Bright Ideas: The Best Outdoor Lights for Your Patio After Dark

Patio lights have become a standard backyard accessory, providing ample light for evening entertainment. Hang outdoor string lights from a porch ceiling, mount them under deck rails or drape them around the pergola for warm, inviting lighting. No patio? No problem! String globe lights from the house to a nearby tree, from branch to branch, or set up light poles to define an outdoor space.

Have some fun with your outdoor lights! Novelty string lights in fun designs add personality to your patio area. Drape them along a fence line, around windows and doorways. Use them to fringe patio umbrellas or run them down the middle of a serving table to add color or support a party theme. If you plan to hang novelty lights in an area exposed to the weather, make sure they are rated for outdoor use.

Bring an added glow to tabletops, deck rails, entryways and seating areas with decorative lanterns. Candle lanterns and outdoor lanterns come in many shapes, sizes, styles and colors to match your decor. Set a romantic or intimate mood with a pillar candle lantern. If real candles are a problem, opt for battery-operated flickering LED candles instead. Outdoor solar lanterns are another excellent option for providing decorative soft lighting on a dining table or side table.

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The path from the firepit to the patio, or down your front walk way, can be unsafe in the dark. No one wants to trip and spill the s’mores tray – or worse – because they couldn’t see where they were going. Solar path lights are an easy solution. Bright little LED lights mounted on ground stakes can be placed wherever you need them – along footpaths or bordering the garden, for instance. Not only do lighted lawn stakes make pathways safer after dark, they also beautifully accent your yard and landscape.

Use flexible and bright rope lights to light deck rails, stair treads, paths and garden borders, or wrap them around trees or columns for added light and atmosphere. You’ll find both incandescent and LED rope lights, some with multi-function lighting options. In addition, rope lighting often comes with mounting clips for easy installation.

Tiny LED micro lights evoke the magic of fireflies sparking in the twilight. Fairy lights are popular with crafters who like to tuck them into mason jars, vases, lanterns or other lighting accents for outdoor dining tables or garden art. Fairy lights also look charming wrapped around small patio plants or arranged table runner-style down the center of a dining table. Hang fairy lights vertically from an overhang to create a light curtain, or use them in paper bags instead of candles for luminaria. Micro LED lights are often battery-operated, but not all are approved for outdoor use.