means I get to enjoy my patio glow even when I’m inside avoiding the Florida mosquitoes.

If you ever want to feel like you’ve transformed your home without actually doing much, I highly recommend solar bistro lights. They’re affordable, charming, and require absolutely no skill—my favorite kind of project.