Tree Lighting is a Work of Art: Ten Ways to Use Outdoor Hanging Tree Lights

Tree Lighting is a Work of Art: Ten Ways to Use Outdoor Hanging Tree Lights

Why keep your yard in the dark? It’s time to light it up!

If you’re looking for inspiration for some outdoor hanging tree lights at your San Diego home, we’ve got the perfect guide prepared for you.

 

Basics of Outdoor Lights

When discussing the fine art of tree lighting, there are two types to consider. They are uplighting and downlighting.

Uplighting, is the technique used to shine light into the tree. Light fixtures are often at ground level, angle upwards. This gives luminance to the tree, brightening the branches to highlight their intricate structures.

Downlighting does the opposite, casting light towards the ground. The light fixtures are fastened high above, usually in the trees themselves. This offers more light for the ground area and has the ability to uncover some unique shapes in the shadows, almost like moonlight.

Putting Them Together

You can use a combination of uplights and downlights with your trees to create stunning fixtures.

Be sure to play around with the angle and spread of the light source to get picturesque dynamics. Also, consider using colored filters on the lights to enhance the mood, either bold like a vibrant blue, or something soft like a dim, pastel yellow.

Taking the time and attention to properly set up your outdoor hanging tree lights will really pay off. You can discover some intricate highlights and shadows, or create full-on silhouettes on pathways, on your plants and trees, or on outdoor walls.

Please note, artificial lights can emit a lot of heat, use caution when hanging them near live plants and trees.

Top Ten Uses of Outdoor Hanging Tree Lights

Let’s move on to some ways that you can really make your yard pop!

Here are some suggestions that might inspire your creativity. Pick out some you like and see how you might be able to bring them to life in your home.

A Canopy of Stars

There’s something special about a tree that’s full of tiny, twinkling lights. It’s like a nest of fireflies.

For this effect, it’s best to use a tree with a great, spreading canopy. Something like an oak tree, or even a willow tree, would do nicely.

Using outdoor lighting, weave the little lights in and out of the branches. You’ll want to spread them out a decent amount to mimic real stars, too clustered and it starts to look like a burning ball.

Enlightened Bushes

A prickly bush can be a real pest when traversing the backyard in the dark. Instead, kill two birds with one stone and bring some light to the problem.

Using small, glittering lights, weave them in and out of the many branches of your bush.

The ingenious use of light here is that the branches of a bush are so plentiful and varied. This gives a lot of different space for the light to dance and bounce off from. It’s a real treat for the eyes.

Lighted Décor

Why invest time and money into your yard décor if you’ll only be able to see it half of the time?

Designing lighting for your decorations is a great way to ensure your artistic tastes can be enjoyed at any time of the day.

Wrap them in lights or cast them with a spotlight so they can be seen in the dark. You can totally transform your décor with light by highlighting some features while keeping others in the shadows!

Climbing Up, Up, Up!

Lights can also be a decoration all on their own!

This tip is especially good if there’s a section of your yard you’d like to wall off.

To do this lighting technique, string a clothesline between two trees. Then, dangle string lights from the top so that they hang down like vines.

You can space them apart however you’d like, but we recommend between half a foot to a full foot for the best appearance.

Wrapped Around

This tip works great for tree trunks and poles in your yard.

Wrap a string of twinkling lights around the object, twisting it around upwards as you carry along. It’s a fun way to light up the area, and point out any poles that you don’t want people running into.

Use caution though, tightly wrapped lights close to the trunk can be harmful to some plants and trees.

Tis the Season

Ever wish you could use your holiday decorations year-round? Well, those little dangling lights that look like ice dripping off a roof don’t have to hibernate ’til winter!

Without all the other, themed decorations around, these outdoor string lights can be quite elegant on their own. Use them sparingly on your patio and you’ll be all set.

Focal Spotlight

If there’s one way to make a statement, it’s with a spotlight.

Have an ornate outdoor decoration you don’t want anyone to miss, like a water fountain or a statue? Make sure all eyes are drawn to it as soon as you enter the area.

Blast that beauty with a bright, full spotlight.

Draped Fabric

Do you know what goes well with lights? Fabric.

A light, flowing fabric gently waving in the breeze can be quite the entrancing decoration. Outdoor lights can enhance the intensity, adding more drama to the action.

Again, be careful to arrange the fabrics and lights apart so that no fires are caused.

Lights on Lights

Feel free to mix and match any of the suggestions above.

The great thing about lights is that you can make them as bright or dim as you want, pairing them opposites to great effect.

For example, try out a row of Chinese lanterns with a string of twinkling lights to enhance the ambiance.

Workspace Safety

Perhaps most important of all, use lights to brighten the area so you can see what you’re doing.

Whether it’s an outdoor grill kitchen, or an in-ground swimming pool, it’s important for your lighting to be practical. Make sure there’s adequate lighting in these areas to improve overall safety and comfort.

Conclusion

There you have it!

We hope these ideas for outdoor hanging tree lights offer you some inspiration. If you are looking for a more dramatic effect, please contact us.

Contact us with any ideas you might have for your landscape and find out what collaborations are possible.

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