Outdoor Party Lights

Outdoor party lights are the perfect start to whatever event you have planned.

When the weather is right, gathering people outside for a meal or an all-out celebration can be lots of fun, and when the sun goes down, outdoor party lights become an essential part of the festivities.  Even as the days begin to get shorter at the end of the summer or early in the fall, you can still enjoy your deck or patio with the right outdoor party lighting to ensure that you’re not just sitting there in the darkness after a certain hour.

In the summer time, outdoor party lights don’t become necessary until much later into the evening, but at that point, they make sure that you and your guests can still see some of the décor you’ve set out, as well as the walking areas and other obstacles that can present a hazard when people need to move about. 

To have the outdoor party lighting work well for you, you will want to put some thought into the scheme you use to lay them out.  The two elements you need to consider for your layout are visual appeal and practical illumination for safety. 

Since safety is the one necessity and often allows for the least amount of flexibility, it’s best to start the planning of your outdoor party lights there, and then fill in the rest of the space with the attractive elements.  Most gatherings do well with a combination of string , spot, and twinkly lights. They can be either white or colored (be that multicolored or a single color). 

Outdoor Party Lights - Think Safety First

For safety, you need to look around the space where the get-together will be held.  Any pathways, obstacles (such as trees, posts, garbage cans, or swimming pools), doors, alleys, and steps should be very visible in order to ensure personal safety and prevent injuries. For every set of stairs or doorway, approximately 60-80 watts of outdoor party lighting should be used.  When simply marking a place to walk or making a hazard visible, you can use simpler outdoor party lights.

Once you have your outdoor party lighting for safety in place, you can start to think about the actual atmosphere you’d like to create.  Illumination can do a lot for the ambiance of a gathering.  Twinkly lights around the perimeter of the area are always pleasant, while some candle light can be attractive and helpful in areas where food and drink are served.  Rope lights can add a bit of whimsy when wrapped around trees. 

By starting early and planning ahead, you can make sure that your guests will be safe and find the décor pleasing through your outdoor party lights.