If you’ve spent a lot of time and money making your patio look beautiful, it’s only natural to be looking for those finishing touches – maybe to set off plants and features, or to jazz up the area for a party. Patio string lights are a low-cost, maximum-effect way to achieve this. They can also perform many different functions. One of the most common is to define a specific area – perhaps a dance floor, or where food is served. Another is to create a specific ambiance, whether funky or more chilled out. On a practical level, they also create extra illumination for your patio area, something that’s particularly valuable as afternoon turns to dusk.
photo credit: athrasher
Patio lights have been around for decades in one form or another, but there’s never been as much choice as there is today. The basic design principle is unaltered – a bare bulb, clear or colored, is encased in a surround. These can be made from various materials, including plastic, paper and glass. So which type should you go for? That all depends on the effect you want. If you want your patio lighting simple, elegant and understated, you can’t go far wrong with clear, white or opaque designs. The opaque white globe is a particularly classic design, representing a good investment as it will never date. Any variation on these colors will always look timeless, as long as you keep the design simple. If you want your lights more colorful, you can find something in just about every shape and shade imaginable. Chinese lanterns are a popular option for a bright, ethnic look.
You can hang your patio string lights just about any way you wish, but if you take a little time to plan their location you’ll get the best out of them. We’ve already mentioned that these types of lights are useful for defining garden areas. Don’t limit this to walls or fences, though – bushes, shrubs and paths are also great areas to highlight. And for a fun touch, hang your lights from the inside of your patio umbrella, or even place them inside an oversize vase for a striking centerpiece.