Because it involves heat and electricity, the safety steps matter just as much as the creativity, but. Plain white string lights look pretty enough, but sometimes your garden path wants a bit more personality, like a soft pink, a deep purple or a festive red. You don’t have to buy a new set of coloured lights for that. A small bottle of nail polish from your dressing table can tint a bulb in minutes, and the glow filters through the colour at night. It’s a cheap, quick project that’s perfect for Diwali or any festive evening. Here’s how to do it carefully.
You’ll need a string of LED lights with clear or frosted bulbs, a few bottles of nail polish in the colours you like, a small brush or the one in the bottle, cotton buds, nail polish remover for mistakes, and some newspaper to protect your table. Sheer or translucent polishes work best, since they let light through, while dark, opaque ones can dim the bulb. A glitter polish adds a lovely sparkle. Start with a spare bulb or a single one so you can see how the colour looks. Once you’ve finished painting, let the bulbs dry fully, ideally for several hours or overnight, so there are no wet patches and no strong smell left. Then plug in the lights and watch them for a few minutes to check that the bulbs aren’t getting hot. If all is well, lay or hang the lights along your path, keeping them above wet ground and away from dry leaves or other things that burn easily. Use outdoor-rated lights and a safe outdoor socket for the best results.
