How to Choose Lights for Your Patio

Patios and lights go hand-in-hand—almost as if they were made for each other. The patio becomes an outdoor oasis during the warmer months to enjoy the embrace of the sun on a hot day, or the breeze on a cool evening. As you spend more time out on the patio, why not enhance the ambiance around you and your guests? Put lights to your patio, and any moment on the patio can become a sublime outdoor experience.

Why It’s Good to Install Lights for Your Outdoor Area

Lights bring brightness and joy to any time of year! They elevate an outdoor space by adding appeal that sets the mood—from calm to exciting, romantic to celebratory. The draw of lights is practically magical, as both the lights themselves and the space that they illuminate effortlessly garner attention. Decorate your space with strategic and thoughtful planning, and your area becomes open for more enjoyment.

The patio provides wonderful opportunities for casting a radiant spotlight. Firepits and chimneys are complemented by the beauty and brightness of shining lights. Pergolas, awnings, roof overhangs, and balconies also offer ample opportunity for pairing with lights. Don’t have a structure to hang your lights from? You can place poles to anchor them. Read on to discover how.

What Types of Lights to Use for Patio Lighting

If you want lights that brighten your space, enchant your guests, and make your patio a wonderful setting for every moment and occasion, then pro-grade lights are by far the best choice. Pro-grade lights are superior in brightness and lifespan over retail-grade lights. Not only do pro-grade lights look better and last longer, but they also have superior durability and design that comes from using high quality materials and a one-piece bulb socket design that prevents failure caused by moisture, water, and debris.

Look for lights that are IP65 rated and above for waterproof durability that will ensure your patio lights stay on through the season. Pro Christmas C9 bulbs are IP67 rated, G50 bulbs are IP65, and Twinkly Plus are IP65 rated as well.

When you think lights on the patio, you probably think of them in the color of warm white. So you can see how warm white is by far the preferred color choice for outdoor patio lights and the most popular color for lighting during warmer months. There’s something about the comfortable glow of warm white that make any space both inviting and enchanting. But other colors bring on the fun with festive and creative looks. Consider red, white, and blue for Independence Day, or a red and green pattern for Christmas in July. Swapping the bulbs in your display is easy with the retrofit design of C9 light line or medium base cord.

Three Types of Light Products to Use for Your Patio

Medium Base Cord and Compatible Bulbs

Medium base cord is the foundation for patio lighting, particularly hanging lights. This cord is equipped with sockets for the following bulbs:

• S14 lights — Edison-style bulbs that are defined by a traditional teardrop appearance
• G50 lights — round lights; think G for globe

Patio lighting arrangements can look fabulous in the classic “bistro style”, which features the use of G50 or S14 bulbs. These lights capture an inspired look that transforms a patio into a portrait of peaceful outdoor vibes.

C9 Light Cord and Compatible Bulbs

Great for foliage lighting and lighting attached to a surface, C9 light cord serves as the basis for a variety of bulbs:

• C9 lights
  • Faceted
  • Frosted/Smooth
  • Filament-style
• G30
• G40
• G50

For G30-50 lights installed in C9 light cord, we recommend cord with socket spacing from 24 inches up to 36 inches. This is also the same spacing that you’ll find in medium base cord.

Discover how to install globe-style lights: we use G50s in our pool and patio lighting tutorial and G30s in our outdoor dining area tutorial.

Twinkly App-Powered Smart Lights

Stunning displays and jaw-dropping affects are at your fingertips with Twinkly RGB smart lights. Enjoy the range of sheer versatility with a gallery of effects and popular themes on the Twinkly Smart App.

Twinkly Home lights are a good choice for covered outdoor lighting applications, as most products in this Twinkly product line are IP44 rated. Pergolas, covered porches, and balconies are nice patio spots for Twinkly Home lighting products.

Twinkly Permanent Outdoor Lights are a great year-round outdoor lighting solution for roofline and perimeter lighting that meets the patio. Keep in mind that these lights have a fixed length and cannot be cut like C9 cord.

For permanent installs, consider Twinkly Home or Twinkly Plus lights, which have higher IP ratings—especially compared to cheap RGB lights. Consider Twinkly lights around the bushes, pergola, or trees.

Are LED Lights Better for Outdoor Patios?

LED lights are definitely better for outdoor patios. One of the biggest benefits to LEDs is excellent energy efficiency, paving the way for ambitious arrangements that don’t break the bank when it comes to the energy bill. LED lights also have a greater lifespan than incandescent lights, with a high-quality pro-grade set estimated to last 75,000 hours, or about 6 or 7 seasons. Incandescent lights are estimated to offer only a fraction of that lifespan at a meager 3,000 hours. LEDs are also safer and more durable for outdoor patios, as their bulbs are made of material that doesn’t shatter like incandescents’ glass bulbs.

How Do I Hang Patio Lights without Trees or a Pergola

Put up lights with your own yard posts—all without digging unwanted holes in the yard. Create stable yard posts using a wood pole in a large planter filled with cement. Before putting the post in the planter, install corner braces or post bases to the bottom of each post to keep the posts standing straight. After, install an eye hook near the top of each post. Cover the cement up with soil and wood chips for a cleaner presentation. Bring the presentation to its full potential by putting plants, like flowers, in the soil for pretty planters that complement your beautiful lights.

You can also put concrete blocks inside the planters to weigh them down instead of concrete fill. With this method, you can put a hole near the bottom of one of the planters and run your extension cord through and then up the pole. Slip a wire cover over the extension cord and brace the line to the post for a tidy look.

Your patio may hold opportunity for hanging your lights without having to create posts. Look to fences, awnings, and decks for points to hang lights from. And if no higher structures are available, then gardens and pathways are perfect for stake lights in the ground along their perimeters. High or low, LED Christmas lights are always appealing on the patio.

How Can I Create a Cozy or Romantic Vibe with Patio Lights

Warm white lights are as romantic as they are comforting, and will make date night on the patio feel just right. Consider introducing some texture to your lighting arrangement by mixing distinct light shapes, such as soft globe style lights hanging from the pergola mixed with fairy lights in a votive or a clear glass vase. Or hang curtain lights along the closed end of the pergola, with icicle lights hanging from the pergola’s the perimeter.

Can I Control My Patio Lights with a Smart Home System or App

Yes you can! We recommend an outdoor smart plug. The wifi smart app controlled timer has two IP55 rated sockets, allowing for multi-schedule timing. The timer can be voice controlled, and seamlessly integrates with smart home systems such as Alexa and Google home for controlling light power and brightness. Built-in surge protection and no need for an additional hub or service means that managing your patio lights is a breeze.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Battery-Operated Vs. Plug-in Lights?

Battery-operated lights are best for small lighting applications, such as wreath wraps and illuminated tablescapes. However, battery-operated lights go dim as the battery power diminishes.

Plug-in lights are ideal for nearly every patio lights install you can think. A continuous power connection means consistent luminance that brings out the best in every angle of the patio. But continuous power requires connection from an outlet, so the application needs to be planned with the line from a power source in mind.

What are the Most Durable Patio Lights for Windy or Wet Climates?

For windy and wet climates, high-quality pro-grade lights are the way to go. They’re designed and manufactured to endure the elements and meet the standard of the International Electrotechnical Commission’s (IEC) Ingress Protection (IP) rating system. IP indicates greater protection from moisture and dust—the greater the number, the better the protection.

Our Pro Christmas C9 retrofit bulbs, in either regular or twinkle, are IP67 rated, so you can be confident that they’ll handle harsh weather conditions. Pro Christmas G50 bulbs are also highly water resistant at an IP65 rating. Twinkly Plus lights are also IP65 rated, and are likewise produced for proficient water resistance.

Medium base cord is the most durable cord for outdoor lighting, and is the primary line used for patio lighting installs. C9 empty socket line is also great for outdoor lighting installs, and is UL rated for outdoor use.

How Can I Layer Lighting (String, Lanterns, Path Lights, Etc.) for a Polished Look?

Layered lighting results in a polished look when done well—or a messy sight if not. Color coordination and careful arrangement are both important, but the real trick to layered lighting is consistency in brightness and light temperature across each light set. The way to maintain total consistency is to buy products from a reputable commercial supplier like Christmas Designers. We work directly with our manufacturers to ensure a consistent Kelvin temperature for our warm white bulbs and string lights. Combine sets with consistency, and you’ve got a layered look to remember.

Patio lighting promises a way to energize your outdoor space like no other form of decorating can. High-quality pro-grade LED lights are your ticket to reliable lighting applications that are sure to please all those who witness the brilliance of your outdoor display. Shop our patio lighting now!

We’re here to help with your lighting and other decorating questions—so don’t wait. Email us at [email protected] or call 1-800-391-5280 and start speaking with one of our qualified Christmas Designers today!