I recently added string lights to our covered porch and am loving how it transformed the feel of our space at night! It’s an easy, inexpensive project that I’m now wishing I had done long ago.
What kept me from doing it sooner was having the time to investigate which string lights to buy, how to hang them, and a few other details. So today I’m sharing all of that info with you to make it simple to add some sparkling string lights of your own! (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here})
Supplies For Hanging String Lights
Read on for more details on the supplies I used to knock out our project (plus other options that might be a better fit for your own space). But here’s a list with links to the exact supplies that I used for mine:
- Globe string lights (25 ft + 50 ft strands)
- White cup hooks
- 6″ velcro cable ties
- Large outdoor cord clips
- Outdoor extension cord
- Outdoor smart plug
- Brick hanger
Choosing the Right String Lights
There’s a surprisingly wide variety of string lights with multiple styles, colors, lengths, and materials to choose from. These are some of the different options to consider so you can find the string lights that are the best fit for your outdoor space.
Style of Bulb
Choose a style of string light bulbs that reflects the outdoor atmosphere you want to create. If you want a classic or vintage vibe, consider using string lights with Edison filaments and vintage shaped bulbs like {these}. For a more modern feel, opt for string lights with globe bulbs like {these globe string lights} that I chose:
You can also choose from a number of unique styles, such as {these pretty lantern string lights},
fireworks string lights, star string lights, or a variety of holiday and seasonal themed string lights.
Cord Color
String lights look best when the cord color blends in with the space that they’re hanging in. Since my string lights were being hung on the white trim framing the ceiling of our covered patio, white was the way to go:
If your string lights will drape across your lawn, consider a green cord. If you’re hanging string lights on the railing of a natural wood deck, a brown cord would be a great choice.
Light Spacing
Pay attention to the spacing between lights when comparing different string lights, as it can range from 12 inches to 2-3 feet apart. The product listing doesn’t always specify this measurement, so you may have to do a little math, dividing the length of the string lights by the number of lights. I personally prefer the look of string lights that are spaced more closely together (mine are 12″ apart):
LED vs. Incandescent Bulbs
As with interior LEDs, LED string lights have the advantage of consuming less energy and lasting longer. They’re typically plastic bulbs that are less likely to break in storms and high winds.
Another option is incandescent lights, which are typically housed in glass bulbs and produce a more crisp, clear, sparkling light (this is why I ended up choosing glass bulbs!). Another advantage of incandescent lights is that they’re dimmable, while not all LED string lights are.
Bulb Brightness
Lastly, consider the mood you want to create and choose string lights with the appropriate level of brightness and color temperature. Some string lights provide a soft, subtle glow while others brightly illuminate the space, creating a more energetic ambiance.
The lumens of the string lights will tell you how bright they’ll be. This value typically ranges from 20 to over 100 lumens per bulb. The higher the lumens, the brighter the bulb.
The Kelvin rating will tell you the color temperature of the string light bulbs, which typically ranges from 2000 to 4000. The lower the Kelvin rating, the warmer the light will be, while the higher the Kelvin rating, the whiter the light. My preference is 2700-3000 Kelvin which is a nice warm white (mine are 2700).
One final (and pretty important!) factor is to make sure you’re buying string lights that are specifically designed for outdoor use. They need to be weatherproof and UV resistant to hold up to the elements.
Measuring and Planning
Before ordering string lights, take measurements of your space and decide on the arrangement of your string lights. The simplest arrangement option for a covered outdoor living space is to line the outer edges of your space with string lights. With this arrangement, you can either anchor the string lights in place at multiple points to create a straight lined outline or let them drape down like I did for a more casual feel:
Other options include (1) arranging them in a zigzag pattern across your covered porch/patio ceiling, (2) creating a canopy effect by crisscrossing the strands on your ceiling (obviously neither of these options work if you have ceiling fans!), or (3) extending string lights from your covered space so that they drape across your backyard to one or more anchor points on the far side of your yard.
If you choose to drape string lights across your yard or have an uncovered outdoor space, you may have some natural anchor points like trees that you can attach your lights to. If not, you can install outdoor string light poles like {these} that have a claw base to anchor them to the ground.
Securing Your String Lights
There are a few different methods you can use to secure your string lights, depending on the type of structure you’re attaching them to. My string lights were hung along the wood trim of our covered patio, so I used some of {these white coated cup screw hooks} that screwed into the wood. I put a hook about every 9 feet:
The holes they make are small, so if I ever decide to remove the hooks, filling them with white wood filler will make them disappear.
If you don’t want to put holes in your wood or are attaching your lights to a different surface, Command cord clips that are made for outdoor use are a great option. They come in two sizes, including {these cord clips} that are perfect for string lights and {these larger cord clips} that work well for thicker cords like extension cords.
I used several of the larger Command cord clips along the length of this porch pillar so I could clip in my extension cord that runs from the outlet below to where my string lights start at the top of the pillar:
I put the clips on the side of the pillar that faces the brick so they’re not visible, but here’s a close-up peek from behind:
The clear hook wraps around the cord and then attaches to the hanger on the other side to hold it securely in place.
At the top of the pillar where I started and ended my string lights, there’s some extra length of string light cord that wasn’t needed. I used one of {these velcro cable ties} to secure it together (and obviously I didn’t add the bulbs to it):
You could also use the velcro cable ties to secure your string lights to the cup hooks if you’re concerned about them shifting.
Adding an Outdoor Timer or Smart Plug
Now that your string lights are up, let’s make controlling them easy! You can use a typical outdoor timer like {this one} where you set your lights to go on and off at a certain time each day.
Since I have a Caséta by Lutron smart lighting system in our home, I used {this weatherproof Lutron outdoor smart plug with remote} which is a big step up from a typical timer:
It allows me to set my string lights to go on at sunset and off two hours later, and I’ll never need to make adjustments as the seasons change or even during daylight savings. I can also turn my string lights on and off with a remote control from inside the house. And, using the Lutron app on my phone, I can change their schedule and turn my lights on and off from anywhere. I used this same smart plug with my outdoor holiday lights last year and loved the convenience of it!
If you want to know more about our Caséta by Lutron smart lighting system, check out {this post} for info on all of the cool things it can do!
To keep everything off of the ground so it doesn’t get waterlogged, I hung my smart plug up using {this brick hanger} that’s pressure mounted so that I didn’t have to put any holes in my brick.
Enjoy Your Illuminated Outdoor Living Space
Now that your string lights are up and ready to go, it’s time to enjoy the new ambience of your outdoor living space! We’ve really loved the new dreamy vibe of ours:
And with that, I’m off to enjoy the rest of our weekend! Thanks, as always, for stopping by the blog! I’ll leave the links to sources for our patio furniture and accessories below in case you had questions about anything:
SOURCES: Outdoor ceiling fans | Black porch lights | Outdoor rugs | Teak chairs | Teak ottomans | Woven chairs (entire conversation set {here}) | White coffee table | White hanging planters
