How to Hang Outdoor String Lights in Any Space Like a Pro
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Hanging outdoor string lights outside your home is one of the quickest ways to improve your exterior's ambiance and unlock your home's evening outdoor entertaining potential. Unlike standard outdoor lighting fixtures, which require extensive electrical work and only light up one designated spot, string lights can simply be plugged in and strung up just about anywhere, casting a warm glow throughout the entirety of their reach.
Below, we've got all the best tips for hanging outdoor string lights, whether you want to hang them on trees, on the deck, on a patio, on posts, or other materials.
Before You Begin
Before you start hanging your string lights, make sure you have access to a GFCI power receptacle. Once you confirm this, shop for string lights that are intended for outdoor use. If you plan to simply hang the string lights without any supplemental support such as a wire or string light hanging kit, look for lights with a strong, thick strand attached.
If you're planning to leave your string lights up year-round, opt for commercial-grade string lights rather than homeowner-grade. Commercial-grade string lights are more heavy-duty and can withstand prolonged outdoor exposure better than standard string lights.
How to Hang Outdoor Lights on Trees
Employ Mother Nature to hold your string lights by hanging them on trees.
Measure to find the necessary strand length. Measure the distance between the trees, accounting for the amount of slack you want the string lights to have.
Drill pilot holes. Drill a small hole in the trees at the height where you would like the string lights to hang. Choose a drill bit slightly smaller than the shank of your lag-thread hooks.
Mount the hooks on the trees. Screw stainless steel lag-thread hooks into the trees.
Attach the string lights to the mounting hardware. Slide the string light's integrated mounting holes onto the hooks.
Tip
The string light's manufacturer typically specifies how far a strand can span without any additional support. To increase this distance, employ a string light hanging kit with a supplemental mounting wire.
How to Hang Outdoor Lights on the Deck
Want to brighten up your deck? Hang string lights from the railing, or opt to attach posts to your deck to suspend them overhead.
Measure to find the necessary strand length. Measure the perimeter of your deck's railing to determine how many string light strands you need.
Drill pilot holes. Drill small holes into the bottom of the railing around the perimeter, positioning a hole every few feet. Choose a drill bit slightly smaller than the shank of your lag-thread hooks.
Mount the hooks to the deck railing. Screw small stainless steel lag-thread hooks into each pilot hole. Staples can be utilized to control the slack of the string lights, but you shouldn't rely on them for strong support. When stapling string lights, be careful not to staple through the wire itself.
Hook the string lights to the mounting hardware. Slide the string light's mounting holes onto each hook.
Attach posts to your deck to suspend string lights above the deck. If you prefer to have your string lights above your deck rather than along the railing, attach a post on each corner of your deck by screwing it into the existing railing using heavy-duty decking screws.
Drill pilot holes. Drill small holes into each post at the height where you want the string lights to hang. For best results, use a drill bit that's slightly smaller than your lag-thread hook's shank.
Thread the hooks into the pilot holes. For stubborn hooks that don't want to thread by hand, slide the handle of a wrench or pliers into the hook and use it for leverage while turning.
Slide the string bolts onto the hooks. Use the integrated mounting loops on the string lights to hang them from each hook.
How to Hang Outdoor Lights on a Patio
A patio is made for cafe lights. Here's how to up your patio's ambiance by hanging string lights.
Identify mounting points for your string lights. Determine the best way to hang outdoor string lights on your patio by assessing the surroundings. Look for strong surrounding structures that can support the string lights, such as poles, columns, or trees. If there are no applicable surrounding structures, install string light poles or build string light planters, which consist of poles securely held in large planters with concrete.
Measure to find the necessary strand length. Measure the distance between each applicable mounting structure to determine how many string light strands you will need, accounting for the desired slack.
Secure the strands. Mount the string lights into the surrounding structures using the appropriate method and compatible hardware according to the structure's material.
How to Hang Outdoor String Lights on Posts
Whether you mount your posts in the ground or build string light planters, here's how to firmly attach string lights to wood posts.
Measure to find the necessary strand length. Measure the distance between the posts to determine how many string lights you need, accounting for the desired slack.
Drill pilot holes. Drill small holes into each post at the height where you want the string lights to hang. Remember to account for slack in the lines when determining this height. Choose a drill bit that is slightly smaller than the shank of your lag-thread hooks.
Mount the hooks to the posts. Screw stainless steel lag-thread hooks into each pilot hole.
Attach the string lights to the hooks. Using the integrated mounting holes attached to the strand, mount the string lights to the hooks.
Warning
Consult the manufacturer's instructions for the number of strands that can be safely plugged into one another. Exceeding this number can pose a fire and shock hazard.
How to Hang Outdoor String Lights on Other Materials
In many cases, you can hang string lights directly on your home, regardless of your exterior material.
Identify potential mounting points and measure to find the necessary strand length. To mount outdoor string lights on other materials such as concrete or stucco, locate multiple mounting points on your structure, then measure the distance between the mounting points to determine how many string light strands are needed.
Match your hardware to the mounting surface's needs. Choose hardware based on your structure's material. For concrete, stucco, and similar materials, you'll likely need hooks with anchors. If you wish to hang the string lights to vinyl siding, opt for vinyl sliding clips, which slide into the seam of the siding and clip into place.
Drill pilot holes. If using a hook with anchors, drill small holes into the material. Base the size of the hole on the size of the anchor you're using.
Slide the anchor into the pilot hole. Push the anchor in. If it won't fit, lightly tap it with a hammer Make the hole slightly larger if necessary.
Screw the hooks into the anchors. Once the hooks are tight, test each one for a firm hold.
Thread the string lights onto the hooks. Use the integrated mounting holes for a firm hold.
Tips for Hanging Outdoor String Lights
These tips and tricks for hanging outdoor string lights will help you achieve long-lasting exterior ambiance.
Remove the bulbs. If your string lights come equipped with bulbs, take them out while hanging the lights to avoid breaking them in the process.
Account for slack. Hanging your string lights too tightly will make the space look stiff. String lights are supposed to feel casual, and accounting for a little slack in the lines is the best way to achieve a casual look.
Upgrade your outlets with smart plugs. Smart plugs will let you control the string lights with your phone, so you don't have to plug and unplug them every time you use them.
Hang them higher than you think. No one wants to hit their head on your string lights. To avoid this fate, hang them high to make sure that the slack doesn't hang too low.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to hang outdoor string lights?
The best way to hang outdoor string lights is to slide the integrated mounting holes over metal hooks driven into strong structures such as trees, posts, or your house.
You can also utilize a string light hanging kit, which will have everything you need to hang string lights safely, including supplemental wire. Heavy string lights may require a supplemental wire to support their weight.
How do you hang outdoor string lights without hooks?
To hang outdoor string lights without hooks, you can use strong wire or heavy-duty zip ties to wrap around items like posts and trees. Whatever you use, inspect it regularly for damage that could happen as a result of prolonged exposure to the elements.
How do you hang string lights without command strips?
To hang outdoor string lights without command strips, you must drive appropriate hardware into your mounting surface.
For most surfaces, stainless steel hooks are a good option, as they are strong and won't stain the surface like a common nail would. For surfaces like stucco and concrete, pair the hooks with compatible anchors.
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Read the original article on The Spruce.
