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HomeInstallHow To Hang String Lights On Covered Patio Without Nails

How To Hang String Lights On Covered Patio Without Nails

How To Hang Gorgeous Globe String Lights Under A Deck

How to hang string lights for your patio

This is one of those posts that I debated writing because I wasnt sure if it would be silly to dedicate a whole post to hanging;outdoor string lights. I decided to write it because, after researching existing tutorials, I realized that most of them were for hanging string lights on decks or patiosnot under second-story decks.

You might think that the requirements would be the same. Alasthey are not. At least for us they werent. Thats because hanging the string lights under a deck shields them somewhat from mother nature. I felt like some of the tutorials were overkill. Rigging up guy wire? Using heavy duty carabiners? It seems like overkill to me for what we wanted to do.

So here are my tips for hanging string lights under a deck.

Attach Lights To Outdoor Wireless Remote Control Weatherproof Outlet

This may be one of my favorite things about the outdoor lights!


If you are going through the trouble to hang outdoor string lights you will definitely want to add an outdoor remote control outlet so you have the convenience of turning your lights on from inside your home.

We hang our remote controls by our deck door. It makes it super easy to turn on the lights when we are looking for a little ambiance. If something is convenient, you are sure to use it more!

Attaching String Lights On A Stucco Wall With A Hot Glue Gun

A. Measure the border you need to beautify with lights, such as your homes rooftop line, patio overhang, or around window outlines. Buy enough light strings to cover this separation serenely. Consider the shading design you intend to show, such as utilizing just one shading, exchanging two hues, or arbitrarily blending hues.

B. Purchase an adequate number of clasps to cover this separation with one clasp each 6 to 8 inches, contingent upon the kind of lights you will utilize. Bulb-type lights, known as C7 or C9 bulbs, use bigger clasps than scaled downlights or icicle lights.

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Tools And Materials Needed For Hanging String Lights

  • Globe Light Suspension Kit, Galvanized Steel Cable, 110 ft. $45.99
  • Brightech Ambience Pro LED Outdoor Weatherproof Commercial Grade Lights with Hanging Sockets 48 Ft string w/bulbs. $54.99hooks
  • Zip Ties

The Globe Light Suspension Kit, Galvanized Steel Cable I used features:

  • Galvanized steel cable for hanging commercial grade string lights
  • 110 feet long; 1/16 inch in diameter
  • Comes with one attached snap hook and one loose cable end and a Gripple Fastener clip
  • Cable can be trimmed to any desired length
  • Weather resistant; Working load limit of 100 lbs.

The cable is 110 feet in length and 1/16 of an inch in diameter. With an attached snap hook and a loose clip that allows you to feed the cable through one side of the clip, loop it around posts and other fixed objects.

Its a perfect solution for large open areas, and to prevent sagging string lights.

How High Should Patio String Lights Be

How to Hang String Lights on Covered Patio

Always be careful hanging patio string lights along peoples walking paths. Small, thin strings of outdoor lights are difficult to see when not turned on.

You dont want to be responsible for someone clothes-lining themselves! Its hard to tell you a definitive height, considering it largely depends on the height of the tallest person on your patio! However, 9-10 feet is a good rule of thumb.


Why 9 to 10 feet? Its 4-5 feet taller than an average-sized human being. The lights will naturally hang down and sag over time, so youll want a bit of breathing room.

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Build Your Own Supports

Our final method to hanging outdoor lights is to build your own supports. This is the most expensive and time-intensive option but it can be well worth the effort.

Although there are countless ways to build supports, my favorite method uses buckets and poles to ensure easy portability. In my opinion, this is far superior to a permanent method where you bury the pole in the actual ground.

My favorite method to build your own supports consists of placing support poles in two heavy-duty buckets and then adding in a heavy fill material.


I prefer wood poles but hollow metal poles and even PVC pipe also work well. I like to fill each bucket with gravel to hold the pole in place. However, for a somewhat more permanent design you can fill the buckets with concrete, like Quikrete.

Simply cut the poles to your desired height, place each in a bucket, fill the bucket with a heavy material, and hang your lights – voila, you’ve just completed one of my favorite patio lighting ideas!

The Difference Between Fairy Andstring Lights

String lights are brighter and heavier. They look more old-fashioned, bulky and generally have fewer bulbs along the strand. Youll usually need nails or a staple gun to hang them. You can buy these online or in your local Target or Lowes.

Fairy lights are more often used in home décor. Fairy lights are also used in holiday decorations and curtain lights. They usually come on shorter strands and have a delicate wire and smaller bulbs.

Put simply:


  • Illuminate the room with string lights.
  • Accent the room with fairy lights.

Installing lights outside? Waterproof, shatterproof andsolar-powered string lights are more common than fairy lights.

Note: String lights may be in theoutdoors section of your local store, rather than the décor section wherefairy lights are often found.

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Summary Of Hanging String Lights Under Covered Patio Or Deck

Seriously, this is the easiest project ever. Adding string lights to our deck makes our evening more magical. The lights look glorious during sunset hours. I just love to get away from the noise of what a big family offers and just sit and relax with a cup of hot chocolate. The glow is charming and provides a surprising amount of light.

While it is true that bugs are less attracted to these LED lights as compared to my regular fan lighting, I now had a new appreciation for what my screened in patio could do for me. Check out our project on restoring our deck patio furniture here!


How To Hang A Privacy Screen

SIMPLE WAY TO HANG PATIO STRING LIGHTS!! INDOOR OR OUTDOOR!!

Next up I will share how we hung our Privacy Screens. I bought two of white privacy screens online and they are showing not available anymore. I did find another option HERE that you could spray paint if the color doesnt work for you. They are light weight and flexible. .

  • Trim Head Screws
  • You will need a special drill bit for the trim head screws
  • Garden Stakes
  • Long Screws

Kevin didnt want me to show the below picture! ha! Because he needs to cut the screws that are sticking out in the back . But at least you can see how we attached it to the deck railing.

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How To Hang String Lights: 10 Different Ways

Outdoor string lights are wildly popular, and for good reason! They feel magical and bring a warm, intimate ambiance to any party or outdoor living space.

Inexpensive, simple for the average person to DIY, relatively easy to put up and take down with the seasons, and the list goes on


And if youre still not sure what kind of lighting is best for your outdoor living space, I walk through more backyard lighting options in this post.

Ways To Use Those Magical String Lights

String lights, globe lights, fairy lightsno matter what you call themhave proved their staying power. Sure these strands are always fabulous dangling above outdoor patios, but we have seen them work wonders inside the home as well. They have become the secret weapon of sorts for amateur interior decorators, coming in all shapes, sizes, colors, and kinds, from vintage Edison bulbs to round carnival lights to understated twinkling strings. And, there are so many ways that you can use them to dress up a place in a modern, chic way. Whether you are trying to carve out rooms in a loft, add ambience to a dining room, or put the finishing touch on a patio, here are some of our favorite ways to experiment with them.

1. For those with a large, full-length mirror in their room, you can jazz up the piece like Indie Home Collective did, by layering a string of black-wired carnival lights over the side.

8. An oldie but goodie: If you have an outdoor patio, string up some lights across the area so as not to blast your guests with one bright porch light once the sun goes down.

9. If you live in an apartment or have a room in your house with a slanted ceiling, or a-frame, lean into that shape by outlining it with a strand of carnival lights, like did in her Warsaw apartment.

19. If you feel like your bedside table is missing something, try dangling a string of lights from the ceiling to act like a bedside lamp, like in this getup from Facing North with Gracia.

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Hang String Lights From A Ceiling Or Covered Patio

April from Love Our Real Life has a roof over her deck, and she has a great tutorial for hanging patio lights from the ceiling.

I hung string lights in the kids playhouse using a similar method- small cup hooks in the rafters. It takes 5 minutes to hang the lights up each Spring and take them down at the end of the Summer. You can see the whole playhouse makeover here.

Emily from Table & Hearth used a similar method to hang her string lights under her covered patio but she hung them in a criss-cross pattern.

I hope these tutorials were helpful! Now go enjoy your outdoor living space!

Peel And Stick Double Sided Sticky Tape

How to Hang Patio Lights Without Nails

Peel off the back and press your outdoor wall art firmly in place. I held my pieces down and put my weight into pressing to be sure I had a good seal.

Viola!

My outdoor wall art is hung, and in 10 minutes!

Id have to say our little backyard is starting to shape up!

That planter is my Key West DIY Wood Planter Box ;project and I made the DIY Coastal Rope Garden Border;last week.

See how simple it was to hang outdoor art without nails? I promised you a 10 minute project!

Just like when you are decorating the inside of your house with wall art to add interest, the outside of your home can benefit from a little detail too. Outdoor wall decor helps define your space and helps an outdoor space feel cozy.

This is project # 3 of my 30 Days To Fabulous Backyard Makeover.

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How To Install String Lights On Your Patio

Make those warm summer evenings on the patio with friends even cozier with the right lighting. String lights can make your apartment balcony or patio dreamy, but do you know how to hang up outdoor string lights without damaging the walls?

It can be challenging! Before you start, youll need to do a little research. These are the methods you need to know when hanging up string lighting on your apartment balcony or patio.

How To Hang Things On Vinyl Siding Without Nails

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Before you hang your decor, you need to make sure that youre using the right kind of hooks made specifically for vinyl siding. Many of them are s-shaped so that one end tucks behind the siding planks.

These are the exact vinyl siding hooks I used to hang the metal wall decor on the walls of our screened-in porch and they ship free if youre an Amazon Prime member.

They come in a pack of six, and this version holds up to five pounds. The vinyl siding hooks are made of plastic and worked perfectly to hang my light-weight metal wall decor.

When youre ready to hang things on your vinyl siding, push the curved part of the hook between the siding panels.

My vinyl siding pieces are molded to look like two planks together, which means that the hooks only work between separated planks. The hooks need a spot to grip.

This is what the vinyl siding hook looks like after you install them:

And thats all there is to it!

Because of how the plaques are made, I used wire to hang them. I simply popped the wire over the vinyl siding hook and used a level to hang the plaques evenly.

Well, at least until a child runs past and tilts them off-center!

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Can You Hang String Lights With A Staple Gun

Staple guns should not be used to hang string lights. Not only will staples damage your home’s walls, but it could also completely damage the lights. The recommendation is to just use a drill to install hooks and/or screw eyes or potentially find plastic clips and hooks that are strong enough to hold up your string lights.

How To Hang Outdoor String Lights: The Ultimate Guide

Hang String Lighting from Alumawood Aluminum or Duralum patio cover.

Want to hang string lights over your backyard or patio, but not sure how? Learn how with this comprehensive guide!

Who doesnt love a backyard party under glowing string lights on a warm Summers evening?

But figuring out how and where to hang the lights, which type to buy, and how many you need can get a little complicated. It will all boil down to what you have that you can attach the lights to. This guide will tell you everything you need to know and link to the best DIY tutorials for each situation.

  • String Light Cord Isn’t Long Enough
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    Where To Buy Vinyl Siding Hooks

    From my research on Amazon, it seems that most vinyl siding hooks claim to hold up to five pounds.

    So, if you plan to use them to support window boxes or flower pots, be sure to use a few metal;hooks to disperse the weight.

    Oh, and make sure your vinyl siding is in good shape and securely attached before you try to hang anything substantial on it.

    Now that you know how things on vinyl siding and where to buy the right kind of hooks, its time to start decorating! Be sure to check out my ideas for decorating a small porch as well as my decorating ebook below!

    How To Hang String Lights Outdoors

    Play with your space when hanging string lights outdoors. Here are someoptions for how you can hang string lights outdoors:

  • Drape string lights across bushes or over tree branches
  • Wrap outdoor fairy lights with solar power around a bird feeder
  • Wind the lights around your deck
  • To hang string lights from a portico or pergola:

  • Use a staple gun meant for wires and cables andwith an angled tip for a truly professional look
  • Youll inconspicuously secure the lightsthis way, because that staple gun gets into hard to reach places.
  • You can even buy pre-painted staples to blend inwith the color of your pergolas wood. Dont use a metal ladder for this job,either, as it conducts electricity.
  • Find a handyman in yourneighborhood if you have any issues.;
  • Read Also: How To Install A Pergola On A Paver Patio

    How Big Is The Patio String Lights To Be

    Often look out for hanging patio string lights in peoples walking routes. Short, thin strings of exterior lights are hard to see when not switched on.

    You dont want to be liable for someone whos wearing shoes! Its hard to tell you a definite height, provided that it depends mostly on the height of the tallest individual on your patio! Yet 9-10 feet is a decent rule of thumb.

    S On How To Hang String Lights On A Stucco Wall

    30 Outdoor Patio LED & Bistro String Lights Ideas ...

    It very well may be baffling when its an ideal opportunity to hang the Christmas lights on your homes plaster outside. It would be best if you securely made sure about the lights without harming the completion of your home, and the harsh, lopsided surface of plaster makes most cements ineffectual.

    In any case, proficient lighting originators have discovered a straightforward answer for tying downlights to this challenging surface. Utilizing a typical creating instrument, you can make sure about Christmas lights and eliminate them without harming the plaster.

    Every year you own a plan that String Lights On A Stucco Wall establishment of light clasps may be a far superior choice. Likewise, this is the choice to utilize if your plaster finish is made with Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems or EIFS.

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    How To Hang Curtain Lights

    Bothfairy and string lights can make excellent curtain lights, so the lookyou want will dictate which type you should buy.

  • Measure your window and buy as many strands,also known as stripes, as youd like:
  • Buy anywhere from 15-30 stripes for a dense curtain.
  • Buy 3-5 for a more subtle look.
  • Secure the lights to the top of the window orcurtain with the method of your choice, then hang your curtains in front ofthem.

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