Outdoor Party Lights Can Be Fun and Practical

When my wife and I purchased an existing home in the country, there was one room I wanted to add to the back of our house and that was a media room.  However, my wife saw that area differently and thought a nice big porch would be a better fit on the back of our home.  Well, I have to tell you, I immediately put my foot down and started the addition of a nice 16 by 40 back porch.  Since that time, we have had many nice gatherings on our new porch and everyone seems to enjoy this addition to our home.  One of the items that contribute greatly to these friendly gatherings are the outdoor party lights that help to decorate the porch.

Some of these lights serve a dual purpose and also provide some insect repellent function as well as the outdoor party lighting.  Others are part of the porch design and serve to provide lighting for the functional areas such as the cooking and serving points and some provide for safety and security.  But the ones that get the most attention are the more whimsical ones that look like chili peppers, cows or some cartoon character or the other.  We also have outdoor flood lights throughout the rest of the property that serves to create some interesting focal points at night as well as again serving the more practical functions of safety and security.

If you plan to have a party or other gathering in the outdoor areas of your property, do not forget to add some outdoor party lights.  Once you begin to look for this type lighting you will find many choices.  You may choose the whimsical ones like I mentioned above, or maybe just string some lights that you would normally utilize for Christmas decoration.  Which ever type you arrive at, you will find there are many different power sources available.  If you have ample electrical power in the area you are entertaining in, you may choose to go with traditional incandescent electrical lights or the newer, more energy efficient LED lights.  If you lack electrical power in the area, or would just rather take a more green approach, there are numerous choices powered utilizing solar energy.

Just remember when you start to run your outdoor party lights, you will achieve a much better result if you take the time to develop an overall plan for the area.  As you develop your plan, think about the type lighting you will need in the different functional areas.  Obviously, the cooking and serving areas will need brighter lighting than will the sitting and conversation areas.  Be sure to provide some path lighting and walkway lighting in order to make your property as safe as possible for your guests.  However, when developing your plan, keep in mind that you want the lighting to add to the festive nature of your party area so do not take it too seriously.