How to Hang String Lights on a Deck

Being decorative and creative does not mean you have to spend a lot of money. Sometimes the best creations are made when you use few materials and keep it simple. Hanging string lights does not need to be complicated nor does it need to be fancy.

The soothing glow from the lights will handle the fancy part. All you have to do is make sure the hangers are secure and strong. Once that is done, you can enjoy the atmosphere you have created outside your home.

To learn how to hang string lights on your deck, just continue to read our article. It makes a simple task even simpler.

How to Hang String Lights on a Deck

These few steps should have your deck looking great. It should not even take more than a couple of hours to get everything done right.

Step 1 – Gather Your Supplies

You will need good drywall screws, paint or stain, furring strips, nails or hooks, and a set of string lights.

Step 2 – Decide on the Number of Furry Sticks

You do not need more than normal. Some decks are small enough where one will do. Others may only use two or three depending on the size of their deck.

Step 3 – Get the Sticks Ready

Before you place the sticks where they are going to go, make sure to stain or paint them the color of your deck. That way they will blend in and not clash with the colors on your deck.

Let the sticks dry before attaching them to your deck posts.

Step 4 – Attach the Hardware

After the paint or stain has dried, place the hardware on the top of the sticks where you want those lights to sit. You have lots of options to choose from including open hooks, nails, and screws or suction cup hooks. You can even use large picture hangers as well.

Step 5 – Attach the Sticks to the Deck

This is also easy to do and again you have a choice. You can either use nails and a little glue, if you want the sticks to be permanent. Or you can use screws if you don’t.

Either use a Phillips head screwdriver or a nice hammer to attach the sticks in place. Use a level to make sure they are straight before finally tightening the screws, etc.

Step 6 – String Those Lights

Start at the most convenient spot for the plug and outlet. Then string the lights around the furring sticks until you come to the other side where you want the lights to stop.

Add another stick there to secure the lights or simply use a screw or nail to hold the string in place.

Tip: The length of the furring strips, the different hooks and other hardware you use, etc., are all up to your preference, and which ones will provide the most secure and strongest hold.

Pick the ones that will fit your budget and add some color bulbs if you want. This task is all up to your preferences. Even the number of furring strips is up to how you want the lights to hang when you are done.

An Alternative Method or Two

If you do not want to attach the furring strips directly to your deck or if you are renting your home and it is not allowed to make those alterations. There is an alternative method you can turn to achieve the same goal.

Heavy flowerpots that are deep enough will replace the nails or screws. Simply buy enough to hold all the furring sticks you want to use. Then place them in strategic spots inside your deck fencing.

The materials you can use to secure the sticks in place vary but concrete will make sure those sticks never move in high winds. You can use dirt, gravel, or other heavy materials if you do not want to use cement.

Then place your sticks where you want them to go, after you have painted or stained them. Have someone hold them in place until the pot is filled, and the sticks do not move. Next, add your string hangers and string the lights up.

A second alternative would be to hang the string lights directly onto the deck railing. All you would need material-wise would-be cup hooks large enough to hold the wire and the right location for those hooks.

It only takes a few minutes to screw the hooks into place and hang the lights.

Some Final Words

String lights are some of the easiest lights to install. Just make sure you get the plug on the right end of the deck, so you do not have far to go to the outlet. Then make sure the string has some slack, so the wind won’t tear them down.

Once you are done, you can enjoy your deck at any time day or night.