4 Creative Outdoor Lighting Ideas

Whether you favor ethereal lanterns or dramatic torches, candlelight emits a warm, gorgeous glow at the strike of a match.

What you need to know: Candles can be used just about anywhere, but keep safety in mind. When hanging candles from trees, place them in deep containers so that the wicks are a few inches lower than the rims; this will prevent sparks and flames from blowing out. The handles of the containers should be made of wire and be long enough to keep flames about 12 inches away from leaves and branches. As for torches, it’s not a good idea to use them when kids or pets are present. Reserve them for adults-only gatherings. Candles and torches shouldn’t be left outside; before bringing them in, make sure they’re fully extinguished.

The Lights Pictured

Torches (in ground): Stainless steel; easy to stick in place. Fill with lamp oil (sold at home-improvement stores). Unfortunately, this item is no longer available.

Large white lantern (on ground): Iron punched with tiny pinholes in a floral design. Season 26-inch-tall lantern with candles (included), $54, allmodern.com.

Hanging lanterns (in tree ): Rustic rope detail, wire handles, colored glass. Jar lanterns, $20 for three (yellow, green, blue), uncommongoods.com.

Small lanterns (on left end of table ): 8½ inches high; tealights fit perfectly inside. Gardman Riviera metal-and-glass lanterns. Unfortunately, this item is no longer available.


Looking for more fun summer party ideas? Find creative themes, menu ideas, entertaining shortcuts, and outdoor décor tips.

With these fixtures, you’ll get the ambience of candles without worrying about gusts of wind or dripping wax.

What you need to know: Many lights come with alkaline, lithium, nickel cadmium (NiCD), or nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, which “you can recharge hundreds of times,” says Tom Reddy, a coauthor of the Handbook of Batteries ($200, amazon.com). How long they’ll last before you have to juice them up again varies, so check labels. And remember to plan accordingly: NiCD- and NiMH-powered lights need to be charged overnight before use, whereas alkaline and lithium batteries don’t require preparation. Make sure to bring the lights inside at the end of the party: Batteries can leak and short if they get wet.

The Lights Pictured

Tall pillars (in red lantern and on tray ): Real wax exterior, realistic flicker. Flameless 10-inch-high pillar (two D batteries, not included), $25, batteryoperatedcandles.net.

Pillars: Citrus candles (four AAs, not included), $10 to $12 each, batteryoperatedcandles.net.

Votives: For a similar product, $6, oogalights.com.

*All lights come with batteries included unless otherwise specified.

Use an outdoor lamp to brighten up a buffet, or wrap twinkling strands around a column. These options can withstand rain and sweltering summer heat.

What you need to know: When stringing up lights, use plastic hooks. “Metal nails and staples can puncture the wires,” says John Drengenberg, consumer-affairs manager at Underwriters Laboratories (UL), which provides product-safety certifications. Look for the red holographic UL seal on the tag: It ensures that the lights were rigorously tested for outdoor safety. To hide cords, duct-tape them to the ground and cover with an outdoor rug, or tuck them under bushy garden plants. Electric string lights can stay outside for up to three months; store them indoors for the winter and check for frayed wires before bringing them out next season.

The Lights Pictured

Oblong string lights (in greenery): Patio light string, $90 for 54 feet, sivallighting.com; holds 24 bulbs (95 cents each), sold separately from the same vendor.

Round string lights (hanging from pergola): Paper party string lights, $17, worldmarket.com.

See more outdoor string lights here.

These eco-friendly models contain solar panels (either on top or inside) that gather energy during the day and automatically turn the fixtures on as darkness falls.

What you need to know: Solar lights contain either nickel cadmium (NiCD) or nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries and can be left outside all year long. Bear in mind: Solar lights last about four hours at a time, so it’s possible that they will start to fade before your guests do. They come in a variety of options, from path lights to hanging lanterns. To maximize efficiency, place the lights in the sunniest location you can find for at least a few hours during the day. Be sure to clean the solar panels regularly with a barely damp cloth.

The Lights Pictured

Large flowerpot (left of bench): Doubles as an ice chest or, when topped with a piece of glass, a side table. Lighted resin planter, $148, backyardcity.com.

Hanging lanterns (in greenery): Last an impressive six hours; various shapes and colors. Moonlight weather-resistant nylon lanterns, $19 to $27, gardenbasket.com.

Mason jars (on ground): Made of light-diffusing frosted glass; watertight. For a similar product, $27, glowsource.com.