Add the finishing touch to your garden with the warm, ambient glow of vintage style festoon lights. Make sure you achieve your desired lighting look by hanging it right the first time, following the steps below. There are a few things to consider before you reach for the toolbox and get out the ladders. Taking the time to plan and prepare will avoid any mistakes that need rectifying further down the line. You can enjoy your stylish lighting solution sooner by learning how to hang festoon lights.
How to Hang Festoon Lights
The guide below is the common steps for hanging festoon lights.
Placement
If you need your lights to provide actual lighting rather than just being for show, you will need to have them close to the intended seating area. Lights should be out of reach of pets and children to avoid any breakages. Strong winds could also damage the lights so hang lights in an area protected from the weather where possible to extend the life of your festoon lights. Festoon lights are very on trend, and there are hundreds of ideas available for inspiration for where to hang your lights for maximum style and practicality.
Power Source
For solar-powered lights, you will need a point to place the solar panel where it will capture the most light during daylight hours. For battery-powered lights, remember to place the battery pack somewhere that is easily accessible so you can change the batteries. If your lights require a plug socket, you will need to make sure you can reach the plug and the cable is hidden. This may require an outdoor plug socket to be fitted by a professional electrician. This is usually a straightforward process, providing a convenient power source for outdoor heating, machinery, and speakers, so it can be a great investment for the garden.
Fixings
Consider where you will need to place fixings for the lighting and purchase enough fixings to take the weight of your lights and for the length of lights you need. Fixings are available in different colors or can be painted beforehand with metal paint to add to your overall design. For each hanging area, you will need fixings that are suitable for the material:
- Wood: Q hooks attached with a wood screw, or screw-in Q hooks
- Brick: Q hooks attached with a masonry anchor screw, or screw supplied with raw plugs for brick
- Other (e.g. metal): consider adhesive command hooks if the surface is not suitable for drilling or screws
Preparation and Planning
Plan and agree in advance with any other decision-makers where the festoon lights will hang. Decide how many fixings are required and where the fixings will need to be placed. The fixings will help to achieve your effect and use enough to make sure the lighting is secure. Mark out where each fixing is going beforehand. This will avoid any last-minute changes, creating unnecessary drill holes and extra work. Use a tape measure for even and level spacing of each fixing point. If the lights are going along a fence or wall, check each fixing is the same height above the ground. This will ensure a professional finish to your lighting.
How to Hang Festoon Lights under Pergola
For a pergola or any other wooden structure, simply follow the key preparation points above. When you’re satisfied with your design, screw your Q hooks into the wood by hand or using a screwdriver. Hang your lights by pushing the wire through into the circular part of the hook. Turn on your lights and you’re good to go!
How to Hang Festoon Lights on a Fence
You have flexible ways to hang festoon lights on a fence. If your fence has a rail, you can wrap it around the rail. If your fence is made of wood or brick, you can hang the festoon lights on the fence using screws, nails, and hooks. If your fence has posts, you can attach the festoon lights to them and use zip ties to secure the lights to the posts.
How to Hang Festoon Lights in Garden
For a mesmerizing canopy effect, you can utilize trees, sheds, and fencing to act as fixing points. However, depending on the area size and layout, you may need to invest in a festoon lights pole. This will act as a fixing point to keep lights high and be a beautiful retro feature for the garden.
How to Hang Festoon Lights on Gutter
A gutter can act as a perfect fixing point for outdoor lighting and is probably the easiest way to hang festoon lights. Purchase specific gutter lighting clips that clip over the edge of the guttering. Fixing to guttering also avoids permanent holes in fences or walls. Simply attach the gutter clips at regular intervals and thread the lighting wire through for a pretty, ethereal look.
How to Hang Festoon Lights to Brick
Festoon lights along a brick surface take the most preparation and a power drill but are still easily achievable. A brick surface should not deter you from installing festoon lights:
- Use a masonry drill bit that is slightly smaller in diameter than your screw.
- Set a stop on the drill (as festoon lights are not particularly heavy, you do not need a large screw for the fixings, around one inch should be sufficient).
- Keeping the drill level, drill a hole into the middle of a brick.
- If your screw type requires a raw plug, tap this into the hole using a hammer.
- Place the fixing over the drill hole so it is aligned, and screw the fixing into place. Leave the screw loose at this point in case of any adjustments or changes needed.
- When you have placed all your fixings, thread your festoon lights into place and check you are happy with the placement.
- If the fixings do not need adjusting, tighten each fixing fully into place.
If you’re not certain about your placement or like to change things up regularly, you can consider adhesive command hooks if your surfaces are smooth enough. This means you can check and perfect your placement before you install the more permanent fixings. Adhesive hooks can also be a suitable alternative if you are unable to use screws. On outdoor surfaces, exposed to different temperatures and weather, the adhesive can become less effective over time. It is recommended to purchase some spares to replace them when needed. As with any household task, it can help to get a friend involved and approach with plenty of time available to give yourself the best chance of success.
