These are the homes that everyone in the neighborhood knows by the lights that they install every holiday. At Christmas, strands of multicolor lights adorn every tree and bush in their yard and their windows are framed in blinking red and greens as well. The lawns are typically filled with decorative lighting pieces such as reindeer, elves and even Santa himself blinking and flashing to the delight of neighborhood children.

Christmas isn’t the only holiday that homeowners can brighten their year with outdoor lights to celebrate. Many homeowners choose to use outdoor lighting at practically every holiday, from Halloween to Easter.  The large variety of lawn figurines that light up and correspond to these holidays has only spurred the popularity of these holiday lights.

There are other types of outdoor decorative lights that are used for entertaining but are not permanent fixtures. These are available at party supply stores and many big box retailers. These lights can be used for the event and then put away until time for the next party.

Party light options include tiki torches to decorate luau themed parties and for use at pool parties. These provide large amounts of light that can be dimmed by lowering the wick. Many tiki torches also contain insect repellent to help keep mosquitoes away from the party.

String lighting is another option for party lights that can be installed for temporary use. These can be found with many different styles of lighting covers such as birthday candle shapes, martini glasses, pink flamingos and many others. These lights can be strung up between trees to provide a festive touch to the party and then stored for the next party.

Candles are also an option for outdoor party lights. When used, they should be encased in safety votive cups to insure that they are not a fire hazard. These can be set on tabletops for light to eat by or spaced around patio and deck ledges to provide lighting.

Tea lights placed in the bottom of paper bags can be used to light pathways. The bags can have decorative designs cut in them before they are positioned with their candle. Many outdoor parties use these to light the edges of walkways.

Outdoor decorative lighting can mean much more than lighting the landscape for safety and security. It also includes the use of vibrant and stunning lighting options for holidays and festivities that deserve to be well lit.

-Sharon Chapman