How To Hang String Lights On Patio Cover

How To Hang Patio String Lights

There are a few different ways that you can install string lights on your patio depending on the design of your patio. To break this up a bit, we’re going to focus on uncovered patios first.

Even with an uncovered patio, there are still a variety of design features that can change how you hang string lights. One feature that is typically constant is that the patio is attached to the house. To attach string lights to the side of your house, coaxial staples are your best choice.

Then, there is the concern of the other side to attach the lights too. This is the part that can vary from patio to patio. To start with an opposing view to the last thing we considered, you can attach the lights to tall trees if you have them. Once again, coaxial staples work best for this connection. The same principle can be used if you have a fence near your patio.

The most likely situation, though, is that an uncovered patio faces the same challenges as a backyard without tall trees. In these cases, it only makes sense that the same solution is the answer. Installing poles around the edges of the patio for light attachment.

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

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.

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How To Hang Gorgeous Globe String Lights Under A Deck

This is one of those posts that I debated writing because I wasn’t sure if it would be silly to dedicate a whole post to hanging . I decided to write it because, after researching existing tutorials, I realized that most of them were for hanging string lights on decks or patios…not under second-story decks.

You might think that the requirements would be the same. Alas—they are not. At least for us they weren’t. That’s 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.

How To Hang String Lights

Below we share how to hang string lights for a variety of areas including bedrooms, walls, patios, decks and pergolas.String lights aren’t just for Christmas anymore. Fairy lights are becoming a staple in college dorm rooms and bedrooms. Strings of bulbs are a good way to add a vintage touch to backyards, apartments, and even cafes are adopting them. Even strings of hanging lanterns are a whimsical touch to any backyard reception.

Of course, just throwing string lights up probably won’t give you the look you want. Here, we’re going to break down the best way to hang your string lights wherever you might want them.

There’s a good tip before we get into any specific installation is to check your string lights before hanging them up. While everything is likely to be fine, it’s better to find any potential problem with the lights before you go through the trouble of hanging them up.

Table of Contents

• How to Hang String Lights in Bedroom

Do I Need A Permit To Hang String Lights

You should be fine hanging your string lights without a permit. Since they aren’t a structure and you plug them in, they typically won’t 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 neighbor’s home, possibly upsetting them. Maintain a good relationship and keep your lighting relegated to your backyard only.

More Must-Read Articles

• In Partnership with Tiege Hanley

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How To Hang Outdoor String Lights From Diy Posts: Fill Planter With Concrete

Place the unpainted end of a 2” x 2” x 8’ post in each of the planters. Divide the dry concrete mix evenly over the planters. Add water to the concrete mix according to the manufacturer’s instructions and stir with a stick until well combined.

Photo by: Sam Henderson

Sam Henderson

Place the planter on level ground and use a level on one side to make the post plumb. Add painter’s tape across the planter on all four sides of the post to hold it in position. Allow the concrete to harden according to the manufacturer’s instructions before proceeding.

Whats The Best Type Of String Lights

Bottom line, . They’re LED, heavy-duty, and will last for many years. If you want to keep your lights up year-round, intend to use them for several years in a row, or are using them for some kind of commercial application, these are your best bet.

I’ve had these high-quality lights over my patio for the past four years, and never had any problems with them. I will note that I take them down for the winter months, since we get freezing temperatures and some serious wind storms here in Seattle.

Command Clear Mini Light Clips 45 Clips 54 Strips

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• NO TOOLS REQUIRED – Hang indoor fairy lights, Christmas lights, holiday lights, twinkle lights, string lights, cables, and cords without nails or a hammer
• STRONG AND VERSATILE – Command Clear Decorating Clips include hold strongly on a variety of smooth indoor surfaces including painted walls, smooth ceilings, finished wood, glass, tile, and metal
• REMOVES CLEANLY – From Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, to Christmas, decorations go up and down with ease; Perfect for your college dorm, apartment, and home

Consider this Amazon’s Choice product that delivers quickly

Magnolian 30 Pack Party Light Hanger Stainless Steel Clips With Hook Multifunction Outdoor Activities Wire Holder For Party Supplies Curtain Photos Home Decoration

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Attaching Cable To House

The easiest way to attach the cable is to attach the snap hook on the cable to an eye bolt, installed into the fascia area of the house.

Install the eye-bolt into solid framing, if possible. When looking at the house  fascia, I looked for the trim nails indicating the location of a rafter tail. I visually verified this rafter tail location by peeking up through the sofit vent.

I used a drill bit to drill a pilot hole through the fascia and into the rafter tail. The drill bit, pilot hole should be approximately 75% of the total diameter of the eye-bolt threads. TIP: A good rule of thumb is to choose a drill bit that is the same diameter as the solid part of the eye-bolt minus the threads.

How To Hang Outdoor String Lights On Stucco

Having a stucco finish on your house can be absolutely beautiful. This means that you don’t want to mar or damage it when hanging your string lights from it. There are a few different ways to accomplish this depending on how permanently you want the lights installed.

Believe it or not, a glue gun can be your best friend when you’re temporarily hanging lightweight string lights to your home. This is a handy trick around the holidays that holds up better than you might think. All it really calls for is to add hot glue to the cord and hold it in place for about 30 seconds to dry. Instead of doing it in a long strip, it’s best to add a spot of glue around every 18 inches.

For a more permanent solution, pull out mounting clips and a caulk gun. On each clip, add caulk in portions about the size of a quarter. Once again, you’ll want to hold it in place for a bit to allow it to set.

Poles To Hang String Lights

We mentioned earlier that poles can be helpful in hanging string lights. So, let’s look at how to install them. To start, you’ll want place concrete forms into the ground at the corners of your patio. Then, place a PVC pipe with a 1” diameter in the center and fill the rest with concrete.

Take a ¾” conduit and cut it to the height you want the pole to be with the depth of the PVC pipe added to it. Screw a matching cap to the conduit and drill a hole an inch below it. Take a screw nut and place it in the hole with a nut on the other side to hold it in place. This hook is where you’ll hang the string lights.

Now you can take the time to prime and paint the conduit if you want. Generally, most people try to match the color to the color of the wire on the string lights. Finally, place the conduit into the PVC pipe and fill it with concrete.

#3: Gazebos And Pergolas

If you’ve already spent a pretty penny on a nice gazebo or pergola, you probably want to avoid making it look cheap with zip ties or possibly ruining the finish with adhesive backed hooks.

Our favorite new solution? 

Alumahangers are made specifically for hanging everything from heavy potted plants to string lights around your patio on your gazebo or pergola without having to use any nails or glues or sticky pads.

They come in almost any shape, size, and color you can imagine to blend right in with your gazebo or pergola and work by slipping right into the joint spaces and hanging from the rafters so there is no need to glue or nail.

Some slide straight in to stay high and tight in the corner while others have a 90° bend to hang down along and lay flush along the flat edge of a beam or joist like in the picture above.

The best part is you can easily change your mind and move them around wherever you need to, when you need to, as your needs and patio decor changes.

Almost every style is from pure white to oil rubbed bronze so take your time to find the color and style that will work for your space.

What Color Should The Bulbs Be

Whenever I’m buying lightbulbs, whether for indoor or outdoor use, I always look for “warm white”. Regular lightbulbs will have this “Lighting Facts” diagram on the back of the box like the ones below. You’ll always want your light color to be on the warm side of the spectrum.

Boxes of string lights may or may not have this diagram. But the point is that you want a warm glow with yellow/orange undertones, similar to the color of candlelight. Anything that says “daylight” or “cool” is going to have a blue cast like an alien spaceship. And I’m guessing that’s not the ambiance you’re going for.

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Similar item to consider

Decide How You Will Hang Your Outdoor String Lights

There are six popular ways to hang your outdoor string lights. The easiest methods are probably parallel and V-shaped, pictured below.

• 1) Parallel

• Gazebos or pergolas
• Pavilions

For softer wood like your porch, fences, or deck posts, you may want to use wall anchors to secure the hooks in place. Wall anchors are not mandatory, but if you can anchor your lights into a solid piece of wood like a stud, that will provide fantastic support for a long time. 

You don’t need to add additional anchors of any kind for trees.

How To Hang String Lights Along A Fence

Attaching your lights to a fence is just about as simple as it gets. The industrial lights come with a hole above each bulb so you can simply attach each light with a 3? finish nail pounded in at an angle. The nail heads are small enough that you’ll be able to remove the lights and replace them without removing the nails.

Finish nail- 16 penny 3? or 3.5? nail

How To Use String Lights To Create Fantastic Outdoor Setups

Outdoor lighting is an interesting topic mostly because all the usual options such as chandeliers or pendant lamps don’t really apply here. A different strategy is needed in order to provide proper illumination to open spaces, patios, gardens, decks and other outdoor areas. As it turns out, string lights are surprisingly good at that plus they’re also super versatile and flexible which means you can create some really awesome decors with them.

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!

Step 3: Connect & Tighten Cable

With the screw hooks in place, you’re ready to start hanging the cable. Connect the snap hook* on the cable guide wire to the screw hook at one end of the span .

Run the unfinished end of the cable to the other screw hook, loop it through and then loop the cable guide wire back through another cable clip . The cable clip allows you to adjust the length and tautness of the wire. After reaching the right length/tautness, you can cut off any excess wire extending from the cable clip.

Alternatively, you could also use a turnbuckle to more easily get the tautness you want in the guide wire .

If you are making a zigzag or other pattern and need to change direction at a sharper angle then the guide wire naturally bends, you can opt to stop and start your guide wire by cutting the guide wire and using additional cable clips to make the intersection .

*Note that our 30-, 60- and 110-foot cable guide wires have a snap hook on one end and the other end is unfinished with an included cable clip to customize the length. Our 350-foot bulk reel guide wire is unfinished on both ends for more flexibility and you can buy the number of cable clips you need.

Use Metal Pole And Pvc

Cut PVC pipes into a sizable fit that suits you and hammer them down into the ground, this will ensure the pipe firmness. 

After this, squeeze in a pole with a hook on top, which will be used to hang your patio lights. You can hammer this pipes around your patio at intervals or the corners you desire.

How To Hang Outdoor String Lights From Diy Posts: Secure Post With Tape

Place the planter on level ground and use a level on one side to make the post plumb. Add painter’s tape across the planter on all four sides of the post to hold it in position. Allow the concrete to harden according to the manufacturer’s instructions before proceeding.

Arrange the planters in a rectangle no more than 10′ apart.

How To Hang String Lights On Covered Patio

A covered patio makes hanging string lights a bit easier. This is because these types of patios already have somewhere to hang lights from.

The first thing to consider is what style will work for your patio. A zigzag pattern might be great for some patios but the design could interfere with structural elements such as ceiling fans. In those cases, string lights framing the edges of the ceiling can offer a beautiful alternative. Another choice is to run the lights in straight lines across the ceiling. These can be carefully placed to avoid any other design facets on the ceiling.

No matter what pattern you use, the first step is to measure the space. Try to start your length of string lights as close to an outlet as possible. Then, you’ll want to consider how you’re going to anchor your lights. One option is to use the same coaxial staples as before. If you’re looking to avoid the use of nails, however, you can try adhesive hooks. If you use adhesive hooks, it’s crucial to make sure they’re made for outdoor use. The last thing you want is for your hooks to slide off the wall at the first sign of foul weather.

If your commercial grade lights tend to heat up, you can use trimmed down zip ties connected between the hook and wire to add a little extra distance.

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Ways To Hang Outdoor Patio Lights Without Nails

Having patio lights will help you enjoy your patio. It will also make your home look better and improve your house’s curb appeal. However, is there any way to hang them up without putting nails into the wall? 

One of the ways to hang outdoor patio lights without nails is using adhesive hooks or gutter hooks. Alternatively, you can tape or staple them to your wall. You can also hang them on trees, bushes, posts, potted plants, and your fence. Another way to brighten up your patio is by using lanterns.

In this article, we will discuss the benefits of installing patio lights. We will also go over the best ways to install patio lights without using any nails. 

Why Install Patio Lights Without Nails

However, before we get into it, we will explain the benefits of installing patio lights and why installing them is better without using any nails. 

Nails Can Damage Your House

Improves Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Another reason to install patio lights outside your home is that it will improve your home’s curb appeal. Having a well-lit patio will allow you to charge more for your home if you are listing it online, as you will be able to take beautiful pictures of your home and your patio at night.

If anyone drives by your home and you have a for-sale sign on your front lawn, having a well-lit patio will make your home more attractive. More people will notice it, and they will be more interested in buying. They will also be willing to pay more. 

Improves Your Quality of Life

Glue on Hooks