Guide
9 solar lanterns that’ll bring a sparkle to your eyes
by Pia Seidel
Atmospheric outdoor lighting: pulling the plug on tangled cables
29/4/2025
Pictures: Pia Seidel
Who says lights always have to be plugged in? Cordless lamps let you bring atmosphere to your balcony, garden or even just your living room but without all that cable clutter.
There are now a lot of cordless outdoor lights available that are both practical and versatile. I’ve chosen a few models from the Galaxus range – some simple, others more eye-catching. They don’t give you daylight levels of brightness, but that’s exactly the point: atmosphere instead of floodlighting. And if the weather doesn’t play along, these lamps looks just as good inside.
One minor drawback is the charging time. Given it requires a full day to recharge, you need a bit of patience, especially as the battery only lasts twelve hours at full brightness. Nevertheless, the Aldet wins me over with its airy look.
2. Trendy butter yellow
The Janea LED rechargeable table lamp from the German brand Lindby comes in trendy butter yellow and features a simple design. The touch function brings brightness with the tap of a finger. And with its IP54 certification, it’s perfect for outdoor use. The 420 lumens provide atmospheric light without being dazzling.
The six-hour battery life is fine for cosy evenings, but it might be a bit short for longer nights.
3. Truly multifunctional
If it’s flexibility you’re after, the shiny aluminium design of Oloha from Dutch brand Fatboy works as a table lamp, wall ornament, fruit bowl or decorative highlight. With infinitely variable dimming, this magnetic, warm white LED light (2,200 K) creates a pleasant atmosphere that lasts up to 90 hours (at the lowest setting). Recharging in just an hour and a half, this lamp is incredibly practical.
At 14 lumens, however, the light output of Oloha is more subtle and better suited to accent lighting. You’ll also need to bring it inside if the weather’s bad.
What could be better? Well, there is one slight drawback. Although the design may look elegant, the materials used mean it also weighs 1 kg, which isn’t ideal if you want to travel light. Equally, while eight hours of battery life are good, this might not be enough if you intend to use it for long periods.
5. Maritime minimalism
The Light 105 gets the green light with its minimalist, Danish design and a touch of maritime elegance. Its hemp rope handle is both practical and oozes natural charm. With a plastic body and IP67 certification, the lamp is suitable for outdoor use and has a run time of up to 24 hours. You can adjust the brightness and colour temperature in just a few steps with the app and Bluetooth connection.
One slight snag is that with 170 lumens, this lamps is intended more for soft mood lighting and less for illuminating large areas.
Despite all of this, there’s a minor snag. Because the Hoop focuses more on ambience than brightness, it’s not as appropriate as a work light.
The only downside is that the LED is embedded into the lamp itself, as is the case with so many cordless models. What’s more, the IP44 protection rating might not be sufficient for some outdoor use, as the lamp is only protected against splashes of water.
Looking at the drawbacks, the 12-hour battery life could be short depending on what you intend to use it for. What’s more, the high-quality materials don’t equate to a lightweight device.
9. All in white
Is there any catch? The 10-hour charging time could be shorter – it requires patience – and the price tag might also be a bit high for some people.
Header image: Fatboy
Pia Seidel
Senior Editor
Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.chLike a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.
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