A Step By Step Guide For Hanging Outdoor String Lights

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Whether decorating your porch with outdoor Christmas lights or turning your garden into a whimsical entertainment area, string lights are an affordable and popular choice for illuminating outdoor spaces. While they may seem simple enough, string lights can be surprisingly challenging to hang. Not only do they tangle easily, but ensuring that they are both sightly and secure can sometimes be more difficult than expected — something you don't want to discover mid-project.

To get the most out of your lights and keep them looking great for a long time, there are a couple of tips and tricks to follow that can make all the difference in terms of longevity, appearance, and maintenance. While it's easy to assume that the most important factor is the type and quality of string light you choose, that's not necessarily true. It's more important to focus on how and where you hang the lights, ensuring that they are evenly spaced and secure so they can withstand wind and weather while still looking as great as the day you first put them up.

If you're going to spend the time to hang lights outdoors, you want them to look good from the start — and to keep looking good. That means hanging them in a way that is both aesthetically pleasing and secure in their placement. If you're stringing them along a solid ledge, the best place to start is by marking equidistant anchor points before installing your hooks or screws. Also, be sure to consider how far the first anchor point is from your outlet so that you're not trying to stretch the lights farther than their length allows.

If you're hanging lights in a more open-air setup, make sure to choose a sturdy base like a post or tree, and leave a little bit of slack in the wire between each point. This will allow the lights to move with the wind without putting too much tension on the wire — or being so loose that they end up tangling.

When it comes to securing your lights in place, there are quite a few routes you may wish to consider. Screw hooks are your best bet as far as choosing an anchor. Not only are they easy to install and quite secure, but they also allow you to choose from a number of options to secure the lights in place. You can use anything from zip ties (very durable and barely noticeable, though not reusable), to mini carabiners (easy to switch out lights, though not as tight of a hold as zip ties), or even a thin wire if you are looking for something particularly discreet.

If you live in an area that experiences a good deal of high winds and inclement weather, zip ties are probably your best option. Although you will have to snip them off in order to change out the wire, they have an incredibly strong hold and will keep the wires secure and in place — even when cut down to a length where they aren't noticeable.

Although string lights are a budget-friendly way to light your patio, there are a number of measures you can — and should — take to ensure they are as safe and secure as possible. Most importantly, make sure that the lights and extension cord you choose are specifically rated for outdoor use. To further protect your electrical connection, you may also want to invest in a weatherproof outlet cover.

Both of these items are widely available in stores and online. For a quick recommendation, the TayMac Extra Duty Weatherproof Outlet Cover and the Iron Forge Cable Extension Cord are both highly rated, have plenty of reviews, and are built to be safe and durable for outdoor use. If you haven't chosen your string lights yet, the Brightown Store Outdoor Globe String Lights are a great option — they're waterproof, weatherproof, and even dimmable to help you create the perfect level of ambiance.