Thank you for the tutorial. You can buy them or DIY them with just a few inexpensive supplies. What can you use to hold up string lights? 6) Pre-drill your guide holes in the tree, fence, or other structure to attach your string lights. document.getElementById("copyright_year").innerHTML = new Date().getFullYear(); 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, Cascading Snowfall Lights & Icicle Lights, How to Calculate Max Run for String Lights. In all fairness, most upholstery projects that have easy in the title are lying. Some string lights may come with the hardware needed to hang everything. Your email address will not be published. The first thing to do is measure for both your string lights and the cable guide wire you need for spanning across any open spaces. In the evening, their soft glow overhead can visually transform an ordinary patio into a party-ready spot for hosting friends or cheer up a dim walkway with an inviting, Feeling Inspired? Use a tape measure to determine the height of that first mark. You can also hang string lights this way on fences, bushes, or your deck railing. See the deck railing section above for a visual. This is where the second method comes into play.
Your email address will not be published. Theyve been in place for three years now without any problems. 14 Easy Last-Minute Holiday Decorating Ideas, Scandinavian Modern Classics at Denmarks 3 Days of Design, 10 Trends in Contemporary Lighting for 2022, 10 Top Lighting Looks at the Spring 2022 High Point Market, How to Choose Your Bathroom Vanity Lighting, How to Keep Bugs Away While You Enjoy the Outdoors, 12 Backyard Games to Play All Summer Long, 10 Ways to Refresh Your Outdoor Dining Area for Summer, Key Measurements for Planning Your Outdoor Furniture Layout, 10 Steps to Help You Get Ready for Landscape Construction, 6 Ways to Cool Off Without Air Conditioning, 7 Major Decorating Mistakes and How to Avoid Them, Stash It All: Know the 3 Zones of Kitchen Storage. Our commercial grade string lights do have mounting holes (either above or on each side of the socket), however for long-term reliability and easier installation, we suggest using zip ties. Theyre the perfect solution if youre renting, throwing an outdoor party, or hosting a wedding reception. If your light cord isnt long enough to reach the corners of your deck or patio, you can buy yourself some length by using cord to attach the strand to an eye hook. The industrial lights come with a hole above each bulb (see below) so you can simply attach each light with a 3 finish nail pounded in at an angle. If you are hanging glass bulbs, consider removing them before hanging your string. If the space you want to illuminate is an open area without structures, consider purchasing string light poles that can be inserted into the ground. Attaching your lights to a fence is just about as simple as it gets. Look to These Professionals for Help, 10 Ways to Turn Your Backyard Into a Resort-Inspired Retreat, Outdoor Areas for Year-Round Dining, Lounging and Soaking, 5 Outdoor Ideas From the Most Popular Patios So Far in 2021, Cool Down With These Stylish Ideas for Outdoor Ceiling Fans, Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists, Find an outdoor lighting professional on Houzz, Randy Thueme Design Inc. - Landscape Architecture, See more ideas for hanging outdoor lights, 8 Patio Arrangements to Inspire Your Outdoor Room, Work with a landscape designer in your area, String light suspension kit (includes wire cable and suspension hardware like turnbuckles, snap hooks, lock clamps and pad eyes with screws ), 10-foot-long wooden posts or 10-foot-long metal poles (electrical metal tubing, aka EMT or thin-wall, is available at home improvement stores in 10-foot lengths, which you may need to cut), Nails or screws (if attaching to a fence), 18-inch-long metal rebar stakes (one for each pole; needed only if using EMT and mounting lights over a lawn). Most patio light strands have male and female plugs on each end. 22 and 24 wood are too flimsy to support hanging lights, especially for large patios or pavilions. I like to use 1/4 graph paper because it makes it easy to calculate the length of cord that Ill need. After just a couple of hours of work, youll be ready to entertain or simply relax in your new-and-improved yard or patio. 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 (see Figure 2). If you cant dig holes in the ground (or just dont want to!
Outdoor string lights are a cinch to put up if you have the perfectly positioned trees or fence. Whenever Im buying lightbulbs, whether for indoor or outdoor use, I always look for warm white. Once youve selected the string lights you want, divide the perimeter by the length of the light strandthats how many sets of lights you need. In fact the industrial lights actually come with the bulbs in a separate box. You have several options regarding where to hang your outdoor string lights. Homeowners with outdoor electrical outlets can use LEDs or incandescent lights. If you connect too many it will put a lot of strain on the string lights. 8 Ways to Get Rid of Pesky Fish Smells in Your Kitchen. Anything that says daylight or cool is going to have a blue cast like an alien spaceship. Calculate how many total feet of outdoor string lights you need, and decide on your preferred bulb type and style. 2) Measure the space for your lights from tree to tree or structure to structure. Hang onto the empty box so youll have a place to stow your lights in the off-season. This is probably the easiest and least complicated method youll find. Regular lightbulbs will have this Lighting Facts diagram on the back of the box like the ones below. Gutter hooks hang on your gutter, so you dont need nails to fasten them to your home. The nice thing with a covered space is the roof will provide some protection to the lights, and keep them from blowing around in the wind. Here you can see the inexpensive lights I hung in my kids playhouse below. But as you might predict, industrial-quality LED string lights are also the most expensive. This way you wont have to get on a ladder later to install them. Instead, use a 44 or 66 piece. You can also hang your outdoor string lights in a few different places that dont require nails. This may seem like a pain but it prevents you from breaking any of the lights while hanging them. Use guide wire to support the hanging lights if needed. These are my top picks for 2022! You can find this hardware at your local Home Depot or Lowes. Fences, walls, pergolas, porch posts, roof eaves, or your sidings trim are other good places from which to hang string lights. If your lights dont have grommets, use zip ties to secure the guide wire to the string lights. PartyLights.com recommends using zip ties (ideally the same color as the string light) to attach your string lights to the cable guide wire (see Figure 5). If you have larger bulbs, you may want to hang the lights a little higher. Look for shatterproof bulbs for safety reasons. Let's walk through it. 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. Alternatively, you could also use a turnbuckle to more easily get the tautness you want in the guide wire (see Figure 3). Be sure to mount the screw hooks to something sturdy such as under the eaves of a building, a large tree or some other solid structure. *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. The nail heads are small enough that youll be able to remove the lights and replace them without removing the nails. If youre reluctant to drill holes into your wood deck railing or fencing, consider stapling the lights in place using a heavy-duty staple gun. And Im guessing thats not the ambiance youre going for.
The next important consideration is how the string lights will receive power. It worked great for me. When measuring for the lights, be sure to take into account enough length to get to your electrical source, and with the cable guide wire, be sure to order enough to loop the cable back on itself at all mounting points (adding about 12 inches to each span should be sufficient). They are also better in the long run because you can just replace bulbs if they go out and not the entire string of lights. These are the inexpensive lights we hung over my parents beach house deck, and theyve been up for 4 years without incident. Several years ago some neighbors gave us their old Rainbow playhouse/swing set play structure. Were seeing, Read More The Best Boho Outdoor Pillows for 2022!Continue, Tea towels make great and useful DIY gifts.
Heres my Boho patio refresh this year with the string light poles. Ive been wanting, Read More Kids Room Organization Hack: Modern Coat HooksContinue. Hanging string lights is a lot easier to do if you screw in the glass bulbs after the strands are hooked in place (this is particularly true if youre working with bulkier globe- or Edison-style bulbs). This is ideal for lights that are hung about 8 to 12 high. An easy, economical way to hang string lights over a deck is to screw 8-foot furring strips into the decks rail posts, and hang the lights from cup hooks drilled a couple of inches from the top of each furring strip. You need the right product, the right tools and a design in mind when hanging your globe string lights. 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. What is the best way to hang outdoor string lights? If your string lights are going to span a long distance, you may need to use cables to support them. The more lights you run, the larger your pole needs to be to provide adequate support. Once the strings have all been suspended, have your helper hand you the bulbs one by one. Most hooks use nails to hang string lights, but there are a few ways you can hang string lights without nails. Although string lights that hang a little loosely look great, mounting them on a taut wire will keep them from falling too low. Thank you! Get creative with your outdoor string lights, and be sure to check the installation instructions for the product youve purchasedthese instructions vary by manufacturer. Youll also want to research the manufacturers recommendations about how many strands you can safely connect. At the locations youve marked in pencil or chalk, screw the cup hooks in a clockwise direction. Once youve determined how and where the lights will hang, lay the strands out on the ground in the planned configuration to ensure that they are long enough to span the space. All rights reserved. Yes, you read that right. If you dont have trees or a building to attach your cafe lights to, you may need to add poles or posts. Thanks for reading our guide on how to hang outdoor string lights. They should sit loosely and make a nice round curve over your outdoor space. With this graph paper, 1/4=1. 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. The industrial string lights come with a separate box with dividers to protect the bulbs. If your outdoor space has no trees from which you can hang string lights, consider hanging them from a pergola, fence, deck railing, your roofs eaves, or the exterior wall of your home. This will help you determine how long each set of string lights should be and how many sets of lights youll need. When the lights are securely in place, plug them in and enjoy your relaxing new outdoor oasis! Note: If you are using a string light suspension kit, install it before hanging the string lights. Read on to learn how to hang outdoor string lights in six simple steps. Hanging outdoor string lights is a great way to add some extra ambiance and create the perfect atmosphere for your backyard. Insert the bulbs into their sockets. Hang the lights first, then screw in the bulbs once everything else is in place. The other great things about these poles is they can be easily removed and stowed in the garage or shed for the off-season. Ask a friend or two for help to hold the pole centered and vertical while you pour the concrete. Pick a spot outside where youd like to hang your string lights and identify a power source. My house has HardiePlank siding and we were able to screw the hooks directly into it. When youre just planning to drape the smaller inexpensive lights like I did on my front porch (below), you can use smaller cup hooks, or even try these outdoor Command Hooks. For most houses and buildings, you should be able to simply drill a pilot hole and screw in a cup hook. PartyLights.com. Depending on the material into which youre inserting the cup hooks, you might need to drill pilot holes before twisting the cup hooks in. If your residence lacks an outdoor electrical outlet, consider purchasing battery- or solar-powered string lights. Then, sketch where you want the lights to goaround the perimeter, for exampleand calculate the perimeter in feet. If you are hanging heavy bulbs or running hanging lights about 100 feet or more, we recommend guide wire. If youre hanging string lights in an open area without wood structures to which you could fasten furring strips, string light poles are worth considering. If your bulbs break or get damaged, shatterproof bulbs will contain the shards of glass and keep everyone safe. For maximum support, use a zip tie on either side of each socket (in lieu of using the loop on the socket). You can get a cable kit here. And you dont have to wait for the kids to grow up to do it! Mark the remainder of the posts or hanging structures at this same height so the string lights hang evenly. Wait until dusk, turn on your string lights, invite some friends, and show off your work!PartyLights.com is always here to help! Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Required fields are marked *. Most traditional outdoor rugs are made of polypropylene,, Read More Complete Guide To Plastic Outdoor RugsContinue, The key to kids room organization is modern coat hooks! Or you can thread them through the branches and not anchor them. If you need to join more than one set of lights together to span your patio or deck, confirm that the lights you want have both male and female connections. (Take note of where the plug ends of the strands will hang, tooif you can hide a bulky male-to-female connection under some tree branches, do it!). The easiest methods are probably parallel and V-shaped, pictured below. How to hang outdoor string lights on your property will depend on how your deck, patio, or balcony is set up. 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. Then you can fill the remaining space with soil and plant flowers or foliage around the post. After reaching the right length/tautness, you can cut off any excess wire extending from the cable clip. Thanks for the advice on how lights make a patio look stunning and stylish! (Be sure that the open end of the hook is positioned so its facing upward to prevent the string lights from slipping off.) Im a huge fan of outdoor pillows, so each year I scour my favorite online retailers to find the best affordable pillows for the season. function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} Pull them taut as you staple, keeping your general spacing and design in mind. This way, you dont have to worry about them breaking during installation. Now I can use a ruler to measure the lengths of string lights I need. Once youve purchased the string lights, be sure to test each strand before hanging themits best to make sure all of the bulbs work before the lights are hanging high over your head. Check with your manufacturer to make sure that you are not connecting too many strands together. Take the time to research the best string light options for your needs before making a purchase, and be sure to measure the area ahead of time to make sure you buy enough sets of string lights. It will all boil down to what you have that you can attach the lights to. Now you get to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Then it's time to grab everything you'll need to get underway: If you're planning to hard wire your lights in lieu of plugging them into an outlet, consider our Custom Length String Lights to order the exact length needed for your space. Adhesive hooks stick to the side of your home. (Be sure to account for enough string length to reach the electrical outlet, too.) Just secure the male end to the female end of each string. If you have any questions about hanging outdoor string lights, email us or call us at 713-861-3400. Do not hang them until the concrete is completely dried and cured. Houzz Pro: One simple solution for contractors and design pros, Nothing beats cafe-style string lights for their ability to quickly improve the ambiance in an outdoor space. To hang outdoor string lights on a tree, you have a couple of options. How do you hang string lights on a patio without nails? This fun and easy potato stamp tea towel project turns out beautiful flour sack dishtowels! When hanging heavy lights or hundreds of feet of string lights, thread them through a guide wire for extra support. This guide will tell you everything you need to know and link to the best DIY tutorials for each situation. If you have a roof over your outdoor living space, setting up your string lights should be pretty simple. If youre looking to hang outdoor lights but you dont have any trees, fences, or structures to hang them from, youll need to make your own. The most important thing to consider here is that people can walk comfortably without running into your string lights or bulbs. Start by measuring and drawing a rough sketch of your patio, deck, or yard. If youre mounting cup hooks to a brick surface, youll have to drill masonry anchors before screwing in the hooks. If your light strands are very long and you plan to suspend them from just a few well-placed hooks, consider purchasing a string light suspension kit. The Remodel Weve moved the thing at least three times, and our current yard, This quick and easy no-sew upholstered bench cushion tutorial is perfect for window seats, banquets, breakfast nooks, benches, and more! Now go hang some lights and enjoy your outdoor spaces! 4) Decide how you will hang your outdoor string lights. Many people hang strings in a zigzag pattern across an open space; if you're doing this, plan for each "zig" or "zag" to be a single cable connected at each end to a screw hook (cables can "share" a screw hook). Before getting started, measure the length and width of the outdoor space you want to illuminate, and determine whether you want your lights to go around your patios perimeter, zigzag across the pergola, or be arranged in some other configuration. Laura at Inspiration for Moms hung her string lights in a tree above her hammock (below). With the screw hooks in place, youre ready to start hanging the cable. Ive gotten in over my head before on an easy diamond-tufted upholstered headboard. Note: For some simpler, lower-to-the-ground applicationssay, if youre running string lights under your decks railingyou might be able to forgo cup hooks altogether and use a heavy-duty staple gun, fastening the light strands every few feet. The same technique would be used whether your sockets are in-line or suspended, as shown. Ive had these high-quality lights over my patio (above) for the past four years, and never had any problems with them. String lights are very cool nowadays and easily available, they can be fixed quickly, and if you purchase a good quality one, it can last very long. But these wont be as sturdy compared to nailing a hook into your wall. After you take your measurements, add about five feet to each measurement youve made so the lights are not completely taut when you hang them. Youll always want your light color to be on the warm side of the spectrum. The easiest solution is to plug patio string lights into an outdoor electrical outlet that is located near the area you want to illuminate. If going across multiple spans in a zigzag or other pattern, secure the cord with zip ties at the corners when changing directions. Its even got a table and a reading nook! gtag('config', 'UA-124727099-1'); Learn how to hang outdoor string lights over your deck, patio, or backyard with this comprehensive guide.
Hello! 5) Determine where you will attach your string lights. For softer wood like your porch, fences, or deck posts, you may want to use wall anchors to secure the hooks in place. Just dont plan to leave them up year-round if you live in a harsh or windy climate. If you are just looking to weave some lights through the branches and the tree trunk, theres no need to drill any holes into the tree. 3) Make a rough sketch of your patio area. Extra-long strands, 300 feet or more, should not be connected end to end. Manufacturers specify how many strands you can connect end to end usually its up to five strands of the shorter ones (less than 48 feet) and three to five strands of the longer ones (100 feet). A little curve is natural, but you dont want them to hang too low. Try using: Staples are more secure than tape and are not as visible as nails. Boxes of string lights may or may not have this diagram. You can also buy a little extra length with a carabiner.
Is it OK to vent a range hood into the attic? Its great that you talked about outdoor lights and where we should hang them. When choosing your lighting, consider the following: Look for removable bulbs because they are easier to deal with. Next, Im going to add the nearest outlet to my plan.
), a simple and ultra-easy variation on the in-ground poles above, are these conduit string light poles with patio umbrella stands as bases. Use cable clamps, cup hooks, or other hardware to attach your string lights. In a wooded backyard, lights can easily be strung from tree branches. Then use cup hooks or screw eyes to attach the light strands to the tops of each post. Copyright 2022 Proline Range Hoods. For more home improvement guides and advice, check out the articles below. My question is, can we use a string light in the backyard in the open area without a shed? Remember that too much light will attract bugs. Skip to Step 5. The cable clip allows you to adjust the length and tautness of the wire. Be mindful that many older homes do not feature weather-resistant outdoor outlets, so for optimal safety consider having them replaced with more modern outlets that fit The National Electrical Code guidelines. Starting at the hook closest to the outlet, stand on a ladder and feed the string lights through each cup hook. Commercial lights are built to withstand the elements and heavy use.
All the images in this demo website are from Unsplash. You can secure them in place with zip ties. Inexpensive patio lights can work really well when theyre hung in a protected location, and when theyre not likely to get jostled or blown around in the wind. Following are some great examples of backyard and patio string lights in different patterns over outdoor spaces: Get the latest updates on new products and upcoming sales! Working Time: 2 hours Total Time: 2 hours Skill Level: Easy Estimated Cost: $110. For added stability, use zip ties to secure the string lights in place around the hooks. Once youve purchased and tested your lights, decide where and how you will mount them. After the guide wires are installed, you're ready to hang your string lights. Copyright 2022 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Who doesnt love a backyard party under glowing string lights on a warm Summers evening? Here are a couple of places where they might serve your needs just fine: A couple of other benefits of these smaller, more budget-friendly string lights is theyre undeniably cuter, lighter-weight, and take up less storage space when not in use. To maintain your outdoor string lights and maximize their longevity, its a good idea to take them down in winter if you live in a cold or snowy climate. You might even be able to leave your lights up year-round. Theyre awesome, but they tend to end up in heaps on the floor.
The first is to place the post in a container, then pour concrete into the container and let it set. The weight of the lights add to the tension of the string and it may also make the lights sag. Optionally, an extra zip tie between sockets can help add security and maintain a "clean" look to the installation.
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. If youre in the early planning phases for your outdoor lighting project, this post will give you some great inspiration. Youll want to be sure you arent compromising your siding. If your outdoor space doesnt already have appropriate locations from which to hang string lights, youll need to purchase 8- to 10-foot wooden or metal string light poles and install them in the area to be illuminated. But often youll need to connect strings together. ; But, make sure you are close enough to a power outlet. Shop for Similar Products. You can set up the lights without the bulbs and then insert them after. To determine how many sets of lights you need, it helps to first sketch out your patio after measuring its length and width. One cool thing about making a DIY post is that after youve poured the concrete and let it dry, you can put dirt on the top and add plants for extra decor. Though its possible to hardwire outdoor string lights, that process will likely require hiring an electrician. String lights come in a variety of lengths varying between 25 and 150 feet. Backyard Lighting Ideas: A Simple Guide for Outdoor Living Spaces, Patio Design Guide: How to Plan Outdoor Living Spaces, How to Choose the Best Outdoor Rug for Your Deck or Patio, Boho outdoor pillows are perfect for modern patios and porches!
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