“It means you can put all of the hooks or hangers in at once then put the lights up, which is a faster way to do it, rather than putting in a hook and then hanging a light off it before moving on to the next one,” he said. To avoid that, Sarah recommended using “a piece of fishing line or string to map out the area where you’d like to hang your lights, complete with any stylistic dips you want to do and enough cord to reach your outlet, and then measure that string with a ruler or tape measure.”Īs a next step, Doug suggested “spreading the lights out underneath where you’re going to hang them” before actually doing so, which will save you time and effort in the long run. One of the most frustrating parts of hanging string lights is finding out halfway through that you don’t have enough lights for the job.
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“It takes the stress off the light wire and it’s an effective way to maintain the proper slope, but without stretching and taxing the lines.” (Speaking of not taxing the lines, the manufacturers of our pick for outdoor string lights also recommend: “To keep multiple strands together over long distances, use electrical tape to secure the plug connections.”) How to evenly space string lights “What those kits do is, they string a wire taut between two posts and then you can hang the lights off of the wire,” he explained. If you go that route, consider using a string-light hanging kit, which Doug called a “nice, all-in-one” option, to help do the job. Doug, ever the handyperson, gathered up some 10-foot branches, buried them in the ground around his patio, and used them as light posts for a cool, rustic look.Įven if you aren’t burying your own branches, running lights between two posts or trees is a popular and good-looking choice.
For Rachel, stringing lights underneath her deck added a welcoming feel to a previously not so cozy space. But if you have some flexibility, different spots are best for different purposes, such as adding functional light, defining a space, or simply improving the aesthetic. In a small space, you may not have much choice on where to place your lights. “And it’s really strong, because it’s made to pull in fish without breaking.”Īs for what not to do: Doug warned that common nails “are likely to stain your siding” as they’re usually not made from stainless steel or galvanized metal, and that you shouldn’t try to cheat by using picture hooks, which “aren’t going to do well with wind or even someone bumping up against the lights.” Where to hang outdoor string lights “Fishing line is clear, so it’s less noticeable, and it won’t rust like some metal hardware,” she explained. When senior staff writer Sarah Witman tested five different strands of lights for our review of outdoor and backyard lighting, she chose fishing line to affix string lights to a wicker fence, looping it through the installation holes on the lights and then weaving the fishing line directly into the wicker several times around.
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Doug said that he finds 8-inch zip ties to be the most useful and durable size for this and other projects.
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Senior staff writer Rachel Cericola used the former to quickly and easily install her outdoor lights on the underside of her deck, and found that if your zip tie matches the color of your string lights’ cord, it should camouflage itself nicely with its end clipped off. If you don’t want to use hardware, zip ties and fishing line can also discreetly handle the job. Just make sure you’re installing them into a solid surface, and “give them a nice tug to make sure they’re secure,” Doug added. Some even have a little clip, like a carabiner, that holds the wire secure and makes it easier to hang the lights off a porch ceiling, which you can’t do with nails or screws.” Plus, the small threads won’t leave a gaping hole behind after you take the hooks down. They’re also better looking than an angled nail or screw. “They really cradle the wire and hold it off the house a little. “They’re easy to install if you have enough hand strength, you don’t even need to pre-drill the holes,” he explained. Stainless steel screw hooks (or cup hooks, which are nearly the same) are his go-to for a litany of reasons. To whittle down those options, I asked Doug Mahoney, senior staff writer and resident expert on all things home improvement, what he would do. 11-Watt Outdoor Weatherproof String Light, you could hang your lights using “cup hooks, guide wires or zip ties.” If you go by the product info for our outdoor string lights pick, the Newhouse Lighting 48 ft.
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