How To Hang Porch Lights

How To Hang Porch Lights

The Basics

There isn’t a “one size fits all” policy for decorating the porch with outdoor lights. That’s why there are a few factors that you should keep in mind right from the get-go. Not only will the size and the shape of your porch affect purchase decisions, but the dimensions can also influence the lighting pattern.

On that note, I have listed some basic steps that will help you get started with the process. 

Step 1: Thoroughly Measure The Area

Depending on your preference, you may or may not choose to illuminate the entire porch. In case of the former, your task is half done if you already know the dimensions of the porch. But if you choose to light up only a specific area on the porch, I’d strongly recommend getting out the measuring tape instead of relying on rough estimates. 

A quick pro tip: if you’re unsure about the total wattage to go for, measure the square footage and multiply that by 1.5. The resultant number will give you an approximate wattage that’s best suited to illuminate the said area.

Step 2: Draw A Rough Sketch

One of the things that I have found very beneficial while decorating any space with lights is drawing a rough sketch of the area with the light arrangement.

Here, I should mention that you don’t have to be a pro artist; you can simply represent the porch with a few lines and write down the measurements. Likewise, use a combination of curved and straight lines to draw the light patterns. The basic purpose is to create an understandable reference image.

Step 3: Choose The Anchor Points 

Based on the pattern you’re going for, mark the anchor points on the ceiling, railing, or poles with a pencil. This will give you an idea about how to position the lights to facilitate easy access to the power source. For solar power porch lights, make sure that they are fully exposed to the sunlight for charging purposes.

Step 4: Install Screw Eyes/Hooks 

Once you have decided on a pattern and marked the anchor points, it’s now time to drill holes to install screw eyes or hooks as required. If you want the lights to be stretched taut, maintain a short distance between two hooks or screw eyes. Otherwise, increase the distance if you plan to keep them sagged. 

Step 5: Attach The Lights With Carabiners (Optional)

As an optional step, I’d suggest attaching the lights with metal carabiners for reinforced safety. Especially if you live in windy areas and the lights aren’t too heavy, there’s a high chance that the lights will bump into each other or fall on the ground. After all, a little extra security never hurts!

Step 6: Make A DIY Porch Light Pole (Optional)

Although most porches will have some kind of pole or post, it may not be located at the most convenient location to suit your desired lighting pattern. And what better than creating one the DIY way? 

And don’t worry, I won’t make you work too hard for that! But first, allow me to quickly jot down the materials you’ll need:

• 1 large terracotta pot
• 1 small terracotta pot (to fit inside the larger one)
• Thick wooden post or pole (according to the desired width)
• Screw-in hook
• Quick-dry cement
• Paint
• Gardening soil (optional)
• Decorative flowers and stones (optional)

For starters, mark the height you’d like to be the anchor point for the lights and screw on the hook. Next, mix the quick-dry cement in the smaller clay pot by following the instructions on the package. While it’s still wet, place the pole in the cement and ensure that the pole remains centered till the cement completely dries out. 

When the cement is fully dry, carefully place it inside the larger pot. At this point, you can either cover the pots with gardening soil and add flowers and stones or paint them inside out. And voila, your DIY light pole is ready! You may create as many poles as required with this simple technique.

Different Ways To Hang Porch Lights

Going back to my point of lighting patterns, let me now walk you through the different styles of porch lighting. 

1. Straight Lines

One of the simplest yet elegant patterns can be achieved with straight lines. And the best part is you don’t have to restrict the coverage only to the ceiling. Using the railing or poles, the light strings can be extended from one point to the other. Longer strings can be doubled to form horizontal “B” shapes. 

I have extensively used this design to cover the perimeter of my porch. Trust me, nothing else will come in more handy when you want to illuminate the outdoors with minimal effort!

2. V Shape

If you’re planning to base the lighting set up around the porch ceiling, then try out this next pattern. Starting from the center, extend the two long ends of the light string and fasten them to the screw eyes on either side of the porch. 

Not only that, but you can also combine multiple strings in the center point and spread them out to various endpoints all over the porch. This will create a unique canopy look. Alternatively, you can choose to spread out the strings on only one side, i.e., the front or back of the ceiling to create a fan-like structure.

3. X Pattern

Also known as the crisscross pattern of lights, creating this shape is really a breeze. Just bring the light strings in a way so that they form an “X” at the center. This style usually works best when the strings remain taut throughout. Moreover, combining multiple X patterns can create a beautiful diamond-like effect. However, I feel it’s mostly restricted to the ceilings.

4. Zig-Zag Pattern

A zig-zag pattern is a great option if you’re looking to light up a larger area on the porch. The simplest way to achieve this lighting is by placing a long light string or merging smaller strings according to the letter “W”. Plus, you can use it to illuminate the space between more than two consecutive poles on the porch.

5. Scalloped Edge

Scalloped edges are among the most popular lighting techniques for flat surfaces like fences, railings, or walls. This design requires you to form a swag or drape the string after a certain length. My son got this done on our porch railings last year and used two string lights to create parallel scallops.

Offbeat Anchor Points For Hanging Porch Lights

The thing that I like most about porch lights is that their versatility allows users to select different anchor points, which aren’t necessarily restricted to the porch itself. 

For instance, if the porch has two trees on either side, you can use them as natural supports for hanging porch lights on a string. All you have to do is measure the distance, install the hooks and decide on the string length. While taut lights give a structure, sagged strings render a more casual feel.

Other Type Of Porch Lights

Despite being somewhat old-school, lanterns can make for unique outdoor porch lights. And much like pendant lights, the fixture hangs from a chain or rod. Furthermore, there’s a second wall-mounted variety. Unlike the traditional hanging lanterns, these hang from a short chain attached to a holder that’s mounted on the wall.

Owing to their compact structure and versatile use, the wall-mounted lanterns have quickly become popular for exterior walls, decks, patios, and along fences. Similarly, hanging lanterns are used to mark gates, entryways, paths, walkways, etc.

4. Ceiling Fan Lights

Ceiling fans with integrated lights are excellent multi-purpose fixtures, especially during the Texas summer. Although conventional, I have always appreciated how outdoor ceiling fans keep the area adequately ventilated while also providing ample illumination. 

What’s more, they are available in a wide variety of styles and sizes to fit almost every outdoor area. In this regard, the top-rated outdoor ceiling fan lights are built to withstand humidity and moisture for long service life.

5. Track Lighting

Okay, I’ll be honest here- track lightings aren't true-blue hanging lights per se, but their design is close enough to fall in this category. In fact, track lighting can be used to hang pendant fixtures from the ceilings or between two poles.

Styles Of Hanging Lights

1. Traditional

Traditional hanging fixtures tend to suit varied decors and furniture types. These are designed with intricate details and materials like glass and bronze to bring a vintage feel to the porch. Hanging lanterns are mostly made following this style.

On the other hand, rustic styles are more elaborate and are widely used to amp up an otherwise monotonous or plain décor. Keep in mind that some rustic fixtures may have a worn-out look for that classic appearance, which should not be confused for poor quality build.

The craftsman style of hanging light fixtures also come close to the traditional or rustic lights. They are heavy on the artistic aspect and look handmade with seemingly hand-painted finishes.

2. Contemporary

Contemporary hanging fixtures like outdoor pendant lighting are constructed in this style to provide a touch of elegance. Contemporary designs utilize clean lines and simplistic structures to compliment both dark and light color settings and furniture.

Modern hanging lights are a subdivision of the contemporary design, featuring minimalist lines and designs. I’d strongly recommend using them to provide a sense of relief in cluttered spaces or dark backgrounds.

3. Transitional

As the name suggests, transitional fixtures are a compromise between traditional and contemporary or modern styles. I love how they combine the warmth of traditional fixtures and the simplicity of modern lights. The intricate details of the rustic designs are often muted to achieve a clean and bright design.

4. Industrial

The industrial style of hanging fixtures has recently garnered a lot of popularity among homeowners. Unlike the other varieties, these lights are mainly designed for functionality rather than decoration. But that doesn’t stop them from serving as décor pieces. If you’re a fan of metal and exposed elements, then do check out the industrial style of hanging lights.

Making Your Own Porch Lights

Apart from buying string lights or standalone fixtures, you can create your own porch lights with sockets, wires, and bulbs. So, I have put together a small guide to help you pick the right elements for the purpose.

1. Socket Style

A. In Line- adhering to its name, in line sockets sit in line with the rest of the wire. No matter what pattern you’re going for, these sockets are perfect for everything.

B. Suspended- suspended sockets lower bulbs up to 4-inches, much like you’d find in European themed cafes. Wires with suspended sockets are an ideal match for contemporary porch setups.

C. In Line With Copper Shade- in line sockets with copper shades work well for vintage-styled porches. The copper shade, in particular, makes the socket look like an antique lighting element. 

2. Shades Of Guy Wire

As far as the guy wire shades are concerned, you can opt for any color according to your preference. However, here are a few colors that appeal to me the most:

A. Black- black guy wires stand out against darker backdrops to highlight the bulbs. And they create a sharp contrast against light-colored accents and walls. Moreover, black guy wires blend flawlessly with darker surfaces like wrought iron or dark wood railings. 

B. Green- owing to the color, green guy wires naturally compliment any outdoor setting filled with lush greenery. 

C. White- much like their black counterparts, white guy wires are extremely suitable for any porch setting. They are increasingly preferred to carry a versatile color pallet, especially during any occasion or party.

3. Bulb Finishes

Aside from the size, shape, and light color, the finishing of the bulbs also plays an important role in the final pattern. On a side note, I’m only talking about LED bulbs due to their long-lasting and energy-efficient properties. However, you may also try incandescent, fluorescent, CFL, or halogen lights.

A. Clear- clear bulbs are my all-time favorites to enhance any outdoor setting, let alone porches.

B. Opaque- a majority of opaque lights come with colors painted on. So, you can mix and match various colors to curate a fun lighting setup for parties.

C. Satin And Pearl Finishes- the diffused, sophisticated glow of satin and pearl finished bulbs are a perfect addition for ambient lighting. 

Some Other Factors To Ponder On

Before wrapping up the guide and not to the point of scaring you, I thought it would make sense to address some minor challenges associated with porch lighting. 

1. Light Pollution

Outdoor lighting is said to contribute to “light pollution”, which has a negative effect on the environment as well as on your neighbors. To counter this problem, I’d advise buying only those fixtures that come with a “dark sky” or “good neighbor” seal of approval. Such models are specifically made to minimize the ill-impact of artificial lights on nature and wildlife.

2. Bug Attraction

It’s safe to assume that no human is unfamiliar with the phenomena of lights attracting bugs. Furthermore, some lights will attract more bugs than the others. 

A recent study suggests that incandescent lights attract many different bug species, so you’d want to avoid this type. And contrary to popular belief about anti-bug lights, LED bulbs with a warm color temperature work as better bug repellants than the former. 

3. Ensuring Sufficient Clearance Space

The last thing you’d want is the door on your porch colliding with the lights every time you open it. To avoid this hassle, open the door all the way through and mark its arcs on the ceiling or wall. This will give you a clear idea of the distance to be maintained during installation.

Final Words