Outdoor Party Lighting Ideas To Decorate an Event

When deciding to hold a festive event or party outside, there are a number of different outdoor party lighting ideas available to help set the type of mood the occasion calls for.

Outdoor String Lights Create Enchanting Backdrops

String lights are the best way to go. They can come as the standard electrical kind, or as solar powered making them easy to set up. There are a wide variety of decorative outdoor string lights that can be used to decorate an outdoor party. They come in miniature pumpkins, hearts, flowers and snowflakes to suit different themes. You can even create your own themed DIY party lights by using string lights and origami paper shades (check out the tutorial on how to create your own cheap outdoor party lighting: DIY Lighting: Paper Origami and Outdoor String Lights).

Using strings with bulbs that are all the same color will add a magical touch to the outside area. The two most popular colors to use to create a magical outdoor environment are blue and white. White bulbs are often used when celebrating an anniversary or holding an outdoor wedding reception.

String lights can be wrapped around railings, posts or tree branches, to create a special effect. A number of them can be hung side by side to create a curtain of lighting, or they can be hung overhead from wall to wall creating a starry night effect.

Have a look at our photo gallery on string lights for inspiration on different ways to use them to decorate a party: L&L Look Book: Beautiful Uses of String Lights [Photo Gallery] 

The Glow of a Flame: Fire Based Outdoor Lighting Ideas For A Party

If the party is going to have a garden or tropical theme, there are a number of torches and candles that you can use to create a festive atmosphere. Citronella tiki torches are a simple way of adding outdoor party lights. These are inexpensive and readily available at large department stores or even hardware centers. These tiki torches are just like any other tiki torches, but they are fueled with citronella oil. This oil is bought separately, and will burn with less smoke and act as an organic insect repellent.

The softer glow of candlelight often creates a subdued, relaxed atmosphere, rather than a boisterous festive one. The great thing about candles is that they can be used alongside accessories such as feathers, polished pebbles, and candle holders to create decorative pieces. Our article on wedding candle centerpieces goes over a whole host of ideas on using candles to light up a space: from lanterns to floating candle centerpiece. Enchanting Wedding Candle Centerpieces – Ideas Collection 

Mixing Lights and Balloons

A unique way of adding backyard lighting for a party would be to use LED balloons. These can be bought online at Amazon, or can be simply made at home. All you need are LED lights that come with a battery and balloons. You can even fill the balloons up with helium. Have a look here for more on using balloon lighting: Balloon LED Lights

photo credits: Wit & Whistle iko