The properly chosen lighting for your backyard and garden will make all the difference when it comes to enjoy them at night in the warmer months (and even some cold ones). One of these outdoor lighting choices is installing patio lights. As we have explained in other posts, when the proper lighting is installed, it can turn your dark areas of property into areas that your guests will rave about. One of the ways to accomplish this is to install the right type of patio lights with the right installation method.
Most of what we consider patio lights are really outdoor string lighting for your patio. These are strings of smaller lights that are connected on one electrical wire. But there are many different types of outdoor patio lights to choose from. We will talk about two types below – string lighting and flood lights.
One of the most popular type of patio lights is the patio string light. These are a series of small light bulbs that are strung in a line. These lights all use one common electrical wire to power them. The suggestion for using these lights is to install them on the sides of the patio or drape them over small shrubs and bushes. These lights with their low light individually but comprehensively large amount of light can provide a nice illuminative effect without going too overboard and having to have extremely powerful lights.
Other options for patio lights could be outdoor flood lights. These are the lights we think of when talking about patio lights. These are the typical round and brightly lit lights that light up an area from one single location. These outdoor flood lights will usually be mounted up high (on a post or wall or under the overhang of a roof) so they can illuminate an area but they can be used on the ground to add accent to something tall (like a tree).
Most patio lights come with an installation kit and a manual. If you’re going to install them on the ground in order to illuminate a tree or another structure, then the best way to do this is to mount them on something hard and flat. Most kits will come with brackets and mounting screws (or bolts) to do this. The same method can be used to mount them in an elevated position.
Make sure you try to keep the elements away from the lights as much as possible. The flood lights will grow very hot so keeping them clear of dirt and debris is always a safe choice. Likewise protecting them with shrouds or overhangs is a good choice for cover. The smaller string lights actually do the best at weathering the elements due to their smaller size.
Whichever type of patio lights you choose to buy and install, you will obtain many nights of enjoyment from them.