10 Easy Steps to Stunning Outdoor Patio Lighting

PATIO LIGHTING UPGRADE Outdoor Patio Lighting is not complicated, but somehow, I thought it was. Thankfully after DIYing the look of the string lights, I achieved the cohesive look I wanted. And you can do it too! Here are 10 Easy steps to stunning outdoor patio lighting to achieve a similar look.

First, let’s talk about why patios are essential!

Outdoor patios are an extension of the inside of our home. It’s where BBQs, kids’ birthday parties, and family gatherings happen. Am I right? And often, when the weather is nice, we end up outside soaking up vitamin c. Of course, we celebrate life on our patios, but lighting is just as crucial as the patio itself. The proper lighting can bring any patio to life and make it more enjoyable. Besides, there is something special about a sparkly string of lights in the dark; it adds a romantic ambiance.

OUR LIFE ON THE PATIO

This entire idea came about one day while grilling. That particular day the sun went down, and we just wanted to sit outside a bit longer, but we ended up sitting in the dark because we had almost no lighting. The fanlight might as well have been off; it was terrible. But I thought there had to be a way to somehow add more lighting. So the wheels in my head started turning, and into fixing mode, I went.

I opened up my Pinterest app looking for inspiration. (If you’re pressed for time, I recommend staying away from Printerest until you have time to peruse and really search. You will spend countless hours searching for patios and cute dogs and your next outfit, oh and those dreamy kitchens! Don’t even get me started.) The pretty pictures of outdoor patios came up, and I started obsessing over a beautiful and perfect outdoor heaven.

The first step towards a great patio was improving the lighting. To fix that, I decided to go for string lights. Here is what you will need:

SUPPLIES

• tring of lights. I bought 5 boxes from Target because that is where they were on sale. You can get yours anywhere you’d like. Amazon has great deals on different types, so you have choices.
• Cup hooks. Find them at your local hardware store like Homedepot or order them online.
• 2 cans of white spray paint (if you want to paint the string of lights to change the original stock color. If not, just leave them the natural green stock color, and you save a few bucks). I used Rust-Oleum’s Paint and primer. *Read the label and ensure the paint will stick to plastic. The green strands were on sale, and my picky self wanted the strands white, so my fix was spray paint.

TOOLS 

Hopefully, you already have all of these. An extension chord is inexpensive. A drill and ladder are a bit more pricy. If you don’t have either one, ask to borrow from a friend or a neighbor. If there is room in your budget, you can purchase the additional tools from your local hardware store or online.

• Ladder
• Drill
• Extension cord

STEPS

*You can skip steps 1-6 if you want to keep the stock green color of the light strands, easy hu?

1. Take light bulbs off the strand and carefully place them in an area that won’t be damaged. I used the box the lights came in.
2. Prepare spray painting area. You can use masking paper from previous projects that I already hand in hand.
3. Place the string of lights on the paper and separate it, so that spray paint covers all sides.
4. Begin spray painting. I spray painted the strings of lights at night time. Crazy right? In my books, it’s ever too late or too early to work on a project. Be careful not to spray paint inside the cups where the bulbs go.
5. Allow the paint to dry. Waiting when you’re excited is hard, and I am not the most patient person.
6. Look over the strand to see where spots were missed. Spray paint the areas missed and allow the paint to dry. My strings took 4 coats plus touch up on spots I missed. I waited approximately an hour between each coat. Allow the paint to fully dry. After 3 days, the strands were ready for hanging.
7. Decide what pattern of lights you’d like on the ceiling and plan accordingly. We decided to go with a zig-zag design.
8. Drill small holes in the spots where the cup hooks will be placed. This makes it easier to screw in the cup hooks. *TIP: Ensure the drill bit is smaller than the circumference of the cup hook. This way, the hook will stay firmly in the wall. After drilling each hole, screw in the hook. My husband’s big muscles came in very handy.
9. Place the light bulbs back on light strings. Hang up the string lights. Careful not to break any bulbs.
10. When we finally hung ours up, I was giddy like a child at Christmas! I think you will be too. There is something about being close to completing a project that is so rewarding.
11. Plug them up. Tah-Dahh!

Stand back and be amazed by your hard work.

SCRATCHING PROJECTS OFF THE LIST

The lighting results were terrific. I love how the lights turned out. The strings evenly distributed lighting; it’s never too bright or dark in one spot. We feel a high level of satisfaction that a bit of elbow grease transformed our patio. Although it is not even close to dreamy “Pinterest” status, lighting is no longer an issue. It is one more thing I can scratch off my house to-do list (Improve Patio lighting). Who knew 10 easy steps to stunning outdoor patio lighting was all I needed to spruce up my space a bit.

Now it’s your turn. What changes have you made to your patio? Big or small, I’d love to hear about them. Please share your pictures, experiences, and/or stories with me by tagging @parisandjuneco on Instagram if you try this project. I’d love to see how inspiration and creativity spread and you create beautiful outdoor spaces.

Thank you for reading and spending a little time in my tiny corner of online space!

With gratitude,