We’ve all been there, spending hours in the garden doing a number of things one after another — planting, weeding, running in and out of the house to our children — and just as we think about sitting down to enjoy a few relaxed moments outdoors and sip a cold, refreshing drink, it gets dark.
But, hey, it doesn’t have to be this way. You can enjoy some quite moments outdoors whenever you want. Simply install festoon lights in the garden to effortlessly transfer it into a warm, inviting space.
Festoon lights are also the perfect choice for many a special occasion. Whether it is outdoor parties, family get-togethers, barbeques, or outdoor dinners, festoon lights can help you create just the right kind of ambience.
If you’ve ever wondered what festoon lights are or how to choose them, we’ve got you covered. In this buying guide, we’ll cover:
What are festoon lights?
Why go with festoon lights?
Where to hang festoon lights?
How to install festoon lights?
How to pick the right kind of light bulb for your festoon lights?
What is the difference between standard voltage and low voltage?
Six quick, simple buying tips
Sounds good? Let’s dive in.
What are festoon lights?
Festoon lights are also known as party lights or string lights. Simply put, festoon lights are strings of hanging light bulbs or globes hung from two structures (such as poles, beams, posts, etc.). The word ‘festoon’ originally describes garlands and wreaths hung at banquets and celebrations. These lights lend an aesthetic appeal to an outdoor or even indoor area and are also a perfect choice for pairing with any theme.
They are commonly found throughout outdoor areas in cafes, pubs, breweries, and music festivals. You may even find them suspended between city alleyways. Nevertheless, festoon lights are also suitable for around the home in the garden or backyard or on the balcony. You can also use them indoor if you want.
Festoon lights feature small bulb sockets that can hold different types of bulbs. This in turn gives you option for using whichever type of bulb — for instance, Edison or LED light bulbs — for a personalized look.
Another good thing about festoon lighting is that when one bulb on the strings stops functioning, the rest stay lit. As you can guess, this makes maintaining them very easy. All you have to do is swap out the light bulb that has stopped working.
Why go with festoon lights?
Festoon lights are a great choice for decorative purposes. Since lighting makes a world of difference when you’re hosting a special event or entertaining guests, consider installing festoon lights to create an ambient setting in your garden or backyard.
Here are some of the main reasons why you should go with festoon lights.
Atmosphere
These lights add a warm, inviting ambience to any space, indoor or outdoor. Plus, the amount of light that it produces is perfect for an outdoor function. You can hang them up in your backyard or garden to lend the space a warm, intimate feel. On the other hand, if you wish to create a modern and stylish look to an indoor space, hang them down a wall.
Easy to install
The fixture is extremely flexible and allows you to set them up wherever you want. Since the globes easily screw into the socket attached to the fixture, you can easily change bulbs when needed.
Suitable for all kinds of occasions
Festoon lights are suitable for all kinds of occasions, such as an anniversary, outdoor wedding, family get-together, outdoor party, etc. You can even use them inside the house if you want to create a stylish, modern look.
Available in different varieties
Festoon lights are available in a number of varieties, with the two most common ones being hanging and flush.
The hanging style features bulbs hanging from a short cable attached to a main cord.
In the second style, the bulbs don’t hang from a short cable. Instead they flush against the festoon lighting cable without any hanging.
