Brighten Your Outdoor Life
With a little imagination and under $100, you can transform your patio and backyard into a magical retreat. The key ingredient is string lightswith different styles including fairy lights, Edison bulbs, icicle lights, and globe lights. Almost all outdoor string lights are now available with LED bulbs, which are more energy-efficient than incandescent filaments. You can also find solar string lights, which dont require an electrical socket or extension cord.
Tiny twinkling lights strung in trees, or wrapped around fence posts, require little installation and offer almost instant enjoyment. Hanging globe lights over an outdoor dining area or pool takes a little more set up time. But with the right hanging kit, youll be surprised at the beautiful effectand will doubtless want to relax and entertain outside more often.
Diy Planter String Light Poles
Another popular method for creating DIY string light posts is to fill large flower pots or planters partially with cement and set the poles in the concrete. Then you can fill the remaining space with soil and plant flowers or foliage around the post. Check out this tutorial from Wendi at H20 Bungalow.
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?
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Learn How To Hang String Lights Outside Using Stainless Wire For Support With These Tips You Can Create An Outdoor Oasis In No Time
Ive said it before, and Ill say it again: twinkle lights make everything magical. Its the whole reason I host a nighttime tour every holiday season but whats a girl to do the other ten months of the year? Hang outdoor string lights, of course.
And not just any outdoor string lights: ones that will last.
When I revealed my outdoor dining area last week, I had so many questions about the best way to hang string lights, so today Im sharing all my tips and tricks, as well as the best outdoor string lights and materials needed to hang them on wire cables.
How To Hang Outdoor String Lights
Hanging outdoor string lights is a great way to add some extra ambiance and create the perfect atmosphere for your backyard. But, it can be a little tricky if you havent done it before.
Well show you how to hang your outdoor string lights on your outdoor patio and cover everything from choosing the right lighting all the way up to hanging them.
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Tips For Using Solar String Lights
If you are wondering how solar string lights work, it is fairly simple. They are set up just like normal, electric string lights, but the solar panel is located at the end of the string where the plug would normally be. You can either stick the end with the solar panel in the ground or mount it on a wall. Be sure to place it where it will get the most sunlight. If you do not, they may not generate enough energy to run through the duration of your outdoor party.
Another thing to remember when purchasing solar string lights is to look for ones that are waterproof or highly water resistant. Solar lights are always at the mercy of the current weather, and rain or snow can ruin the bulbs or the solar panels. If you purchase waterproof ones, they will last much longer.
Go For A Midnight Swim
Bring romance to your everyday life with a dip after dark. If youre lucky enough to have a pool, bistro-style overhead lighting can add beauty and functionality. Of course, any electricity near water requires caution, so read up on the risks before installing your string lights safely. One option is shatterproof and waterproof solar-powered bulbs, like these by Brightech .
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How To Make Easy Diy Patio Lights
This is not a fancy project by any stretch, but then again Im not fancy. Sometimes I just want things done in a simplistic way, and thats what I got with this light project.
- To string the lights I used 2x2x8 treated lumber poles and stainless steel screw eye rings.
- I screwed the eye rings into the centres of the tops of the poles.
- Then we secured the poles to the corners of our deck by screwing them into the sides of our deck base.
- Then I strung 4 sets of outdoor lights from eye ring to eye ring.
- Done. Really simple.
And look how pretty they look! Whimsical like a rustic garden party. The whole deck is softly lit upsigh. I could sit out here all night longthe lights, the evening scented stockI love it so much.
So if you have waited to do this for your deck, dont wait any longer!
Update! We liked these lights so much, we strung them along our fence too! You can see them here, and get more ways to hang string lights!
Thank you for PINNING!
Wrap The String Lights Around Trees
You can use any trees in your yard as impromptu light stands.
While its perfectly fine to do this, youll want to make sure to shift the lights regularly. You want to avoid having the string lights grow into the tree .
You can choose to drill directly into the tree, but be careful not to permanently damage it.
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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 manufacturers instructions before proceeding.
Arrange the planters in a rectangle no more than 10′ apart.
Make Your Shrubs Glow
Similar to the idea of adding solar string lights to your fence, you can also add them to the greenery around your home. Add them to shrubs and vines for an ethereal look. People do not call these kinds of lights fairy lights for nothing. Adding some glimmer to your greenery provides a great feeling to the atmosphere of your yard.
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How To Install Poles To Hang Outdoor String Lights In Your Backyard
Lighting makes outdoor spaces feel inviting. Here’s a simple, sturdy way to hang those pretty string lights you’ve been eyeing.
Ready your outdoor space for al fresco dining and bonfire season with the warm glow of string lights. If you don’t have any deck or porch posts accessible or trees you can use to string outdoor lights, this backyard project can help you suspend lights anywhere with minimal effort. Long vertical poles secured with concrete footings are an easy way to support twinkling string lights and are sturdy enough to stay up for the entire summer season. A little carpentry work and a few basic supplies are all that’s required, and this DIY project can be done in one day. See how we did it below, and check out our expert advice to hang string lights correctly the first time.
- Working time3 hrs
- Start to finish1 day
- DifficultyKind of Easy
- InvolvesPouring Concrete, Carpentry Skills
- 1-inch diameter PVC pipeQty:1
- 3/4-inch conduitQty:1
Set Concrete
Create a sturdy base for the lighting supports using concrete and PVC pipes. Sink concrete forms at each end or corner of your patio or backyard area. Make sure the concrete forms are set deep enough to go below the frost line, which varies by region. Center a same-height piece of 1-inch-diameter PVC pipe inside and fill form around the pipe with concrete.
Cut Pipes
Drill Holes
Finish Poles
Hang String Lights
Best Places To Use Industrial Led String Lights
- spanning a long distance between trees, posts, or buildings
- restaurant patios
- over a deck or patio without a roof
- windy locations
But as you might predict, industrial-quality LED string lights are also the most expensive. If youre on a tight budget, you might want to consider something inexpensive, like this basic set from Target.
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Quick Tips For Hanging Outdoor String Lights
Spring is here and beautiful summer nights are just around the corner! Today, I wanted to share some really easy quick tips and layout ideas for hanging outdoor string lights. Im also sharing my favorite sources for lights and things youll need to consider when purchasing outdoor string lights, bistro lights or cafe lights.
Over the years, I have designed outdoor lighting layouts for outdoor events, client spaces and in my own outdoor space and it can be very challenging. I have learned so much over the years what works and what doesnt work and youll find all of my tips below.
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 dont need to add additional anchors of any kind for trees.
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What Is The Best Way To Hang Outdoor String Lights
The best way to hang outdoor string lights depends on where you are hanging them. If you have trees, its easy to hang lights. Just drill a hole into a tree, install a cup hook, wrap the light around it and secure it with a zip tie. Or you can thread them through the branches and not anchor them. But, make sure you are close enough to a power outlet. You can also hang string lights from porch or deck posts, your home, fences, gazebos, pergolas, or pavilions.
When hanging heavy lights or hundreds of feet of string lights, thread them through a guide wire for extra support. You can also install wall anchors before the hooks for extra support.
How To Build A String Light Pole On A Deck
Time needed: 1 hour.
Simple tutorial to attach a string light pole to a raised deck
We used two – one on each of the farthest corners of the deck. This way we could attach hooks to the house and to the poles and swag the lights back and forth.
Allow to dry.
Using wood screws, attach each pole to the back of the deck. We used two screws for each post to ensure they were stable. Make sure you check for level as you are screwing them in.
Screw a hook on to the top of each pole as well as to the side of the house where the string lights will start and end.
Simply hang the beginning of the light set from the first hook and drape across to the next hook, then the next hook and so on. We had a few feet of lights left when we reached the last hook and just let it trail down the side of the house.Note: Depending on where your nearest electric outlet is you may need to get a little creative with plugging in your lights. Ours is way over next to our bulkhead, which is about 15 feet away from the deck. We plugged an extension cord in, tacked it under the siding and ran it all the way over the deck and up side to meet the lights. You can see the white extension cord where it meets the black string of lights.
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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!
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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Easy Tips For Hanging Outdoor String Lights From A Pergola
Check out these easy tips for hanging outdoor string lights from your pergola for beautiful ambience in your backyard all year long.
Do you love the look of outdoor string lights?
Yes?? Me too!
Id love to hang lights everywhere
on my patio
in the trees
everywhere!!!
But I think my backyard would soon resemble a carnival if I started stringing them everywhere, dont ya think so?
Plus, I cant imagine how much our electrical bill would be with all that lighting.
So, since I cant possibly hang them everywhere, I keep it simple and string them from the pergola on our patio.
Thats the perfect spot in our backyard to add a bit of glowing ambience.
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.
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Learn How To Hang Outdoor String Lights
Learn how to use support cables to hang outdoor string lights over your patio or yard.
See above for all the considerations . You will want to attach the cables at least 9 off the ground to allow for a bit of sag and for the lights to hang down. Once you have decided these details, measure the space, then order your lights and cable hanging materials.
There will be tension on the cable, obviously, so it is important that the eye hooks be installed securely. At least 9 off the ground, choose a position that will allow the eye hook to stick out perpendicular to the direction the cable will run. This will keep the pressure of the cable from trying to pull the screw hooks straight out of the tree. Use a hammer to tap the end of your eye hook into the tree. Once it is secure, begin screwing it in. You may have to repeat the tapping and screwing a few times as it makes its way through layers of bark. Eventually, though, it will catch and you can screw it in securely. To tighten the screw, using a screwdriver through the eye for leverage.
Between each set of eye hooks, run stainless cable and secure using aluminum sleeves or other wire locks. Be sure to pull the cable tight before securing.
Secure the end of your final strand to the last eye hook and enjoy!
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Do you have any other questions about hanging outdoor lights? Ask away! And dont forget to pin it.
Commercial Outdoor String Lights
Any amount of string lights can add magic, but I knew two things: I wanted lots of light , and I wanted them not to break.
I began by choosing the type of lights that would provide the most light and ambiance for our outdoor living space. Globe lights were going to give us more light: enough for outdoor dining and yard games. But I decided that a vintage style globe light provided more ambiance than simple round lights.
I then compared regular string lights to commercial grade lights, and it was no competition. I read reviews and compared and decided that these commercial grade vintage-style string lights were the way to go.
Even better, theyre LED, which should last longer, stay cool to the touch, and allows for more strands to be connected together from a single outlet because the wattage per bulb is lower. If you need a lot of strands, the price can certainly add up. But I think its worth it to have something that should survive the outdoors and last for years to come.
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