Instead, use a 44 or 66 piece. The first is to place the post in a container, then pour concrete into the container and let it set. For the best results, drive your post between two and three feet into the ground. 3) Make a rough sketch of your patio area. You have several options regarding where to hang your outdoor string lights. 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. Use the measurements found in step two to make a rough sketch of your outdoor space. Let's walk through it. PartyLights.com. Just dont plan to leave them up year-round if you live in a harsh or windy climate. Theyre LED, heavy-duty, and will last for many years. Buy some replacement bulbs or extra string lights. 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. By Savannah Sher | Updated Jul 14, 2022 10:28 AM. If you cant dig holes in the ground (or just dont want to! Then, place the containers where you want them. The best way to hang outdoor string lights depends on where you are hanging them. 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. But as you might predict, industrial-quality LED string lights are also the most expensive. Thank you for the tutorial. (Be sure that the open end of the hook is positioned so its facing upward to prevent the string lights from slipping off.) Some string lights may come with the hardware needed to hang everything. Use guide wire to support the hanging lights if needed. Mix and match these stylish and inexpensive modern outdoor throw pillows. Heres my Boho patio refresh this year with the string light poles. 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 (see Figure 4). If youre on a tight budget, you might want to consider something inexpensive, like this basic set from Target. Here you can see the inexpensive lights I hung in my kids playhouse below. Here are the different hardware options well discuss in this post, with links below to order them if you like. But these wont be as sturdy compared to nailing a hook into your wall. Though hanging string lights in your alfresco space isnt a difficult DIY, there are some key decisions homeowners have to make before beginning the project. But, make sure you are close enough to a power outlet. This is where the second method comes into play. This will help you determine how long each set of string lights should be and how many sets of lights youll need. You can also hang string lights from porch or deck posts, your home, fences, gazebos, pergolas, or pavilions. Youll always want your light color to be on the warm side of the spectrum. Whaaaaat??? If you buy lights with hanging grommets, you can thread the guide wire through the grommet before you hang the lights. Remember that too much light will attract bugs. Or you can thread them through the branches and not anchor them. You can secure them in place with zip ties. In fact the industrial lights actually come with the bulbs in a separate box. Heres a quick video showing you how to make one of these posts yourself. Then you can fill the remaining space with soil and plant flowers or foliage around the post. To hang outdoor string lights on a tree, you have a couple of options. 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. 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. 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. And Im guessing thats not the ambiance youre going for. 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 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. Do you think it can get a short circuit on rainy days? 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. Hello! 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. This will make it easy to replace any bulbs that go out or strings that get worn down or break. Fences, walls, pergolas, porch posts, roof eaves, or your sidings trim are other good places from which to hang string lights. These are the inexpensive lights we hung over my parents beach house deck, and theyve been up for 4 years without incident. If your bulbs break or get damaged, shatterproof bulbs will contain the shards of glass and keep everyone safe. Now I can use a ruler to measure the lengths of string lights I need. Though its possible to hardwire outdoor string lights, that process will likely require hiring an electrician. If your deck has a railing, you can attach DIY posts to the existing railing to extend their height. Ive been wanting, Read More Kids Room Organization Hack: Modern Coat HooksContinue. If youre in the early planning phases for your outdoor lighting project, this post will give you some great inspiration. 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. One of the most common ways to attach string lights is to use cup hooks or Q hooks from Amazon. Were seeing, Read More The Best Boho Outdoor Pillows for 2022!Continue, Tea towels make great and useful DIY gifts. Try using: Staples are more secure than tape and are not as visible as nails. Several years ago some neighbors gave us their old Rainbow playhouse/swing set play structure. 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. You can do this before or after hanging the lights. The easiest methods are probably parallel and V-shaped, pictured below. Regular lightbulbs will have this Lighting Facts diagram on the back of the box like the ones below. Ill also add a at least a foot of length so Ill have enough to swag lights. Copyright 2022 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Get creative with your outdoor string lights, and be sure to check the installation instructions for the product youve purchasedthese instructions vary by manufacturer. Most kits come with their own hardware, and you may not need the cup hooks. When choosing your lighting, consider the following: Look for removable bulbs because they are easier to deal with. Outdoor string lights are both stylish and functional: They illuminate your outdoor living space and provide an inviting ambience for your family and guests to enjoy. Use cable clamps, cup hooks, or other hardware to attach your string lights. The more lights you run, the larger your pole needs to be to provide adequate support. If you have trees, its easy to hang lights. The best way to hang string lights to existing structures is to screw in cup hooks, not nails. Pull them taut as you staple, keeping your general spacing and design in mind. 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. If you have a roof over your outdoor living space, setting up your string lights should be pretty simple. 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. 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. You can also buy a little extra length with a carabiner. All rights reserved. Calculate how many total feet of outdoor string lights you need, and decide on your preferred bulb type and style. 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. Look for shatterproof bulbs for safety reasons. Alternatively, you could also use a turnbuckle to more easily get the tautness you want in the guide wire (see Figure 3). String lights come in a variety of lengths varying between 25 and 150 feet. 2) Measure the space for your lights from tree to tree or structure to structure. For softer wood like your porch, fences, or deck posts, you may want to use wall anchors to secure the hooks in place. You can also hang your outdoor string lights in a few different places that dont require nails. Skip to Step 5. It doesnt need to look pretty, and there are no special drawing skills required. 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). 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). Need a pro for your home remodeling project? Just drill a hole into a tree, install a cup hook, wrap the light around it and secure it with a zip tie. 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. The weight of the lights add to the tension of the string and it may also make the lights sag. And you dont have to wait for the kids to grow up to do it! This fun and easy potato stamp tea towel project turns out beautiful flour sack dishtowels! Youll want to be sure you arent compromising your siding. Enlist a helper to hold the plug end of the first set of lightsor the extension cord, if you are using onenear the electrical outlet that will power it. I want to inspire and teach you to create a home you love on your budget. Hanging outdoor string lighting is an easy project, but does require some planning. It worked great for me. Determine how far off the ground you want the string lights to hang. Im a huge fan of outdoor rugs, and my very favorite ones are plastic. The next important consideration is how the string lights will receive power. 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. Wait until dusk, turn on your string lights, invite some friends, and show off your work!PartyLights.com is always here to help! Connect the snap hook* on the cable guide wire to the screw hook at one end of the span (see Figure 1). 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. gtag('config', 'UA-124727099-1'); Learn how to hang outdoor string lights over your deck, patio, or backyard with this comprehensive guide. 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. But theyll still look great if you go with a more free-form layout. 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! 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. 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. You can also hang string lights this way on fences, bushes, or your deck railing. Insert the bulbs into their sockets. Her garden designs have been featured in the Sunset Western Garden Book of Landscaping, Sunset Western Garden Book of Easy-Care Plantings (cover), Inhabitat, and POPSUGAR. I havent tried this method myself yet, but I plan to soon, and Ill update this post when I do. Laura at Inspiration for Moms hung her string lights in a tree above her hammock (below). Depending on the material into which youre inserting the cup hooks, you might need to drill pilot holes before twisting the cup hooks in. There are two ways you can do this. 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. *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. This will ensure that youre allowing enough length in the cord to reach the outlet. Invest in commercial-grade string lights like these ones built for the outdoors. But if you are hanging several feet of string lights from trees, you will likely need to drill into the tree and install a hook. If its important to you to have the lights strung in a symmetrical pattern across your yard, then by all means do that. If you dont have trees, a fence or another tall outdoor object, it doesnt take much just a little more time and a few additional supplies to set up any outdoor space for cafe lights. 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. Shop for Similar Products. (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!). Tape is the least secure of the four options, but it wont damage your home if youre worried about drilling holes into your walls. My house has HardiePlank siding and we were able to screw the hooks directly into it. The goal of this guide is to explain how to install plugged-in or solar string lights. Hang onto the empty box so youll have a place to stow your lights in the off-season. If you connect too many it will put a lot of strain on the string lights. Its on the right side of the patio, so Ill plan to start my lights on that end, and place a hook on the side of the house above the outlet. If youre mounting cup hooks to a brick surface, youll have to drill masonry anchors before screwing in the hooks. If you have larger bulbs, you may want to hang the lights a little higher. Starting at the hook closest to the outlet, stand on a ladder and feed the string lights through each cup hook. 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. Youll also want to research the manufacturers recommendations about how many strands you can safely connect. ?, you ask? If you dont have trees or a building to attach your cafe lights to, you may need to add poles or posts. Anything that says daylight or cool is going to have a blue cast like an alien spaceship. Now you get to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. For lights hung 12 or more feet high, drive the post three feet deep. Copyright 2022 Proline Range Hoods. Ive had these high-quality lights over my patio (above) for the past four years, and never had any problems with them. This guide will tell you everything you need to know and link to the best DIY tutorials for each situation. If you dont use concrete to secure your pole in a container, you can drive it into the ground. 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. My plan includes 3 DIY string light poles, and 4 wall-mounted cup hooks. 4) Decide how you will hang your outdoor string lights. With the screw hooks in place, youre ready to start hanging the cable. How to hang outdoor string lights on your property will depend on how your deck, patio, or balcony is set up. 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. 22 and 24 wood are too flimsy to support hanging lights, especially for large patios or pavilions. They should sit loosely and make a nice round curve over your outdoor space. Read on to learn how to hang outdoor string lights in six simple steps. You might even be able to leave your lights up year-round. 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). The easiest solution is to plug patio string lights into an outdoor electrical outlet that is located near the area you want to illuminate. In a wooded backyard, lights can easily be strung from tree branches. For added stability, use zip ties to secure the string lights in place around the hooks. 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. 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. You can also use coaxial staples, which are available on Amazon. Order your string lights (we have lots of options!) At the locations youve marked in pencil or chalk, screw the cup hooks in a clockwise direction. But the point is that you want a warm glow with yellow/orange undertones, similar to the color of candlelight. Once the strings have all been suspended, have your helper hand you the bulbs one by one. and cable guide wire, as well as extra cable clips two for each span you plan to run. Now if Im going to make gifts, they need to be useful, pretty, and, Read More Potato Stamp Tea Towels: Easy & Inexpensive DIY GiftsContinue, Come see our renovated playhouse! Before you let the concrete set, install the cup hooks a few inches below the top of the post. But, it can be a little tricky if you havent done it before. The industrial string lights come with a separate box with dividers to protect the bulbs. You can also install wall anchors before the hooks for extra support. Its incredibly helpful to remove the bulbs if youre hanging several strands of lights or if they cross each other. These are my top picks for 2022! If you are hanging glass bulbs, consider removing them before hanging your string. Note: If you are using a string light suspension kit, install it before hanging the 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). Use this simple Ikea hooks hack to get coats, towels, bathrobes, hats, and more up off the floor! 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. 5) Determine where you will attach your string lights. Hang the lights first, then screw in the bulbs once everything else is in place. What can you use to hold up string lights? The first step to installing hanging outdoor string lights is to determine the best outdoor string lights for your alfresco living area. 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! 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. ; Theyre awesome, but they tend to end up in heaps on the floor. Here are the most common things you can attach string lights to in your backyard: Unless you happen to have strategically located trees, youll most likely need to attach your lights to more than one of these. window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; Theyve been in place for three years now without any problems. 8 Ways to Get Rid of Pesky Fish Smells in Your Kitchen. Ive gotten in over my head before on an easy diamond-tufted upholstered headboard. You can buy them or DIY them with just a few inexpensive supplies. 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. Start by measuring and drawing a rough sketch of your patio, deck, or yard. All the images in this demo website are from Unsplash. 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. Theyre the perfect solution if youre renting, throwing an outdoor party, or hosting a wedding reception. My favorite DIY string light poles are these removable in-ground poles made from electrical conduit and PVC pipe. What is the best way to hang outdoor string lights? For maximum support, use a zip tie on either side of each socket (in lieu of using the loop on the socket). You have several different options to hang your string lights securely. Thank you! function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} This way you wont have to get on a ladder later to install them. You dont need to add additional anchors of any kind for trees. Recently, my wife and I decided wed like to invest in our homes renovation. By following these instructions, youll make your outdoor living area bright and invitingand really, change the whole vibe of your spacewithout breaking the bank. See the deck railing section above for a visual. Ask a friend or two for help to hold the pole centered and vertical while you pour the concrete. No matter the size or layout of your yard, deck, or patio, there is a style and configuration of string lights that will work for you. With this graph paper, 1/4=1. Bottom line, these are the best and most durable string lights around. One of the many benefits of adding cafe lights to your outdoor living space is theyre casual and not fussy. The number of sets of outdoor string lights you need for your space depends on the size of your patio and the length of the light sets youre considering. This hardware behaves like hooks. Either way, its good to start with a plan so youll know what hardware youll need, how many strings of lights to get, and whether youll need extension cords. I like to use 1/4 graph paper because it makes it easy to calculate the length of cord that Ill need. Commercial lights are built to withstand the elements and heavy use. Read on for answers to additional questions about how to hang outdoor string lights. Adhesive hooks stick to the side of your home. If youre going for a casual look and have trees nearby, you can simply drape your lights across the branches. In other words, while the string light can be continuously looped back and forth across an open space, it is easiest to individually cut each cable guide wire for each span. It will all boil down to what you have that you can attach the lights to. Extra-long strands, 300 feet or more, should not be connected end to end. 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. Most patio light strands have male and female plugs on each end. 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 strands are easier to maneuver without bulbsand of course, you reduce the likelihood of the bulbs breaking. This way, you dont have to worry about them breaking during installation. Heres a birds eye sketch of my own back patio: As you can see, my patio is next to the house, and measures 21 1/2 by 10. The other great things about these poles is they can be easily removed and stowed in the garage or shed for the off-season. After just a couple of hours of work, youll be ready to entertain or simply relax in your new-and-improved yard or patio. After reaching the right length/tautness, you can cut off any excess wire extending from the cable clip. How to Hang Outdoor String Lights on a Tree. Use a tape measure to determine the height of that first mark. For most houses and buildings, you should be able to simply drill a pilot hole and screw in a cup hook. Start your installation by placing screw hooks at the mounting points youve picked on each end of the space. Thanks for reading our guide on how to hang outdoor string lights. I hope you enjoy your new outdoor space! You can set up the lights without the bulbs and then insert them after. 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! 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). Whenever Im buying lightbulbs, whether for indoor or outdoor use, I always look for warm white. Your email address will not be published. 6) Pre-drill your guide holes in the tree, fence, or other structure to attach your string lights. Generally speaking, you can install most types of string lights with a few commonly available tools and a bit of know-how. 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. Once youve purchased and tested your lights, decide where and how you will mount them. For more home improvement guides and advice, check out the articles below. But both ends are secured to the wall so you wont need zip ties. If your residence lacks an outdoor electrical outlet, consider purchasing battery- or solar-powered string lights. Who doesnt love a backyard party under glowing string lights on a warm Summers evening? If you have any questions about hanging outdoor string lights, email us or call us at 713-861-3400. There are six popular ways to hang your outdoor string lights. String light bulbs come in a variety of shapes and sizes; some of the most popular options include globe bulbs, Edison bulbs, lantern-style bulbs, and tiny fairy lights. Battery-powered string lights are a great option if there are no outlets on your patio or deck. You may need to experiment a bit with the number of lights you want over a particular space. Now go hang some lights and enjoy your outdoor spaces! The cable clip allows you to adjust the length and tautness of the wire. Mark the remainder of the posts or hanging structures at this same height so the string lights hang evenly. Commercial-grade string lights often come with the cord and bulbs sold separately.We like these ones from Amazon and have used them in our backyard.
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