String lights are such a great way to add character and light hearted fun to almost any space – indoor or outdoor. And if you think they’re only for Christmas, you’d be surprised at the ways to enjoy them all year long. They’re an easy way to add a little spark to almost anywhere, and the magical glow makes for a dreamy addition that goes up in minutes. Just string them up, plug them in, then bask in the beauty of twinkle lights.
Brighten up an outdoor space by draping simple string lights above. These duet lights are perfect, because the varying sizes add even more interest.
Want another spin on using lights outdoors? I used the Edison style string lights on my recent porch makeover. It’s amazing just how much light those little bulbs produce! My favorite part about this particular kind is they are commercial grade, so the sockets have a seal that keeps water from getting inside the bulbs (I hate it when that happens!)
Want to kick it up a notch with a little DIY action? Use some black wire globe lights to create a unique chandelier out of branches.
Bring a little cheer to your home office space by clipping up globe string lights above a desk. It gives such a happy vibe, don’t you think?
Those same lights are the kind I use to add a little more light to my somewhat dark kitchen. No worries about putting them up or taking them down – it only takes a matter of minutes.
Want to add more glamour to a small space? Add fairy lights around a mirror for instant impact.
My teenage daughter would LOVE to use this tumblr style idea for hanging up her photos with some traditional white string lights.
And last, but most certainly not least, sometimes more is more. Want to light it up? Then pull out all the stops with all the lights everywhere.
*Thanks to Lights for All Occasions for partnering with me on this post. I was compensated for this content.*
Good morning. I just wanted to say thank you. I really enjoy your blog. You make me smile.
i would love to add the string lights to our newly re- built deck!! a fresh start for an old space! i would love to
win a set of them!$
(ig: iwillbesailing_faster)
Been looking for a fun idea for my back porch! These are perfect! Reminds me of my daughters wedding reception! What a fun way to remember that always!
Love your pictures! I like to use string lights to add character to my high school classroom and so we can keep the fluorescent overhead lights turned off.
I would love to string these outside in the summer and bring them inside to string around a mirror. They add so much romance to any space!
It’s impossible to say which is my fave way to decorate with string lights, because, well, I have this thing for string lights. I adore the way they look and the feelings the lights evoke when strung up in a zigzag pattern across the back yard, or in a barn, my living room, etc. 🙂 It takes me back to my childhood, when l spent summers back on my grandparents farm catching fireflies. Home grown corn, family gatherings, ice cold knee highs from the fridge in my grandfather’s cellar. Treasured memories!
I would love a set for my back porch! They would also be great for the awning of our travel trailer while we are camping!
I love lights strung down a stairwell or a banister that shows over a livingroom.
Hi Gina
My favorite way to show off lights are in mason jars for outside or strung under my patio umbrella! Love your style! Thanks!
Lori Carr
Our living room opens directly to our sunroom and we’re trying to make the latter room a kid friendly space. Hanging these lights up and down the slanted ceiling in there would add just the right touch of whimsy!
These string lights would look adorable at an outside coffee bar for entertaining & parties 🙂 love love love ❤️
I would love to use string lights on our outdoor area that has a fire pit. I’d love to put a table near it with lights overhead!
Would love to hang some across my pool deck!!
My favorite use for string lights is to use them to create some different lighting on a patio/porch. Perfect for date nights on the porch!
I love the look of these lights. I want some to string up in the back yard to extend our fun summer nights.
I would love to hang these in our sunroom. Or even our bedroom or daughters room!!!!
I love the ideas! So far I’ve just used the globe lights on my screened porch. Love them.
(Instagram username: trenalynn) – My husband and I just bought a home, and it has a narrow backyard much like the one in your first photo. We plan to run lights back and forth from the house to the fence, and cannot wait to do it! But man the patio lights are expensive! Do you know the difference between patio lights and christmas lights besides bulb size that causes the disparity in pricing? I have researched and come up with nada!
Thanks for sharing these great tips for stringing lights. I have been dying for some for my new tiny porch, but our Newlywed budget hasn’t had room for any yet. I’ve tried to convince my husband that they would make everything feel more homey :). Thanks for the ideas! Now I’m thinking about hanging them in our bedroom or even the living room…whenever we can afford them 🙂
I hope I win !!! I would use them under my outdoor kitchen patio cover !
I used string lights to fill up an old fireplace that didn’t work anymore!
I love these!!! If I won this giveaway I would give them to my mom. She’s been dreaming of having an amazing outdoor patio and I’ve been wanting to make her one with fabulous lights like these!
I would definately add them as overhead light in my deck. Once we buy a house next year maybe something more permanent like wood poles to help add to the effect and to get them to hang where I would want them to hang.
I need these for my back yard! Great ideas.
I would love to use string lights above my new kitchen island!
I would love to use these around the patio of my new house. We just moved to a new house in the middle of the city and I just want my house to light up what many call a dark spot in the city!
These lights are dreamy. And your porch makeover is adorable! Love the outdoor dining area so much! We’re slowly but surely making our project home our own and I’d love to have lights like these hanging in our little sunroom!
Love keeping up with you! Keep the great ideas coming. You’re inspiring!
I would love to light up my back porch.
I would string them around the pool in my backyard.
My daughters wedding reception would be perfect, or our back deck. I just lighting.
We are having a backyard dinner party soon and these would be perfect!
One way I love to use string lights is to run around the canopy of my beds.
I love this post! I love how just adding some small, simple lights can change the look and feel of a room. My daughter has white lights encased in tulle strung over her bed. Thanks for more great ideas!! I’m going to show my other daughter the twinkle lights/mirror idea 🙂
I love the idea of stringing them up under the deck. I will for sure do this whenever we build again.
My favorite way to use lights is on my three season porch. They really light up those cool summer nights and add so much ambiance to the porch! What a great giveaway. Keeping my fingers crossed. 🙂
Love. I feel like it adds so much personality to a back yard! I’ve always wanted some of these for our backyard, we are about to build our kids a playhouse. How cute would it be to string them around a playhouse patio?!
A wedding….not very original, right? But there is nothing more romantic than lights at a wedding.
i have lights strung in my art room-these would make a great addition-love the ambience~
I love these. My daughter just became engaged and they want to use these little “fairy” lights all over the barn.
I adore string lights and use them often to light up a space I want to photograph. They are always over the mantle, naturally and, in the bay window. Just recently, as my garden began to bloom, I put them into lanterns and bottles placed among shrubs and along the path. The also look wonderful wound around blooming salvia and astilbe! When my husband returned home that first night he said that from the street it becconed like a fairyland garden! Now I plan to photograph the scene. Then ,I’ll have tea in my garden.
Me gustan mucho las luces, es verdad cualquier ocasión es buena para dar chispa a las casas, a la vida!.
I love what you suggested about hanging string lights above a desk in order to brighten a workspace. I think that small, portable lights are great options for decorating for a dinner party or any other special event. If I were to need lights for a party or something, I would contact a reliable seller that has a wide selection of portable lights.