Most have had experience with while growing up because one of the chores put on the kids was to decorate the Christmas tree or the house with Christmas lights, which typically were on a string. They're pretty straightforward and with a few simple instructions that even a kid can understand you can have the foundation for a pretty good party by just putting up a strand or two of lights.

You could stay with the lights we have in the garage but with the ease of online shopping you have access to so many different types and sizes of string lighting at your fingertips. You can find party lines for just about every kind of party or holiday you can think of and a few more you didn't even know existed. There are all kinds of themed lights out there for anything from a bachelorette party to a graduation celebration. There are sports themed strands for your favorite football team or NASCAR racing team.

If you're having a larger event or party you may want to bump up the size to a commercial grade of string lights. A strand of C7 lights can have your backyard looking like the midway of a carnival and who doesn't love a carnival. These will also be the lights you'd want to use for a wedding perhaps or other large-scale event you'll want to hold outdoors under the night sky.

One great use of string lights is to use them in the branches of the trees. Many times you see people and businesses use white lights but I am of the persuasion that believes you should use what you want to use. I mean you can have just about any and every color under the rainbow so why limit yourself to one. In fact you can get strands that will change colors in a preset fashion or with a controller you can adjust them to change quickly or to smoothly softly fade from one color to another and one fun way is to have music soundtrack that dictates how the lights change and at what speed. This is much fun!

So you'll find below some of my articles I've written about different options available to us these days when wanting you string lights to liven up our outdoor fun on the patio or in the garden. Hope you find this information useful and hope you're having as much fun as I am.

Patio Lighting

Party Lights

Outdoor Light Rope

Outdoor Mini Lights

Outdoor Christmas Lights

Rope Lights

Christmas Tree Lights

Christmas Outdoor Decorations

Tree Lights

Outdoor Party Lighting

Grape String Lights

Novelty String Lights

LED String Lights

Let's start with the most obvious question you'll need to answer, what is an LED? It simply is a light emitting diode or LED that produces the light that gives you the party that makes everybody happy. I'm trying not to use the word bulb because although they typically are shaped like your standard bulb, this shape is only for aesthetic purposes. With a strand of incandescent bulbs you may have a glass bulb painted a certain color. Let's say these are red lights which may actually be white lights with a red cover over them. A diode does not use a colored cover to give off multiple colored lighting. The color given off by one of the diodes is determined by the chip diode. One of the great advantages to producing color lighting by using diodes is that they do not fade over time. This makes for a more economical party lighting system for your friend. That gives you some of the basics and should get you through the first party using a great set of LED string lights so grab a nice glass of red and enjoy the evening.

Energy savings are going to be a prime seller to your friend because these LED bulbs can last up to eight times longer than incandescent bulbs, especially if you expend a little more money to purchase some commercial grade lighting. These systems will use approximately 80% less energy in the form of electricity to power your party lights. A typical incandescent bulb will use approximately 6 Watts at 120 V and a comparable light producing LED light will use .65 Watts. At today's prices a commercial LED lighting system will pay for itself in the third year of at least a five-year lifespan. This will allow you to use more strands without overloading the circuits and still save on energy cost with lower power usage.

Due to sets of LED string lights using very little power means you can also utilize a low-voltage transformer to further effect your friendliness to the environment and your personal economic situation, that's code for saving you money. This also opens the way to the greatest source of free power we have on our planet that comes from our sun, solar power. I know you've seen home solar systems that have provided an inadequate amount light over a very short period of time. Well I'm here to tell you that using LED string lights wired to a small solar collector during the day collecting the suns rays and converting it to electricity to be stored in a battery will keep your battery operated string lights shining brightly late into the night. I can see it now, a new set of 100 count party string lights in the form of round rice paper lanterns swinging in the night breeze under the limbs of trees making it a party to remember. Let's be clear on this, a strand of LED battery operated string lights will last much longer, use less energy and can be powered by the sun. That right there alone should clinch it for your best friend. Not to mention were talking about rice paper lanterns which I think are the best for any outdoor party, but that's just me, we all have our favorites.

Recent advances over the past decade have brought the price of LED string lights within the reach of just about anybody that wants to purchase a great patio string light. Strands of LED string lights can be found at your local Target or Wal-Mart but will typically only have a few options from which to choose. So my suggestion to you before jumping into your car would be to go online and find a set of outdoor string lights for your next patio party with the aid of the Internet. I personally prefer to use Amazon, at least as a starting point because I want to see how customers rate the different products. This gives me some insight into potential problems I should consider before making a purchase. Since this is the Internet take all comments with a small pinch of salt just for good measure but all in all I have found the reviews to be helpful when making my purchase decisions. It is a good sign to see many positive reviews but I stress that you should seek out some negative comments as well, for balance. Another site that allows for customer feedback is Target or at least its online store. I will leave you to handle the objections to buying from the “corporate man” as I am sure you have come across this a few times while hanging out with your best green friend. I hope you have found the information helpful in giving you a deeper understanding of why all of the interest in LED string lights these days. There are just so many positives to using them.

Now that I shared my theory on life let's get down to the business of finding and buying the perfect lighting products that meet your personal style and the event for which you are decorating. One thing you'll find out pretty quick is that there are novelty string lights out there to meet every conceivable celebration need you may have. The great thing about using party string lights is the you can find him in price ranging from $12-$19 for a set of 10 lights. I'm not going to go into every event or even all kinds of string lights are out there but I do plan on giving you some great ideas of particular events that most of us participate in and match them with some great novelty string lights.

Let's first get everything that string lights typically have in common. The string is the most obvious thing that comes to mind and by the string I'm talking about the wire that provides the power or electricity for the light bulbs. It will a plastic coated wire that you will not want to put staples through or nails through because you will get shocked if not electrocuted. This is a major buzz kill for fun. This will also destroy those perfect set of lights you finally found! The other thing that is common is that they all have some form of bulb to illuminate your party. This is something that has changed from the good old days where your only option for lighting with strands of lights with those thick screw in Christmas bulbs that when they blew it sounded like a cherry bomb had went off in the living room. If you must know, a cherry bomb is a firecracker that is no longer legal in the United States. We now have LED bulbs, well to be honest they aren't actually bulbs, they are diodes. They have two great advantages over the older lighting systems in that they take about 80% less power and can be set up to use with a low-voltage power source. The combination of these two can say you a great amount of money by keeping that utility bill of yours low. Lights can be fun but so can saving money. Don't you agree?

So let's get started looking at some special events or holiday were some great novelty string lights can just elevate your party to new heights. It's my plan to give you some lighting design ideas and then show you how I go about finding the right accessories to my parties.

College Dorm Room

This is the place where most of us make our first step into independence by decorating our dorm room anyway we want to. One of the first things we do is get a lamp for the desk so we can at least project the idea that we might be studying some time. Then we look to the walls and windows and decide how we're going to make them our own. String lights are perfect for this because they can be taped to the walls were draped across the curtain rods and allowed to hang down behind the curtains. The novelty part would be for the lights that you will hang on the walls. The ones hanging behind the curtains look best when they are solid color most people use white. I would go a step farther and say use clear white LED lights. There are cost savings in these but I suggest them in this setting more for the safety purposes because they put off very little to no heat that could potentially catch curtains on fire or at least cause them to fade tremendously from the heat.

Backyard Barbecue

There's something about cooking outdoors that just screams let's have a party. Any party worth its salt is going to go into the night. When when the sun goes down the lights come on and since you come to my site lets take a look at some novelty string lights that work well with a deliciously grilled hamburger or steak. A quick search online gives me plenty of options for turning your deck or patio into a Cinco de Mayo fiesta with strands of multi-colored chili pepper lights or if you want to go old-school just get the plain red ones. You could go the sports route and have your pre-game meal on the patio with covers on the bulbs that have your favorite teams mascot and colors whether it be college or professional. Then there is the old standby items that always goes with a good backyard barbecue, beer. There are some great outdoor string lights I have seen online of a strand of Budweiser bottles or if you're not a bottle person get the Budweiser cans. Definitely for those that like to fly their fun flag.

Small Intimate Party

You can go in many directions when looking to dress up your patio in a low-key way. You don't want any blinking lights or direct white lights but lights that give off more of a glow than direct lighting. One form of lighting I prefer for these type of gatherings is hanging paper lantern's. You can find them in many colors and sizes that will fit well with the size of your patio or deck and they just have that exotic Asian vibe. Do keep in mind though if you're going to use them out on the patio be aware of the arch enemy of any outdoor patio party, the weather, rain does not play well with a great set of red rice paper lanterns. First of all it will ruin your lanterns and more importantly run the risk of electrocution if lights are not rated for outdoor use or you are not using a low-voltage system. This should not keep you from using them but just keep it in mind if it starts to rain unplug them from the socket and taken down, and make a mad dash for the house.

NASCAR Party

You don't have to be at the track to be a NASCAR fan but you have to at least have gone once so you can impress on your psyche that sound when they all start their engines and that feeling as they come racing around the track close to where you're sitting. You guessed it, I've been at a few Talladega races so I have a little knowledge of what I'm talking about when it comes to NASCAR racing. So you're asking what kind of novelty string lights can I find for my NASCAR party. There are plenty of options out there my friend. First and foremost you can find your favorite car and driver combination light covers and in there is the quintessential black-and-white checked covers representing the winners flag. Not to worry if you're at the track because you can also stream these around the awning of your RV, just make sure you buy the right set that has a 12 volt adapter you can plug into your lighter. Then you're good to go off to the races.

I've only given you four themes in this post but I want you to know that there are many more things you can take from that will match any party or event you are having. My best advice to you would be to go to some online stores such as Amazon or Wal-Mart and just type in novelty string lights. If you're looking for a lighting system made with particular fabric or material just add that onto the end of year search. Don't feel overwhelmed because I can promise you that you will find there are more options out there than you thought existed and who knows you may see some lights that will spark a great idea for a party!

Not just any patio string lighting will do for your outdoor hideaway. Like many people these days when I have an idea of what I would like I first go to the Internet to see what's available. Many times I can find something better than what I originally thought of as something that would work well with what I want to do.

While searching the web I did come across two sets of lights that I think would work perfect with a BBQ area at the LampsPlus site. They are a little pricey when it comes to patio string lighting but they also are real lights that you can see by and heavy duty enough to stay out year-round in the weather.

Galvanized Shade 50' String Lights

The 7 1/2 inch galvanized metal shade on these lights fit right into that old school, smoke in your eyes, hole in the wall, best barbecue you ever had place. The 10 lights more spaced 5 feet apart you can use either 25 W bulb or 40 W bulb. If you are serious grill master you will probably go with 40 W so you can see better. Even though they are patio string lights they do not hang by the string, they have an eyelet on the top of each light where you can run a wire for support. They are rated for indoor or outdoor use but look great stretched across the deck or patio with smoke coursing up through them. They can be had for the price of $169.99 plus the cost of 10 light bulbs which are not included in the kit.

Copper Shade 50' String Lights

If your wife or significant other likes the look of the galvanized shade but wants some patio string lighting with a little more class you can't go wrong with the look of this Copper Shaded patio string lighting. They have the same exact layout as the galvanized lights with 10 lights using 25 W bulbs or 40 W bulbs. Designed to be hung through the eyelet not by the string itself. The seven half-inch copper shade if left out in the weather will turn that nice green patina making your patio string lighting a look of old and elegant. This should not take away from your BBQ haven and will probably only enhance your credibility with your friends. Due to the shades being made of copper these lights come in a little bit more expensive at $189.99.

There are multiple manufacturers making grape string lights to be used in different settings both inside and outside. I want to touch on a few of these different kinds of string lights giving you some insight into the different materials and of course the all important price differences that each type of light and supplier makes.

Grape string lights also use different energy sources to provide energy needs for their lights. The energy source can run the full spectrum of outdoor light options, such as low-voltage, mainline or 120 volt systems and batteries. The batteries can be can be standard AA batteries purchased from the store either rechargeable or not. They also can be batteries that receive their power or energy from the sun also known as a solar system.

Bethlehem Lighting 144-Mini Light Triple Grape Cluster

These grape string lights are already well listed for indoor use only but can be used outside if under a covered patio area or adult supervision to ensure that if it begins to rain they are immediately unplugged. As their name states there are three clusters of grape lights approximately 36 inches apart. There is a 72 inch lead before the first cluster on the string allowing you to hide the cord or use the lights some distance from an outlet. These are natural sized and are not oversized to look unnatural but made to the approximate size of a true grape hanging from the vine. They come in three different colors purple, green and red. Even though they are string lights they look great as a centerpiece with a bottle of wine surrounded by the three clusters. Their lights are subtle and really stand out when not overwhelmed by other lighting sources in the room or the patio. These can be found online for approximately $34-$40 and can really set a romantic atmosphere.

Five Clusters - Grape String Lights

If you're looking for some grape string lights with that little extra touch that can make them really stand out, you need to get these glass grape lights. The five clusters of grapes are spaced 12 inches apart over the length of the 6 1/2 foot long light string. Each cluster consists of purple, green and clear glass grapes. The grape size is slightly larger than natural grapes and there are 35 glass grapes per cluster. The glass grapes have seven purple and clear light bulbs weaving through each cluster. This streamlined set is rated for both indoors and outdoors using 110 V AC to power the lights. This set of grape string lights is slightly pricier at $45 but when you consider these are glass grapes you may consider the price not to steep.

Even I was surprised at how many different kinds of outdoor string lights there are to choose from these days. You will find string lights typically come in 10-bulb sets whether they are bronzed dragonfly lights, bamboo string lights or a set of clear ball string lights. Some overhead string lighting is designed for a large event such as a wedding or graduation party. A large event may use clear oversized  bulbs and raised high over the event so as to not distract but deliver a great atmosphere to your special occasion. A smaller more intimate gathering in your backyard around the grill with a glass of wine might benefit more from the flickering amber flame of a battery-operated candle placed in the middle of a patio table.

I first want to break the various kinds of outdoor string lights into groups defined by how they are powered. Yes I do know they all use electricity, regardless hang in there with me, I think you’ll learn some valuable tips from what I'm about to tell you and will help you a great deal when you go to buy your own set of outdoor string lights.

Let’s start with solar powered string lights, they have multiple advantages to them, number one of course is that your electricity bill will not go up by your using them every evening of the summer. Another important advantage to using solar powered string lights is that you don’t have to stretch often very ugly and possibly dangerous extension cords all over the backyard. One instance where I’ve seen them used which seem such a perfect fit for a solar powered string light system was on an arbor that was at the back of a property quite a ways from the house and a power supply. Typically with outdoor string lights that are solar powered you might think that they wouldn’t last very long or they wouldn’t be very bright. The big difference these days can be summed up in three little letters LED.

These are the lights you’ll see in many traffic lights these days also in brake lights if you notice cars in front of you when you stop the next time instead of one or two big bulbs there’ll be 10 to 20 little ones that will be very bright. The advantage to LED lights being used with solar systems are that they take very little energy to put off a large amount of light. The one negative to using solar power outdoor string light system is as you guessed it they can only be used where the panels can get enough sun to recharge the batteries.

The next system we’ll talk about are what’s known as novelty string lights. These can be used for theme parties and even though I’m talking about outdoor lighting on my site these can also be used in dorm rooms, kid’s rooms and family rooms. I’ll try to give you a little taste of some of the options you’ll have available to you because there are too many to list here. I’ve seen some with beer bottles, beer cans and sports teams that would be perfect for the Super Bowl party or your next tailgate party where you can show your team colors. They also come in some very delicate very pretty flower arrangements putting off a very soft light that is not meant to brighten an area but to give an amber glow or rose colored glow depending on what the desired mood is for the occasion. These lights inside of flowers, they are not real flowers by the way, are usually mini LED lights. All though they are very small they do give off enough brightness to light up the material that makes up the flower and yet cool enough to not burn any of the material.

I know I mentioned sports teams earlier in that you could get string lights in your favorite team’s colors or mascots.  I just wanted to mention that they are not only available in professional sports but also in college sports. These would make great gifts for the nieces and nephews headed for college looking for a low cost to make their dorm room their home. So please look around there are literally hundreds and hundreds of different kinds of outdoor string lights you can use to liven any party or event.

The last kind of outdoor string lights I want to discuss with you are the commercial grade lights. These will typically use C7 and C9 sized bulbs. These are the lights typically seen at a marina or at your favorite Mexican restaurant out on the patio. I may be aging myself a little here but they were used at used car dealerships at one time. They will also be used for outdoor weddings but installing them will take a little more than a hammer and a small bracket to nail into the tree because they are heavy and the bulbs are very large and they will typically need a small line to hang them from to keep them safe and in place. They give off a very brilliant light not necessarily meant for ambience building but for functional light so you can see where you are walking.

I hope I’ve been able to give you some insight into the world of outside entertaining using outdoor string lights. I know it wasn’t much but I want you to know that there are a lot of options out there and you should take advantage of them when thinking about your next backyard event on the patio.

One of the best places to find party supplies, including lights is online. With the number of online retailers growing by the thousands every day it is easier than ever to find just what you’re looking for. Many online retailers will carry novelty items which would not be available through regular retailers and the prices are often more affordable. The only thing to keep in mind while shopping online for your party lighting is that your purchase will have to be shipped, so make sure to shop and find the perfect lighting long before your big event.

Another great place to search for party lights is at your local garden center. This is especially promising during the cooler months when the garden center will carry a variety of giftware to counter their lack of sales in the plant and flower departments. Many garden centers will include a wide variety of outdoor string lights or festive lanterns that are perfect for any backyard event. Some lanterns will even come in humorous or theme related shapes such as chili peppers, tiki lanterns or even fish!

If you are unable to find any party lighting online, or at a local garden nursery then there is one more place you can try. Sporting good stores will often carry very basic outdoor lighting products. Due to the fact that their string lighting is simply meant for a campsite or hunt camp, they are quite a bit cheaper than the novelty lights mentioned above. Though these dull and colorless options may not seem festive enough to use as party lighting, the truth is they can easily be made into something great with a little imagination and creativity. Consider making your own paper lantern covers or even a set of tin can patio lights!

If you own solar powered patio lights it is vital that you dust both the inside and the outside of your lamps regularly. Due to the fact that many solar powered lamps are placed close to the ground they can develop a buildup of lawn debris and dirt. Cleaning the inside of your lamps is simple but tedious. Start by carefully removing the cover and use a toothbrush or small feather duster to remove any grass clippings, dust particles and insects from the interior of the lamp. By cleaning your outdoor patio lights regularly you can ensure that they will remain working to their full potential and producing as much light as possible.

Another important point to consider is that many outdoor patio lights are not meant for year round use and will not survive through winter months or even heavy rain fall. By bringing your lights indoors for the winter you can increase your chances of enjoying your lights the following year.

You can also make sure your lights last for many seasons by placing them where they are sure to be in a lot of sunlight. This is incredibly important when using solar powered lights since the more of the sun’s energy they collect the more brilliant they will be. However, it is also a good idea to place traditional string lights in an area where they will be warmed by the sun’s rays. By placing your lights in a sunny area you will not have to worry about the harm done by heavy dew or rain. The sun’s warmth will dry your lamps quickly and will prevent any water damage.

In addition to rain, dew and snow it is also imperative that your outdoor patio lights be placed where they are blocked from the wind. By securely fastening your patio lights to a deck or fence you can keep them from becoming damaged by being blown or knocked loose. This is especially important if your lamps contain fragile covers.

Solar garden figurines: For many gardeners, their blooms and bushes are not complete without a few friendly faces looking up out of them. Whether they have chosen a cheerful gnome with a traditional red hat and beard or a sculpture of a dog who seems only moments away from wagging his tail, these little characters add personality and humor to their garden and surrounding lawn. For the past few seasons many retailers have introduced these same garden accessories but have included a variety of solar powered elements to them. For example, both the gnome and the dog have been seen carrying their own solar powered lanterns.

Solar powered fountains: Fountains are another popular choice when it comes to garden accessories. The newly available solar fountains allow for gardeners to add a gorgeous and tranquil element to their garden during the evening hours. Most of these fountains are designed to have both the water pump and internal water light powered by the sun’s energy. There are many avid gardeners who agree that solar lighting becomes that much more interesting when accompanied by the sound and sight of a water feature.

Solar Post Lamps: Similar to the traditional lanterns mentioned above, solar powered post lamps are a simple to use and are a great way to add interest to any home’s exterior. By placing a lamp on each fence post a family can add drama as well as provide added security and safety.

Solar Spot Lights: When it comes to landscape lighting, there are not many lighting fixtures as popular as the spot light. However, until now anyone who loved the look of dramatic shadows and striking light had to have the fixture hard wired to their home. With solar spot lights, this is no longer an issue. Solar spot lights are definitely one of the best new solar landscape lighting products on the market today.

However, there will always be some lighting products that are more popular than others. Here is our list of the top ten most popular lighting products;

10. Rope lighting: Whether used to mark the steps of a porch or to illuminate a pool’s edge, rope lighting is a very popular choice for anyone looking for simple, elegant landscape lighting. Incredibly durable, with all of the bulbs and wiring incased in sturdy plastic tubing, making it perfect for high traffic areas.

9. Globe outdoor string lighting: Globe lighting, or globe lanterns are an easy choice when trying to achieve a clean modern esthetic atmosphere. Many who choose to hang these classic lanterns love the soft, warm glow and enjoy the ambiance created by globes made of rice paper or even grapevine.

8. Novelty Lanterns: A great choice for both inside and out, novelty lanterns can bring a sense of humor to any surroundings. Available in a variety of shapes and styles such as fruit, camping equipment, fish, vegetables and even seasonal themes, novelty lanterns are the perfect gift for a fun-loving hostess or new home owner.

7. Solar powered outdoor string lights: Due to their low maintenance and battery-free operation, many people are choosing solar lighting to brighten up their gardens and walkways. Available in a variety of styles and shapes, solar string lights can suit both formal and casual landscaping.

6. Twinkle umbrella lights: The perfect choice for romantic backyard nightcaps, twinkling umbrella lights are always popular. Whether strung from an open umbrella or wrapped up the umbrella’s pole, this classic choice provides whimsy and warmth.

5. Seasonal colored mini lights: Orange for Halloween, red and green for Christmas and even red, white and blue for the fourth of July, colored mini lights will always be a family favorite.

4. Matchstick/ bamboo lanterns: With their natural and earthy appeal, bamboo or matchstick lanterns are an ideal choice for urban minimalists and condo dwellers. They produce a dimmer amount of light, making them perfect for shared patio space and balconies.

3. Homemade lanterns: Made from paper, soup tins or even beer cans, homemade string light lanterns add charm to the cottage, backyard or patio. The special touches added from small and creative hands are what make these projects more than weekend crafts but rather family heirlooms.

2. LED string lighting: For those who want to glow “green” and preserve energy there is no better choice than a few strings of brightly colored LEDs. Even greener if powered up during the daylight hours with solar panels.

1. And finally the number one most popular outdoor string lighting product…Christmas lights of course! A timeless tradition around the world, Christmas lights will always warm the heart and brighten the holiday season!