The Easiest Way To Hang String Lights On Your Deck
Learn how to hang outdoor string lights on a deck. Its a simple task with only a few materials needed.
How To Hang String Lights On a Deck
Weve been using our deck space so much more this summer now that we can spend our evenings out here, even when the sun sets and it gets dark. Thanks to this pretty string lights overhead, weve created a really beautiful ambience and glow on our deck that keeps up out here until late every night.
Can you see the wooden stake on the top right hand side of our deck? Thats all you need to hang string lights! If like us, you dont have an sort of overheard structure like a gazebo to hang lights from, then this easy DIY will be something youll love. In only 30 minutes, youll have those pretty string lights draped over your deck or patio and you can start to enjoy them!
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How To Hang Outdoor String Lights: The Ultimate Guide
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.
How To Hang Outdoor Lights From Trees
If youve got big trees near your patio or deck, youre in luck! You can use eye hooks, cup hooks, or coaxial staples to secure them to the tree.
Cyndy from The Creativity Exchange anchored her patio lights to a tree in this beautiful outdoor dining space.
Ariel from PMQ for Two made use of some nearby trees to hang lights over her super-fun outdoor living room.
Or drape them in the lower branches of a tree, like my friend Kippi did for this gorgeous backyard 4th of July party.
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Patio String Lighting Ideas For Lounging Areas
Your lounge area is the space where youve set out a few comfy chairs or couches. This is the area where youll sit back with a few drinks and relax with family and friends. You want the lighting to reflect this, so you need enough to see, but not as much as your dining area. Depending on the size of the space and brightness of the bulbs, you could get away with two or three strings throughout the area.
To go for maximum effect with your string lights, aim for a diagonal pattern where you start in one corner, string them out to a centralized point on the opposite side, and then back to the other corner. This should create a triangle shape.
String these lights high up so people can comfortably walk under them. The height will also provide maximum travel distance for the light. This way, you illuminate more with less.
Other Tips For Hanging String Lights
- Take the glass bulbs out BEFORE hanging. You don’t want to deal with broken bulbs!
- If hanging your string lights on stucco, you will need to use wall anchors specific to stucco.
- Get an assistant to help. Even having one of your kiddos help out by handing you items can make this process go a lot quicker!
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How To Hang Outdoor String Lights On Your Patio
There is nothing quite like spending a relaxing night out on your back patio. There is something about sitting, listening to the sounds of the evening, and watching the sun go down. Many homes all over the world are taking advantage of creating outdoor living spaces that can give you the same amount of comfort and relaxation that an indoor living space could.
In fact, many are even going so far as to add different lighting features, such as string lights, on their patios to help set a calming tone. We are going to talk about the different aspects of string lights that can be used on your patio just like outdoor solar lights for backyard, and how to hang them to make your backyard patio an amazing outdoor living space.
What Do I Use To Hang The Lights
The method you use will depend on the material youre attaching the light to. If youre working with wood, then you can use a screw eye or cup hook. A cup hook will work fine for somewhere that doesnt get a lot of exposure to the elements. A screw eye and carabiner will create a solid attachment thats perfect for places that experience high wind.Both of these methods will provide a long term and corrosion-resistant hanging method. Skip the nails that can damage the cable and rust.
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String Lights On Umbrella
If you dont have a gazebo, but you have an umbrella, you can add string lights to it. Then you can keep the umbrella open at night to showcase the lighting.
If you prefer, you can also look for umbrellas that already have integrated lighting in them. We love our cantilever umbrella with integrated led lights that we got from Lowes.
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Purchasing Outdoor String Lights
I purchased BrightTech Ambience Pro Outdoor String Lights. This string comes in a 45-foot string and uses vintage Edison bulbs with exposed filaments give off a warm, nostalgic glow. The Ambiance Pro light string is all black, has a hanger mounting hole and is a heavy duty cord, that is thicker than any other cords Ive seen. This string light is also dimmer compatible.
The lights have 3 feet of spacing between each bulb and you can connect up to 8 strands end to end.
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Best Ways To Hang Outdoor String Lights
Backyards in many homes are brightened up by hanging string lights. Outdoor string lights can be hung temporarily during events such as weddings or permanently to enhance the backyard patio. Regardless of the events, there are numerous ideas on how to hang the string lights to create that cozy ambiance that will have you enjoy your nights.
String lights bring out an inviting and soft glow in your backyard or the entire homestead. When properly fixed, they will transform your backyard into an attractive spot, where you can host friends and cheer up as you enjoy your night.
Some backyards have trees and other objects while others lack a backyard. Therefore, before you decide on the best way to hand your outdoor string lights, you should take time to assess your backyard.
Outdoor street lights should be able to withstand harsh temperatures, wind, and rain. Therefore, the quality of the lights and the hanging style are crucial.
However, to achieve that inviting illumination in your backyard, you need to hang the lights in the right way to achieve the best illumination pattern. Therefore, you should learn the best ways to hang the outdoor string lights in your homestead.
That said, here are the best ways to hang your outdoor string lights to beautify and brighten up the space.
Patio String Lighting Ideas For Around Fire Pits
Fire pits are a great yard feature to gather around with friends or share a romantic moment with your loved one. Theres just one problem: A fire pit doesnt create a lot of light. The only area illuminated is the space directly around the fire pit. Youll need to sit very near the fire pit to be illuminated. This can leave you and your company sitting in the dark.
Hanging string lights around the fire pit area can provide the additional lighting you need to make the space functional. This will allow you to enjoy the fire pit without having to sit on top of it. You can also use the string lights to define the space so that you have a room effect.
To hang your string lights, youll need to place poles around the perimeter of your fire pit area. You can either use a post hole digger to drop them directly into the ground, or you can use large planters to bury the poles with concrete. You need to use substantially sized posts so that they wont tip or lean. They also need to be tall enough that you can walk under the string lights once theyre hung.
String the lights from post to post to create a perimeter of soft glowing light. You could also crisscross them across the fire pit area. Be careful with this you dont want the heat from your firepit to melt the lights above.
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Do Not Attach A Cable Around A Tree Trunk
It is important to understand that tree trunks ad branches increase in diameter as they grow. Cables installed around a tree trunk will cause damage to the tree as the bark grow is causes a strangulation effect to the tree. A cable around the truck causes a restriction that keeps the sap from flowing through the tree, eventually killing the tree.
Patio String Lighting Ideas For Yards And Open Spaces
You have a big open yard thats perfect for spending time in. Maybe you have a fire pit in one area, a table in another, a sitting area, and even a swing set. All of these features are useless once the sun sets if theres no light in your backyard. Hang string lights and bring all of these areas together under one cohesive set of string lights.
If you have a privacy fence around your yard, you have the perfect setup for string lights. String them from your roof to the top of the fence. Do this several times and create a canopy of soft light. You could balance the light by adding more strings over high trafficked areas and fewer strings over less utilized space.
If your fence isnt tall enough or if its too far away, then use posts. You can have them installed directly into the ground to give them stability. Youll want to place them in strategic areas to give your lights the most support and the most freedom in how you string your lights. Most people choose to place them along the perimeter or have one centralized post.
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How High Should Patio String Lights Be
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.
How Do You Attach String Lights To An Aluminum Patio
How to Hang Things on an Aluminum Porch
Furthermore, how do you hang patio lights without nails? Method 1Hanging Lights with Hooks or Clips
Keeping this in consideration, how do you hang string lights on a patio?
Hanging Patio String Lights Basic Steps
How do you hang lights on a metal awning?
Hanging lights on metal doesn’t have to be hard.
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How To Hang Your Outdoor String Lights On Your Patio
There are many different options as to how and where you can hang your outdoor string lights on your patio, and it truly depends on the size of the space that you have, and what elements are surrounding you.
For example, if you have a covered patio, you can use the space above, whether it be rafters or just posts, to hang your lights for a typical lighting scenario that allows you a great deal of light. On the other hand, when you have a patio that is uncovered, you can utilize large planters or even posts of your own creation to allow for those string lights to surround your outdoor living space.
You can even take it a step further, allowing your string lights to dangle from posts above to create a lighted barrier with a romantic feel. Because the outdoor string lights that are on the market today range in all different lengths, you can find the correct length to accommodate the space that you are wanting to cover and light up.
Friendly Reminders For Hanging Outdoor String Lights
It is important to first plan out how your lights will be hung before you begin attempting to place them where you wish. Making a game plan can allow you to figure out exactly how many lights you will need for space, where the main outlet will need to be located, and where to place each piece of strand so there are no accidents or loose cords.
Let your friends and family experience all that outdoor string lights have to offer in the comfort of your new and improved patio setting.
How To Hang String Lights Over A Deck
If your deck has a railing, you can attach DIY posts to the existing railing to extend their height. The ideal height will probably be eight or nine feet, depending on which style of lights you choose, and how much you want to swag them.
Then use cup hooks or screw eyes to attach the light strands to the tops of each post.
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Patio String Lighting Ideas For Dining Spaces
No one wants to eat in the dark. Theres something especially unpleasant and unnerving about not being able to see the food on your plate. Especially when youre eating outside. String lights can eliminate this problem and make your outdoor dining area more inviting.
More is better when illuminating your cooking or dining area. This means buying string lights with more bulbs and hanging more strings than you would in other spaces. You can then supplement your string lights with other more decorative accent lighting, such as candles, lanterns, or smaller sets of string lights.
If you choose to hang your string lights over the dining space, make sure you cover the entire dining area. You dont want some guests eating in full light while others struggle in the shadows.
If your dining area is near a fence or wall, you can hang several rows of lighting on it instead. Just be sure to hang it high enough that it isnt in someones face and that the light can carry over the entire table.
Do I Need A Permit To Hang String Lights
You should be fine hanging your string lights without a permit. Since they arent a structure and you plug them in, they typically wont qualify as a project that requires a permit. Before you hang your lights, consider how they might affect your neighbors. You may find that the additional light shines directly into your neighbors home, possibly upsetting them. Maintain a good relationship and keep your lighting relegated to your backyard only.
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How To Hang String Lights When Youre Renting
Heres a slight variation on the string lights poles above. These poles use a patio umbrella stand as the base. They can be moved around easily and are perfect for wedding receptions, outdoor parties, or anywhere you dont cant dig holes in the ground. And did I mention this one only requires 3 tools and takes about 20 minutes tops?