Outdoor Patio Lighting: The Do’s and Don’ts

For many, outdoor patio lighting is a must-have for the warm summer months. They can provide a welcoming glow and can make an everyday event feel that much more celebratory and festive. Whether you use a simple string of white Christmas lights or a collection of tiki inspired lanterns, there is just something about patio lighting that makes you want to stay longer, laugh louder and enjoy yourself. However, there are some do’s and don’ts when it comes to positioning and hanging your patio lights. Here are some important points to consider.

Don’t place your lights where they may shine directly into the eyes of your guests. Even though outdoor lighting can provide a very nice ambiance, your guests do not want to leave seeing colorful dots in their vision. The best way to avoid blinding your guests is to hang your patio lighting behind where most of them will be sitting, this way the light will shine over their shoulder but not into their eyes.

Don’t position your lights to shine into your neighbors yard or home. In addition to your guests you will also have to take into consideration any neighbors that may share your fence or balcony. The best way to avoid any potential problems is to hang your lights and simply pop next door to see if your neighbors have any issues.

Do hang your outdoor patio lighting out of the reach of children and pets? If not, you may want to reconsider, especially if you plan to use some traditional glass patio lights. Remember, both children and animals love bright colors and will be drawn to patio lanterns and broken bulbs can be harmful to both small fingers and furry paws. By hanging your lighting high and out of reach you can avoid any unnecessary accidents.

Do use the right hanging systems when attaching outdoor patio lighting to your fence of porch? Whenever possible try to simply tie your lights to your fence or patio using string or twine. By not using sharp objects such as nails, pushpins or staples you can avoid any wear that may occur to the wire. An even better alternative would be to simply drape the string of lights in between fence posts. This way it is sure to stay in good shape and will be easy to remove when the weather starts to turn cool.

So make that patio into a warm inviting place to entertain friends or to share with your special someone.