Outdoor String Lights

When people refer to outdoor string lights they are often referring to outdoor rope lights. These lights have been available for approximately the last 10 years but in my opinion are greatly under used. Rope lights can be used to great effect both indoors and outdoors. These lights are durable and inexpensive and water-resistant. Their flexibility lends itself to all sorts of creative outdoor lighting schemes. The typical rope light comes in lengths of 6 to 10 feet but rope lights can be added together to make longer lengths. One of the best features of these lights is that they are energy efficient. This form of outdoor lighting can stay on for hours for only pennies per day.

I have used outdoor string lights or outdoor rope lights in a number of different ways. The most common way in which I use these lights is to wrap them around the trunks of a tree. At nights the trees look magical. I have done this at my ski chalet in the country and my home downtown. It is very important to make sure each subsequent wrap of the rope light is equi-distant from the last wrap. If the lights are evenly spaced the effect is really lovely. I recommend a spacing of about 8 or 9 inches between wraps but you should experiment to determine the spacing you like best. As with all types of outdoor lighting, experiment until you find the look that pleases you.

Rope lights can also be used as a subtle way to light a path. If you have ever had a cottage party you will know how important lighted paths can be. Another great way to illuminate a pathway is with outdoor solar lighting.

I have also used outdoor string lights to highlight a little indoor couch nook. I attached the lights to the ceiling just inside the nook. The lights were not visible from the room and were even difficult to see when sitting in the nook. The lights didn't provide enough light to read by in the evening but they perfectly spotlighted the couch and some artwork that was hung in the nook.

Another really inspired idea for these string lights is to coil them on the top of your kitchen cabinets. They provide very inexpensive and very energy efficient accent lighting in the kitchen which is perfect for entertaining.

Outdoor string lights come in a variety of different colours including clear, read, green, and yellow. The red and green varieties are great for decorating at Christmas but in my opinion look at little too Christmas like for other times of the year. For year round decorating I would choose the simple yellow or clear varieties of rope lights. I have had a few sets of rope lights aka outdoor string lights survive a decade of Canadian winters and they still look great.