How To Set Up Outdoor String Lights

Turn your dark, unused outdoor spaces into a nighttime oasis with the assistance of patio lights! Hanging patio lights across the backyard, deck or within of an outdoor structure like a gazebo or pergola is a perfect manner to add together ambient landscape lighting for every day employ, parties and outdoor events. Scroll down a little to first at the beginning or click on one of the links below this text to skip directly to the patio lights topic you're looking for!

With a trivial planning, patio cord lights have the unique ability to brand whatever outdoor space more exciting. Nosotros made this guide for anyone looking to get started.

Hanging Patio Lights Guide

• How to Hang Patio Lights
• Where to hang patio lights
• Patio lite planning tips
• What makes adept quality patio lights?
• Hanging patio lights FAQ

How to Hang Patio Lights

The installation process can vary depending on where and how you decide to hang your patio lights. To go you started, we've created a list of the basic steps, supplies y'all might need and methods to use.

Supplies Yous Might Demand

• Hooks- these could exist screw-in hooks or another variety.
• Zip ties
• Carabiners
• Extension cords
• Guy Wire Kit

Hanging Patio String Lights Basic Steps

1. Describe a rough sketch with measurements
2. Assemble your poles if applicable
3. If using guy wire, hang this start. Using a guy wire tin prolong the life of your light strings by removing the tension that is created on the cord as your patio lights hang over fourth dimension. In some situations, the light strings may need to exist threaded through the guy wire prior to beingness hung.
4. Hang your first patio light string with the male plug closest to your outlet.
5. Utilise zip ties or hooks betwixt each bulb as needed on deck railings or other structures. If applicable, attach the strings to your guy wire as you go.
6. If working with multiple light strings, cease hanging your kickoff run and and then connect the male end of the second string to the female end of the offset and keep going in this way until all strings are in place! If your light string doesn't accept end to finish connectors, run an extension cord to your 2nd light string and continue hanging your patio lights. If hanging incandescent patio lights, keep maximum wattage in mind and switch to a different outlet if necessary to avoid ability disruptions!
7. Plug your patio lights in and enjoy the ambiance!

Patio Lights Hanging Across a Backyard Deck

Where To Hang Patio Lights

If your chiliad doesn't have many readily available options for hanging patio lights, you may need to create your own. Yous can affix poles to deck railings or use the railings themselves to hang your lights. For larger backyard installations you may need to attach wires to trees and sink poles into the ground. In smaller patio settings with no existing surfaces to hang lights, you tin cement poles into painted buckets or decorative planters using the DIY method below.

DIY Patio Light Pole

What you will need

• i Large Terra Cotta Clay Pot
• i Small-scale Terra Cotta Clay Pot ( to fit inside the larger version)
• Quick Dry Cement
• Thick Wooden Post or Pole
• Screw-In Hook
• Gardening Soil
• Flowers/Plants or Decorative Stones

Directions

Attach a hook to 1 end of your pole, this will provide an anchor for the light strings to adhere to. Mix the cement into your smaller clay pot and while information technology is all the same wet place your pole or wooden post in the cement. Agree the pole withal or notice something to continue information technology centered while it dries. Drying shouldn't accept too long if you're using quick dry cement. Once dry, place the smaller pot inside the larger pot and make full to the top with soil. Plant flowers or identify stones around the base of the pole on elevation of the soil. Now you take a functional pole for hanging your patio lights that too serves as a decorative planter!

Note: this DIY pole for patio lights is recommended only for coverage over small-scale areas such every bit a 12x12 patio. For larger spaces, more than permanent and sturdy hanging solutions should be used.

Patio Lights Planning

Select the Best Patio Lights for Your Space

Patio lights and outdoor string lights have become incredibly popular for creating cozy outdoor spaces year-circular. Because of that popularity, mass retail stores and online markets are flooded with thousands of patio light variations and degrees of quality. If yous're planning on hanging patio lights for long-term utilize, it's incredibly important to select loftier quality lite bulbs and strings that are designed to exist durable and proceed looking great over fourth dimension in outdoor settings.

The following quick guide will assistance you lot place quality patio lights. If yous desire more detailed information on patio light selection, we recommend watching our Choosing Outdoor String Lights video.

How to Identify the All-time Outdoor String Lights

1. Look for bulbs that can be removed from the cord. This allows yous to easily replace bulbs if needed and change colors or themes over time if you desire.
2. Cull shatterproof bulbs over glass if possible, especially if you alive in a climate with volatile atmospheric condition or severe storms.
3. LED bulbs last longer, use less energy, and stay cool to the impact, which makes them ameliorate than incandescent bulbs for long term outdoor and patio use.
4. Look for light strings with heavy duty wire gauges between 16-18 and an insulation rating of SPT1, SPT2, or SJTW. Note: Wire guess refers to the bore of the copper inside the lite string and the SMALLER the number, the BIGGER the gauge, which can exist confusing.
5. If you lot're hanging lights across a big space, consider outdoor string lights with hanging grommets. The hanging grommet is a machine-cutting hole within a prophylactic brace higher up each light. You can thread a support wire, also chosen a guy or guide wire, through each of these holes to help bear the weight, if needed.

How to Hang Patio Lights FAQ

What size pole / mail should I use?

2x2 or 2x4 wood is not recommended. A 4x4 post securely placed in the footing is typically sufficient for most backyard patio light applications. If your lighting display is more complex and yous have many cord lite runs existence supported from a single post, a 6x6 post can be used. It is larger, provides even more stability, and gives yous more expanse to attach your strings, if needed.

How far should I sink the post?

If using concrete, most display applications that are 8' to x' off ground benefit from posts sunk about 24" to 36". This is approximately ane/4 to i/3 of the post's height being sunk underground and secured with concrete. For taller applications in the 10' to fifteen' height range we recommend sinking the post 1/3 of the manner in the ground.

How far apart should poles exist spaced?

Pole spacing is based on personal preference and the needs unique to the space you are trying to decorate. For example, more complex patio string light patterns may require the utilise of additional poles.

When should a guy wire exist used?

Nosotros recommend the use of guy or guide wire on longer low-cal runs and projects where large, heavy patio bulbs are being used. When you stretch calorie-free wires betwixt ii points, at that place is constant lateral tension. It'south kind of like a perpetual tug of war on your lite strings, which isn't platonic. By using guy wire between two anchor points instead of the light cord, yous're removing the tug of state of war completely which means the lights you worked so hard to install are less probable to fall or sag over fourth dimension.

How high should lights exist hung off the ground?

Patio light brandish scenarios tin can vary widely and it's not uncommon to come across lights hung at very different heights even from one end to another. Generally, though, it's good to take lights 8-10' off the ground at a minimum just and then at that place'south walking clearance. If you are using larger bulbs, you may want to consider raising the peak of your brandish further, based on personal preference.

What hardware should be used to adhere lights to a post?

Hanging hardware like cable clamps are typically sufficient for nearly applications. Employ the appropriate spiral or commodities for your hanging surface and ensure the cable clamp is secure. Boosted clamps can be used to secure the ends if needed.

How tin lights exist attached to a tree?

Because trees take varying bawl types, traditional cablevision clamps can piece of work but may crave longer screws to ensure the clench is secured to the tree. Culling hardware includes things like C hooks (sometimes chosen wheel hooks) that tin be inserted into a tree and then the cord calorie-free can exist fastened to the C hook hardware.

Do you have a helpful patio lights installation tip or idea that you'd like to share, or questions near hanging patio lights? Allow u.s. know in the comments below!

Patio Lights Hanging Across a Backyard Space!

How To Set Up Outdoor String Lights,

Source: https://www.christmaslightsetc.com/pages/how-to-plan-and-hang-patio-lights.htm

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