Are you hanging lights up for an event? Or are you looking to brighten up your back patio? These next few tips will help you with a little of both, especially if you are investing in strings of lights of your own and not just renting them for an evening.
A: Yes. You will be kicking yourself if you decided to go with the bargain brand that only happens to be a seasonal purchase when several of your bulbs burn out during the offseason. Going with a brand that stores stock all year will ensure that there will also be replacement bulbs for these strings year around as well.
A: it’s really a preference. But do a little research to figure out what it is you like the best.
Bistro string lights are generally a glass bulb and these are found just about anywhere. They give off a warm yellow glow that works for outside decor as well as indoor. ( I have several strings of these hanging up in my dining room as ambiance lights that are much more pleasing at night then the harsh overhead light I have in that room)
Twinkle lights, (generally used to decorate during Christmas) can come in both glass or plastic as well as a wide variety of light options. You can also get LED twinkle light bulbs that are great for energy efficiency, although they do tend to give off a bit of a cooler blue light.
Edison bulbs are your higher end pseudo-vintage looking string lights. These will give you a warm glowing light as well with the added old-timey ambiance of a bulb that shows off the glowing orange filament that lights them up inside. Great looking string lights, but replacing these bulbs isn’t cheap.
A: What does your space look like? This is a matter of letting your space do most of the decision making.
Identify the most accessible power source and determine how many strings of lights it will support if they are strung together. This should be something you can find on the box of lights you have purchased. Your basic bistro lights generally allow you to connect up to 5 strings of lights together giving you about 60 feet of lights to work with.
Identify the most accessible locations to hang your lights from. If you plan to attach them to your house look at your roofline and sought boards for solid attachment areas. If you have trees or a fence you plan to string your lights from, Identify the best branches or posts to do this from. If you have a wide open space this may call for setting up posts.
