Thinking about hanging festoon lights outside but not sure where to start?
Don’t worry, this blog post provide you with all the information you need. Hanging outdoor festoon lights is easier than many think, nor does it require any major effort or fancy tools.
This guide will walk you through hanging festoon lights in your backyard or patio, hassle-free. The key is knowing what materials to use and how to set them up, whether you're working with trees or not. At times a bit of creativity can surely help because no two outdoor spaces are identical. This is where our Festoon hanging kit comes in handy – it's got everything you need for any outdoor setup.
Our kit includes all the essentials: stainless steel cable, hooks, screws, a turnbuckle, clamps, locking devices, and even a wrench. Check out the image below to see how it's perfect for installing festoon lights, even across long distances. With this kit and our guide, you'll have those lights up in no time!
What Tools and Materials Are Needed?
The stuff you'll need to hang festoon lights depends on where you want to put them. Hanging them outside without trees is totally different from putting them on a pergola. Let's look at the three most common ways to set them up.
Stringing Outdoor lights When Points are Fixed and Less Than 8mm Apart
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Festoon lights: Make sure you have enough outdoor lights to cover the entire backyard or patio
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Extension cord: You’ll likely need an outdoor external cord
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Drills: Electrical drills work best, but if you don’t have them, make do with manual drills.
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Tape Measure: This is needed to measure distance between hookup points.
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Metal Hooks/Eye Bolts: Expansion hooks or eye bolts help with anchoring.
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Pencil/Painter’s Tape: You’ll need one of them for marking spaces.
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Wire Rope Clamps: Used for connecting 2 cables together.
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Turnbuckle Tensioner: Helps adjust tension and reduce slack in a rope or cable.
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Ladder: If you are installing festoon lights on a tree or any structure that’s considerably higher, you’ll likely need a ladder.
Stringing Outdoor Lights When the Distance Between Fixed Points is More Than 8m Apart
These instructions will come in handy in case you need to suspend outdoor lights over a considerably large area:
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String Light Suspension Kit: Our kit's got you covered! It comes with all the essentials: a sturdy steel cable, hooks, screws, a turnbuckle, clamps, and even a handy wrench. You'll have everything you need to set up those lights like a pro, no sweat. It's super easy to use, so you'll be enjoying your new outdoor ambiance in no time.
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Wire Cutter: This tool is necessary for trimming the cables to ensure they’re just about right for your needs. When it comes to adjusting the cable length, the golden rule is to first install the lights and then trim the cables if needed. If you shorten the cables first, there’s always a chance that you may shorten it too much, leaving you with insufficient cable length.
How to String Festoon Lights When There’re No Tall Supports or Trees
Hanging outdoor lights in the absence of any sort of tall support may seem a daunting task, but the installation itself isn’t complicated. However, you’ll need a few additional tools and materials. Follow the instructions below and you’ll have nothing to worry about.
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Wooden Posts/Poles: When there’re no trees or tall supports, you’ll have to make them for yourself. How? The answer is simple: wooden posts or poles. Their ideal height depends on your needs, but you wouldn’t want to put the lights 30 meters above the ground. That is because then you’re not likely to get the desired effect.
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Nails: You’ll need them in case you want to spread the lights across a fence. You’ll need a hammer, too.
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Weighted Buckets: It’s necessary to weigh down the base if you are using wooden posts or poles. This helps keep the lights secure. What types of weighted buckets should you opt for? While there are different types of them on the market, for most setups regular plastic buckets filled with concrete are more than enough. One bucket is needed for each post.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Hanging Festoon Lights
Step 1 – Design a lightening layout
Let's start by mapping out your lighting setup. First, figure out where you'll hang your lights – this is super helpful because you'll know exactly how many lights you need before you start.
While you're planning, think about the pattern you want. Most folks go for V, X, pinwheel, or parallel designs, but feel free to get creative. Just make sure your hanging spots can handle the pattern you choose. Big trees, the side of your house, and fence posts are all great options for hanging lights. By visualizing everything beforehand, you'll save yourself a headache later on.
Dealing with distant fixing points can be tricky, but fortunately wooden posts offer a viable solution. These posts are not only simple to install but also provide greater flexibility in terms of lighting configurations. It is recommended that the fixing points be positioned no more than 8 meters apart; otherwise, the use of supporting wires becomes necessary.
Step 2 – Install the fixing points
The types of fixing points you need depends largely on your pattern design. Nonetheless, metal hooks or eyes work fine in most situations.
Keep in mind that closing the hook points is essential. Otherwise you run the risk of having the cable come off the hooks. We recommend you drill a hole for each hook and screw them tightly. If you live in a particularly windy area, adhesives could provide additional protection.
Step 3 – Attach Festoon Lights to Fixing Points
Attaching festoon lights is a breeze once you've got your support lines up. If your fixing points are less than 5m apart, you can skip the support wire, but we still think it's a good idea to use it. Just secure the lights to your fixing points or the wire using cable ties. Don't forget to keep the power cord snug against the ground or wall to avoid any tripping hazards.
Step 4 – Install the lights
Now all that is left for you to do is install the bulbs and turn the power on.
Steps for Hanging Outdoor Lights Without Trees
What if your backyard got no trees or any other support point. Don’t worry, it’s still possible to achieve the desired lighting pattern.
For example, attaching wooden posts to your fence could do the trick. Just make sure the posts are roughly 3m apart and are secured using cup hooks and side nails. Another option is to hang festoon lights under a pergola or covered patio. The ideal distance between cup hooks here is roughly 1 meter.
Final Words...
Hanging festoon lights is a simple task if you know what you're doing. Start by figuring out where you want them and how you'd like them to look. Once you've got that sorted, you're all set.. With a bit of planning, you can pretty much string these lights up anywhere you fancy.