Festoon lighting is the perfect choice for creating an ambience in your garden all year round. The plastic casing of the LED bulbs keeps them in top condition in all weather types, giving your outer areas an extra touch of light during the summer months or a festive edge throughout the winter. Traditionally constructed from glass, festoon lighting used to be known for being unsustainable, expensive, and damage-prone. However, after a thorough modernisation, festoon lighting is now more practical and affordable, enabling you to add outdoor lighting to your garden with only simple upkeep to ensure consistently beautiful results.

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What is festoon lighting?

Also known as outdoor fairy lights or party lights, festoon lights consist of large round bulbs traditionally found on garlands and wreaths or hung during festive or celebratory occasions. With its surge in popularity, festoon lighting is used more frequently today, particularly within outdoor spaces.

Given their initial purpose, “festoon” derives from the Latin word “festum”, meaning “feast”, particularly relevant when considering how festoon lighting was used regularly to illuminate banquets and parties. Interestingly, “festoon” refers to how the lights should be hung loosely,  creating custom shapes and designs.

In fulfilling their festive functions, festoon lights are usually multi-coloured or warm white to create a homely, wholesome atmosphere. Yet, their designs can be varied and adapted to suit different decors and tastes. So, whether you want to experiment with a contemporary look or give your garden a traditional feel, Dusk Lighting has the perfect festoon lighting for you.

How much festoon lighting do I need?

The amount of outdoor garden festoon lights you need depends on numerous factors. Firstly, consider the size of your garden and how illuminated you want the space to be. You should then decide how you wish to display your festoon lights. Traditionally, party lights are hung in particular patterns and shapes, from criss-cross and zig-zag to V-shaped and square designs. Alternatively, you might opt for something more custom and contemporary if this is more convenient for your space.

Our current range of fairy lights differs in lengths between 4050 mm and 7350 mm, helping you to find a size your garden can accommodate. For larger areas, the Festival Connect Series from our Limelight Festoon and String Lighting collection features extension leads, making installing several rope lights and enhancing illumination levels easier.

Similarly, as outdoor festoon lights are mains powered, an extension lead or a UK plug 3-metre lead allows you to craft your lighting display even with some distance between your lit area and power sockets.

How to attach festoon lighting

From patios to pergolas or styling your lights around your garden trees, how to suspend your festoon lighting will vary depending on your approach. While some designs may sound easier than others, we have created a step-by-step guide to get your garden looking its best sooner rather than later!

Tools and Equipment

Before installing your outdoor lights, you will need:

• Festoon lights
• An outdoor extension cord
• An electric or manual drill
• A pencil
• A tape measure
• Zip ties
• Metal hooks

The above equipment is required if you are positioning your fixing points within 8 metres of each other. Measurements that exceed 8 metres will also require a wire cutter and string light suspension kit.

While many gardens will have large trees or other forms of tall supports, yours may not. If this is the case and you want to add support systems for your festoon lights, you will need:

• Wooden posts (up to 3m)
• Nails
• A Hammer
• Weights to hold the posts in place

You will also need a ladder if you plan to hang your lights at a height. Always ensure your ladder is set up correctly before using it.

Step 1: Choose a hanging pattern

• Once you have chosen your favourite festoon lights, remove them from the packaging and decide the pattern you want to shape them into. Common choices are zig-zag or square designs; you should select the most practical design for your garden.
• Roughly shape them into your chosen pattern on the ground and identify appropriate fixing points by observing any trees, fences or areas of your home’s exterior walls.
• If potential fixing points are minimal, gauge areas of your garden that can accommodate wooden posts.
• Do not rely on furniture or other decorative accessories as fixing points; these can create hazards and decrease the overall effect.

Step 2: Create your fixing points

• When confident about your chosen fixing points, carefully drill a hole and secure a metal hook in each one. 
• Ensure all fixing points are closed and secure to keep the wire in position during windy conditions.
• If appropriate, feed a stainless steel support wire through each fixing point. 

Step 3: Add your lights

• To attach your outdoor lights, use zip ties to secure the wire to the metal hooks of your fixing points.
• If your fixing points sit more than 8 metres apart, attach your lights’ wire to your security wire using zip ties.
• Alternatively, our range of festoon lights is designed to simplify the attachment process. The Eglo Vignanello Hanging Pendant has a built-in hook to accommodate a zip tie before securing it to your support wire.
• Secure the power cord to an appropriate surface to minimise hazards and create a tidy finish.

Step 4: Fasten the LED bulbs into place

• While many outdoor fairy lights will come with already fitted bulbs, others might require you to do this manually.
• In a clockwise direction, screw each bulb into a socket until it is tight. Any bulbs that remain loose will be prone to weather damage.

Step 5: Enjoy your outdoor fairy lights!

• Fit the plug into the main power socket and turn on your lights.
• Check each individual bulb is lit and that all wiring is securely in place.
• Turn the power off to make any necessary adjustments.

How to suspend festoon lighting without support points

Finding the perfect place to hang your outdoor fairy lights may seem difficult without trees or conventional support points. With a touch of DIY and extra creativity, you can hang your lights stunningly, bringing a new sense of warmth and character to your garden.

Pergola or Sheltered Patio

Take full advantage of your pergola or sheltered patio by securing cup hooks to the underside of your frame. Positioning one hook per metre allows you to customise your party lights into many designs. However, you may want to line your lights to match other architectural aspects of your space for a cohesive look. Once you have decided on your patterning or design, place the wire of your lights in the cup hooks.

Fences

Use cup hooks to attach wooden posts of up to 3 metres to your fence; less sturdy fences would benefit more from shorter measurements. Leave approximately 2.5m between each post; however, certain light patterns, such as V or X shapes, may require more space. Secure your wooden posts with a drill and screws to keep them in place.

Custom Building

Some gardens may require you to build your fixing point from scratch using wooden posts and keeping them in place with weights.

If the area you intend to light is particularly big, you will need more posts. Although festoon lights are relatively lightweight, your structure will be robust and wind-resistant with more components. You may also use metal tubing and clamps to keep everything in place.

The beauty of custom building your fixing points is the endless freedom you have when designing the finish of your lights, giving your garden a truly personalised, one-of-a-kind feel.

How to attach fairy lights to a wall

Giving your home’s interior a festive ambience has never been easier than with your favourite set of fairy lights! Before attaching your fairy lights to a wall, ensure you have enough to create your chosen design and that they can reach a plug socket if sourced by the main power; battery-powered party lights should be able to be hung from wherever you wish.

You can attach your fairy lights to the wall using adhesive hooks. Particular products are damage-free, allowing you to stick them to your walls without leaving any markings once you have removed them. The amount of adhesive hooks you need will depend on how you arrange your lights.

Decorative ideas may vary between shaping your fairy lights into a heart or star to give your wall a prominent feature, lining your room with lights where each wall meets or where the ceiling and walls join, bordering a mirror or hanging your lights loosely around the entirety of your room.

Adhesive hooks may not be required for other designs, such as wrapping your lights around a curtain pole, accentuating decor or illuminating your bed’s headboard.

However you choose to light a room with fairy lights, only you know how to craft them best to suit your home and style!

Purchase your favourite festoon lighting from Dusk Lighting!

At Dusk Lighting, our range of fairy lights is extremely versatile. While our range of Outdoor and Garden Festoon Lighting adds stunning ambience to your home’s exterior, our bedroom range maximises the effects of your indoors. No matter how and where you choose to install your party lights, we are certain they will be the perfect addition to bringing fun and festivities to your house this season!

Browse our brilliant range of festoon lighting at Dusk Lighting today and qualify for Free Mainland Delivery On Orders Over £59!

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