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You may be familiar with some of the common bulb types often seen on decks and patios.
The Spruce
There are also lights with small bulbs, or fairy lights that provide an even glow.
We loved the bright, warm light they emitted, creating the perfect ambiance on our back porch.
To turn them on, you simply have to plug them in.
PHOTO: The Spruce
However, the entire installation process was simple and completed in 30 minutes.
The lights come with zip ties to easily attach to anywhere you want.
Because of this, we think these lights are best under covered patios in case of rain or snow.
PHOTO: The Spruce
However, they remained beautiful and bright when exposed to the elements in our testing.
They also fared well when we had to take them down to treat the deck and then re-hang them.
On a particularly sunny evening after a nasty week of rain and wind, we turned them on again.
Voila, gorgeous lights with no problems.
We found that the lights were heavier than expected, with the setup process requiring more than one person.
This also limits where and how you hang them.
They also have a bubble effect within the bulb to create a beautiful twinkling light as they shine.
We prefer using clips (like these) no matter where you choose to hang your lights.
However, in our experience, broken bulbs and strings are common issues.
We love that they come neatly packaged with twist ties.
The 17 vintage-style Edison bulbs are as practical as they are pretty.
They’re made of attractive yet durable shatterproof plastic.
We love that these string lights don’t require electricity, so you might place them just about anywhere.
Although you’ve got the option to’t connect multiple strands, they are available in a longer,48-foot strand.
Each strand includes 99 feet of lighting with 300 micro LED bulbsperfect for decorating large outdoor areas.
The small lights and thin wire make these extremely easy to set up anywhere.
We also recommend being careful when putting these lights away because they can become tangled easily.
After testing one strand, we liked them so much that we splurged on another to complement our space.
Theres so much to love about these outdoor string lights.
We loved the warm tone (it’s almost orange), but cool white lovers should steer clear.
These lights were relatively easy to hang as well.
There’s a loop above each bulb to loop around a nail.
Hanging them this way also ensures they’re nice and sturdy when impacted by inclement weather.
Additionally, the plastic bulbs are impact-resistant, so they wont shatter if theyre ever dropped.
This easy-installation process won us over during testing.
The battery console for the Koopower lights is water- and dust-proof, allowing you to place it outdoors.
The lights only come with one button to sync them to a compatible app on your smartphone.
We especially got a kick out of changing them up with the seasons and sunset hours.
The app also suggests certain schedules for different colors to come on at different hours of the day.
The cord length will also be a determining factor for your location, too.
PHOTO: The Spruce / Eric Brockob
Always measure the patio or deck that you are trying to light before looking at options.
Also, plugs on string lights are often not weatherproof, so they must be covered at all times.
These bulbs offer the longest lifespan and best energy savings of any bulb key in.
PHOTO: The Spruce
Other bulb types include battery-powered and solar lights.
Neither require electricity but may have a shorter life than an option that’s always plugged in.
The advantage of these bulb types is the absence of unattractive wires in your outdoor space.
You dont have to settle for a steady glow when it comes to outdoor lighting, either.
This can become a fire hazard if theyre located near any flammable object.
We recommendturning off your string lightswhen theyre not in use or at least overnight.
Freda continues that leaving your string lights on overnight will also shorten their life span.
“We usually recommend around a 3-5 hour window from sunset until whatever time the person chooses.
The string light timers help make this process very automatic,” she says.
The Spruce / Heather Adams
Why Trust The Spruce?
Our Experts:
Energy Saver,Energy.gov.
PHOTO: The Spruce / Eric Brockob
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PHOTO: The Spruce / Dena Ogden
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PHOTO: The Spruce
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A three to five hour window from sunset onward is recommended for the lifespan of your lights.The Spruce / Heather Adams
