Decorating your yard and patio with string lights may seem like a daunting task. Using the correct lights and the right technique can make your job a lot easier to do.

Maybe the first and most important thing to do is to check to see that your lights are UL listed and approved for outdoor use. Those light strings that are marked for indoor use only should never be used outdoors. Any time you use lights not designed for outside usage,  you take a chance that something will short out and potentially cause a fire.

Probably the best place to start decorating your backyard with patio string  lights will be the bushes and shrubs around your house if you have any. Mini led type lights would be a better choice over C7 or C9 lights. All three kinds of string lighting can be used, but minis are a little more understated.

Putting lights on bushes is fairly easy and straight forward. Simply begin by draping the mini string lights so that you can maximize the coverage without over doing it. You might even want to try an “S” shaped pattern. You want to subtly draw attention not make the bush glow bright enough to be seen from space.

Led mini net lights are another option to try for decorating your yard with patio string lights. They are what they sound like,a series of lights laid out in a pattern like a fish net. For ease of installation and removal this type of light would be the best bet. If you want to make more intricate patterns then I would suggest that you use the mini string lights instead.

If you don’t have bushes, but you do have trees that’s okay. Obviously low trees work the best, especially if you are afraid of heights or don’t want to climb a ladder. Start at the bottom and work up. Don’t forget to decorate the limbs and leaves. Try to use a random pattern for the best coverage.

If you have a landscaping border around the tree, you might want to consider using a rope light to outline the border. Maybe a different color than what is in the tree to add an accent.

With the right stakes and clips you could outline any sidewalks that you have. Rope lights would probably work best for this application. You might want to see if you can find rope lights that blink or have a rolling pattern to them.

The use of patio string lights is a great way to add color and highlights to your yard. The best part is that if you don’t like the look, you simply remove the lights, move them around or use a different color to get the look that you want.