How To Install String Lights On A Deck

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When you desire the beautiful await of stringed lights in your lawn just you have no thought how to hang string lights on a deck, follow these like shooting fish in a barrel DIY steps!

I dearest spending time on our back deck. It's truly a perk to live in a wooded area, enjoying the chirps of birds and squirrels alike. As much as possible nosotros eat evening meals, an occasional weekend breakfast, and savor a summertime cocktail or 2 on our deck.

But lighting in the evening is scarce for our wooded backyard. I wanted to hang string lights, but had no thought how to reach this when we basically only have one solid wall on our deck.

So after researching and gleaning inspiration on how to hang deck lights, I made a programme. On a wing and a prayer, and more trips to our local hardware shop than I care to count … I did information technology! And I love how information technology turned out!

How to Hang String Lights on a Deck

For a patio, hanging string lights is easy … yous can detect alpine shepherd'due south hooks to insert into the grass or bloom beds to achieve the look you want. But a deck that sits a few feet off the basis is another affair entirely!

Offset, I needed some kind of pole to hang the cord lights from, in the areas they wouldn't anchor to the firm. One method of securing deck lighting poles is to ground them into planter containers (even using cement), merely this wasn't a possibility on our deck due to ii congenital-in L-shape benches in the outside corners.

Two things you may or may not know about me: 1) I'm frugal and 2) I'yard not that handy. I didn't want to spend hundreds of dollars on this DIY projection, and it had to exist easy. I can happily say at present that we're almost ii years in, zippo has fallen down, and every one of my solar Edison bulbs still glow every bit brightly as the first dark. I am really proud of what I fabricated!

Helpful notes before you starting time this project:

Following are some helpful notes when you're installing string lights around your deck using this method for making deck poles:

Consider solar lights like I used! You lot'll save on energy costs, and yous won't need to worry about where they will plug in, nor remembering to unplug them.

Decide how loftier you lot want the lights above the outer deck railing. Will they hit someone's head? Exercise they block your view of anything important? You may need to saw your boards a petty shorter, or install the loving cup hooks a little farther down.
Are in that location other considerations similar how you'll continue lights where you may accept an opening, such every bit a set of stairs? That's what I ran into on our deck which you can see below. So, I bought two 27′ strands of solar Edison seedling string lights and started hanging ane string from the house on one side, over to the opening of the stairs, and repeated on the other side with a 2d set. Both cease with the solar panels right at the stairs leading to the backyard. At that place is also a 48′ length if you need a longer length.

Supply List for Hanging Lights around a Deck

I went with inexpensive, pre-cut i″ x ii″ 10 eight′ pine beams. I was picky – pino is knotty so I made sure to get ones without knots on the edges.

Supplies used:

Four 1″x2″x8′ wooden beams (purchase from a hardware shop)
Sandpaper
Spray paint with primer, in the color of your pick (I chose black so it would exist inconspicuous at nighttime)
Loving cup hooks
Deck screws (length will depend on the thickness of your deck railing)
1-two strings of solar Edison lights – see annotation below.

Basic Instructions:

Sand the wooden beams, and then drill a small hole on each for where cup hook will get. Pigment first coat onto the beams and loving cup hooks. Let to dry out, paint second coat. Allow to dry out, and so screw in cup hooks.

Install beams into deck railing using deck screws. Hang lights around the pinnacle, from the cup hooks. Play effectually with the length you wish for them to "swoop." Enjoy all twelvemonth 'round!

If you savor spending time in your backyard, you lot may similar these perfect summertime cocktail recipes: