Ask Jennifer Adams: Ideas for hanging outdoor light strings

Q:

I have owned some string lights for a year and still haven't hung them over my deck or patio because I can't figure out how to connect them to the house and the deck. We don't have high railings, so we'd need some sort of poles, but we don't think that would look very nice. Do you have any ideas?

- J.
A: This is a great question. Outdoor lights add a festive touch and beautiful atmosphere to backyards. Here are several ways to make it work.

I like to use strings of lights to create a "roof." Like a canopy or tent, a deck or patio underneath becomes a cozy alcove or room inside the larger space of your yard.

Look past your deck out into your yard. Do you have a tree someplace? Trees, especially large ones, are a strong focal point for any yard. Anchor one end of three to five light strings to the tree or a large branch. Attach the other ends to your house, with the center string over the center of your patio and the other strings equally spread outward a little past the patio edge.

No tree? Or is it really far away? Buy or build a trellis as the anchor for the light strings. This trellis can also be a focus, and can act as a "doorway" to the rest of your yard. Place it off the deck and into your yard a bit, either centered to focus on your deck or off-center in another area that makes sense. You could also build a very simple trellis at one or two corners of your deck. Or just use a four-by-four with a top piece added so it looks like a column instead of a pole.

With outdoor lighting, more is more. To create additional interest, outline pathways and other areas of your yard with different types of lighting.

Jennifer Adams is a designer, author, and TV personality. To contact her: AskJennifer@JenniferAdams.com

@JenniferAdams www.jenniferadams.com