Outdoor String Lights

Conventional outdoor lighting has become so bland over the years. I see so many homes with the same lighting fixtures. Believe it or not, there are still lighting products out there that are rare and unique that don’t cost and arm and a leg. I can think of one product in particular that adds flavor to any yard or garden. Outdoor string lights are similar to Christmas lights except that they can be used all year round. They can come with plain colored bulbs or have cool coverings in any design you can think of. One neat thing about string lights is that they can be hooked up in series to extend their reach. String lights have an amazing effect at night when placed on patios and awnings. Each light bulb on the string symbolizes a miniature star in your backyard tailored to your specific interests. Here are a couple examples of the kinds of string lights that are currently available:

Butterfly String Lighting

Butterflies are one of the more popular string light designs. The beautiful butterfly light covers are each attached to a bulb. Light shines through the opaque covers to display each color. One cool effect used in some butterfly strings is fiber optic technology. Small clear fibers transfer the light beam from the bulb into the butterfly’s wings. Each tiny fiber lights up to produce an amazingly surreal effect. Anywhere from a few to a couple dozen bulbs can come on these strings. They go great in garden atmospheres.

Can (Lamp Shade) Lights

These string lights often resemble mini cans or lamp shades. The tiny shades come in different colors and may be see-through. The materials used in the covers can make a difference in the effect. For instance, an iridescent plastic cover warps the light from the bulb into an array of amazing colors. A metal cover, on the other hand, will only let the plain light from the bulb out through the bottom of the mini shade. Paper or clear plastic covers will let out a soft glow from the bulb allowing the string light to provide light to the surrounding area. Outdoor string lights generally used only for decoration, although some patio string lights are powerful enough to be used as an area light.

Rose Lights

The beauty of the rose can be captured even after the sun goes down. These rose string lights feature a beautiful glowing red rose with realistic leaves surrounding the pod. Plant themed string lights like these often have green colored cords to make them more realistic. Low voltage garden lights such as the ones discussed in this guide use minimal power, thus saving money.