How to decorate with outdoor string lights

4 September 2023

Outdoor string lights aren't just for Christmas any more – they're perfect for year-round decoration! Whether you hang them in the front or back garden, outdoor string lights can make any space look magical. Here are our best tips on how to transform your outdoor space with smart light. 

Festavia string lights come in three sizes: 8 metres (26.2 feet) with 100 lights, 20 metres (65.6 feet) with 250 lights and 40 metres (131.2 feet) with 500 lights. This means that you can decorate any space, big or small, with outdoor string lights. 

Hanging outdoor string lights on trees can add a colourful backdrop to your space without overwhelming it. It's particularly effective in larger outdoor spaces where the trees are a bit further away from your seating area. 

To create a unique effect, only wrap the outdoor string lights around the tops or even just the bottoms of the trees. Because Festavia comes in a long, 40-metre (131.2-foot) length, you have plenty of lights for even large trees. If you don’t have trees, any large bushes or other foliage will work.

Instead of hanging outdoor string lights horizontally, wrap them around vertical poles near your seating area. Festavia string lights were designed to look especially beautiful when placed on Christmas trees, so you’ll get the same effect when wrapping them around any vertical object. 

Make sure that you follow the same steps as when putting Festavia string lights on a Christmas tree.

If you have a covered seating area in your front or back garden, you can hang Festavia along the eaves of the roof. There are two ways to hang them this way: you can install hooks along the beams or roof, or you can wrap them around the support structure.

When using hooks, make sure that you account for any slack in the outdoor string lights. Letting them hang down a bit can add a romantic feel, but note that you'll need to measure for the extra length required.

Once installed, string lights can transform your outdoor space with light – but you may want to camouflage their cables so they don't detract from your overall aesthetic.

• Tuck them away: Running the cables along siding? Tuck them behind one of the slats. Easy! 

• Use zip ties: Zip tie the cables along the underside of a railing or behind a pole to secure them in place – just be sure to place the zip ties where they're not too noticeable.

Festavia string lights are just like any Philips Hue product, so they work alongside all your other smart lights. This means that you can control your outdoor string lights in tandem with other outdoor lights – and create an outdoor space that works in harmony!

Philips Hue outdoor lights come in all shapes and sizes, so you can personalise your lighting. Whether you add path lights, spotlights or wall lights, you can coordinate the look and then set a scene across the whole space.

The Philips Hue app also features special recommended scenes for outdoor lights that offer highly saturated colours and bright light so you can get the perfect amount of colour and brightness for the space.