Attention to detail is what makes the difference between an average and an extraordinary event. Lighting can instantly change the feel and environment. It creates the impact that you’re looking for. Since the creation of the first high-powered LED, the lighting industry has made significant shifts, forever shaping its future. Festoon lighting is one such example. They are the decorative bulb lights that you see hanging around patios or country fairgrounds in old movies.
Are you ready to learn how to hang festoon lights? If the answer is yes and you want to get the full story, please continue reading to find out how it’s done.
Decide which place is great for hanging festoon lights
Use festoon lights to light an event or, better yet, brighten up your home. If you yearn for a bright, happy space, it might be time to make the switch to string lighting. It has the power to easily upgrade the décor, leaving plenty of room for your other favourites. Festoon lights are designed with flexibility in mind, which means that they can be installed virtually anywhere for decoration purposes.
So, where would you like to add a little bit of glow? Here are some suggestions on places where you can attach festoon lights.
Wrap trees with festoon lights
If your yard is the envy of the neighbourhood, just think about what people will say when they see the trees wrapped in festoon lights. As night falls, the globes start radiating and the breathtaking features of the evergreens will be visible all around. Festoon lighting is suitable for most types of trees, including palm trees, oaks, maples, and yucca.
Beautify the balcony with festoon lights
Vines and creepers transform the bare walls of the home, but lighting is what makes it more inviting. Once you’ve finished making the necessary improvements, don’t hesitate to invite your friends and family over to celebrate the new look. The lights cast a soft glow, which is why they’re perfect for intimate gatherings and spaces that don’t require being fully lit.
Hang festoon lights Outdoors
So what if you don’t have a special outdoor structure? If you have an umbrella, that’s enough. When you’re trying to heat up the ribs late at night, you’ll be thankful for a little bit of lighting. Hang the festoon lights underneath the umbrella and you’re good to go. They won’t obscure the view and can actually help you get the most out of your barbecue.
Needless to say, there are many more inspirational ways to decorate with string lights. You just have to know how to hang festoon lights. Festoon lights make any occasion memorable, providing the perfect backdrop setting for a marquee tent, barn, for any outdoor space, really. You instantly feel the warm ambiance they give. No matter if you’re hosting a party or you want to add some cheer to your kid’s room, the situation calls for hanging festoon lights. Don’t focus exclusively on crafting an outdoor living space.
If you wish to transform your home, this should do the trick:
Choose the right festoon lights
There is no better time than now to spruce up the outdoor or indoor space, so choose your lights wisely. An ever-increasing number of people are turning their backs on traditional lighting and taking advantage of LED technology. The bulbs are longer lasting and more energy-efficient, helping cut down the energy bills. You can insert various bulbs into the belt to create interesting colour effects. Standard bulbs emit warm light, while high power light bulbs operate at the pinnacle of efficiency.
LED festoon lights with colour bulbs are a hit with homeowners. The good news is that festoon lights come in a wide range of styles. Let’s give some examples since you’re new to all this.
- Waterproof festoon lights. If there’s any chance that the string li will come in contact with moisture, you’ll have to use a waterproof coating. The best way to avoid a short circuit is to invest in waterproof festoon lights. Not only are they gorgeous, but also you won’t be left stumbling around in the dark.
Solar and battery-powered festoon lights. They glow undisturbed. Solar festoon lights draw power from the sun, so they’re great for lighting up trees. Hang them anywhere they can soak up natural sunlight. What about battery-powered string lights? They’re ideal for hard to reach places where there’s no power outlet. The batteries make the festoon lighting completely safe for kids and it will perfectly blend in with the environment.
- Vintage festoon lights. LED light bulbs fit into mason jars without any problem. If you’re not the DIY type of person, get vintage festoon lights. You can hang them in any room of the house and there’s plenty of room for them outside. Carry on the history and the tradition of string lights, while illuminating your space effectively.
Gather your tools and layout the necessary materials for your festoon light installation
Now that you know where you want to install the festoon light system, prepare the workspace. A couple of tools and materials should be enough to see the project through to the end.
What will you be needing?
- Commercial-grade festoon lights: You can buy them here
- Measuring tape
- A pencil
- A few metal hooks
- Steel wire
- A wire cutter
- A drill
- A ladder
Don’t Have a well-stocked toolbox at your disposal? Just about everything you can find in the hardware store. With the tools listed above, you should do just fine. Add a few extra tools to the basic kit only if you’re planning to embark on a complex project. Hanging festoon lights isn’t a time-consuming or tricky undertaking. If you want to make the most out of festoon lighting, aim for simple and subtle. There shouldn’t be a striking difference between the brightness of the light that’s in the scene and the light you’re bringing in.
Before you even begin to hang festoon lights!
Carefully remove the light bulbs from the fixture prior to hanging if you’re working with more than two strands. It’ll be easier for you to manipulate the wire since you don’t constantly worry that you’ll break the lights (our lights are shatterproof so you don’t need to worry about that!). You put them back when you’re all done. The steel wire may be thin, but it’s quite sturdy and the appearance of the bulbs ensures a timeless look. The light bulbs will blend into any shape you make.
The key to a flawless light design is precision. Capture the accurate dimensions of the space. In this sense, it would be helpful to draw a sketch of the area where you plan to hang the festoon lights and use it as a reference later on. You can deploy the sketch when working out how to attach the string lights. If you’re like neat and tidy layouts, make sure you have the right numbers. Lay some strings on the ground and try various combinations. There’s no wrong or right way to hang festoon lights.
If hanging festoon lighting is too much to handle, don’t call it off
Hanging festoon lighting is a simple DIY project. However, if for any reason you get overwhelmed, you might want to reach out to contractors. Imagine the following situation: You’re hosting an intimate wedding ceremony and want everything to be absolutely perfect. You don’t have to do the hard work yourself because that’s up to the install crew. The crew can install the festoon lighting in less than a day. The decision is up to you, though.
If you just want somebody to get the display up and lit, no problem. Call in the professionals and sit back and relax. They know the proper techniques for installing festoon lights, not to mention the essentials of safety. The point is that if you don’t take pleasure in detail work, it’s recommended to let someone else hang the string lights. Don’t stress over the decision to go pro. You’ll be giving yourself a gift.
Now let’s hang up the festoon lights, shall we?
If there already is an existing structure, such as a covered patio, it’s super easy. All you have to do is to attach the string of lights along the patio. You can arrange the festoon lights in random patterns. When you’re sitting under the light and glaring at them, the arrangement will look beautiful. For instance, you can zigzag your festoon lighting or opt for an hourglass pattern.
- If you’re using a tree, a pergola, or an eave, it’ll be necessary to install mounting hardware. Screw the metal hooks and use them as support for mounting the string lights. Steel wire will reinforce the fixture and keep the bulbs hanging in the right direction. Purchase a wire hanging kit and closely follow the instructions. Wear protective eyewear, such as safety goggles when inserting the hooks, especially if you’re drilling into aluminum. There will be tension on the cable, which is the reason why the metal hooks should be installed securely.
- Start at the end where you want and work your way over to the other side. It will take you some time to finish, but the lights will look amazing. Don’t imagine that you’ll be spending hours at an end hanging festoon lighting, though. When the sun goes down, you’ll be in for a big surprise. The beauty lies in the simplicity of the globes. They create the right amount of light, so if you don’t want to string up your garden, create an inviting home.
- To join the festoon strings together, use a dee shackle, which can ensure secure fastening and connection. It can’t always be fun, but it can be easy. String the festoons up with the help of short lengths of chain so that the globes will hang down. In the end, secure the fixture with hooks. The lamp holder should hang downward. This way, you’ve got a guarantee that small droplets of moisture won’t get into the light. Condensation will cause a problem with the operation of the light.
- Once the scene is set, you can screw the bulbs into place. The power switch must be turned off. Additionally, if the string lights are battery-operated, don’t forget to remove the batteries. Screw the globes into the fixture using a clockwise movement. Stop only when you encounter resistance. When you do, you’ll know for sure that the bulb is completely screwed in. Get someone to help you. Anyone in the home can lend a helping hand and getting your hands on the items you need makes the process go faster.
You’ll love the festoon lights. The globes look super festive and they can be used throughout the entire home, giving the impression of a garland or wreath. Rest at that inviting spot!