Great outdoor lighting turns a backyard into a destination. Below are seven of our favorite ways to use patio and bistro string lights around Portland homes and businesses, from poolside evenings to food carts, all installed by our team with commercial-grade products built for Northwest weather.
The Patio Gathering Spot
Need a spot where you and your friends can comfortably chat and relax? String lights create a stunning, relaxing ambiance, and RGB bulb options look amazing when displayed correctly. Surrounded by plants, everything appears fresh and beautiful, and outdoor LED string lights completely transform how a space looks after dark.
With that ambiance overhead, even an everyday meal or a night spent barbecuing gets elevated to something spectacular. A backyard patio under bistro lights gives you the feeling of sitting in an open-air restaurant. Furnish the area with comfortable chairs and a fire pit, and with the warmth of the fire and the soft glow of the string lights, you have the perfect place to spend an evening with family and friends.
Pool Lighting with LED String Lights
Outdoor string lights are an excellent choice for illuminating swimming pools thanks to their versatility, aesthetic appeal, and safety features. The soft, warm glow provides a comfortable ambiance for swimming and relaxation, creating a tranquil atmosphere that's ideal for evening pool parties, gatherings, and night swims. They're also available in a range of colors and styles that can be customized to suit any pool design, theme, or occasion.
Outdoor string lights are built to be weather-resistant and durable, with waterproof or water-resistant materials that make them safe to use around water in any conditions, including rain and humidity. And because they can be hung over a pool area without complicated electrical wiring, they're a practical and affordable way to enhance the look of your outdoor pool space.
Fire Pit Bistro Lights
If you and your loved ones enjoy spending time outside by a fire pit or barbecue, bistro string lights will completely change your summertime experience. The combination of firelight below and a canopy of warm bulbs above leaves everyone feeling relaxed and at ease, and it keeps the space usable long after sunset.
Backyard String Lighting
Outdoor patio lighting is an interesting challenge, because the typical options like pendant lamps and chandeliers generally don't apply out here. Open spaces, gardens, decks, and patios need a different strategy, and bistro lights are surprisingly great at it. They're flexible and versatile, which means you can create some truly marvelous design themes with them across any outdoor zone.
Patio String Lights on a Food Cart
Looking for a way to make your food cart stand out from the rest? Patio string lights create a cozy atmosphere that attracts customers day and night. Choose from a variety of designs, from classic Edison bulbs to colorful globe lights, and whatever style you pick will add whimsy and charm that makes your cart a warm, inviting space.
The lights earn their keep functionally too. They illuminate your prep area and make it easy for customers to read your menu even after the sun goes down. With easy installation and affordable pricing, string lights are one of the fastest upgrades a food cart owner can make.
Bistro Lights as Wall Lighting
Transform a rock or brick wall into a work of art. String lights highlight the wall's unique textures and colors, turning a structural feature into a focal point of the backyard. Designs range from classic Edison bulbs to dazzling fairy lights, so the look can be as traditional or as whimsical as you want.
Beyond the aesthetics, wall-mounted string lights provide functional illumination for gatherings and events, creating a warm perimeter glow that makes the whole space feel finished.
Gazebo Lighting
Turn a gazebo into a romantic oasis with candelabra-style lights. From classic chandelier looks to rustic lanterns, these fixtures add sophistication and charm, making the gazebo the perfect spot for dinners and intimate gatherings.
They light the space for evening use as well, making the gazebo a true centerpiece of the yard rather than a structure that goes dark at sunset.
Ready to Light Up Your Outdoor Space?
Saint Nick's designs and installs patio and bistro string lighting across the Portland area, with commercial-grade products, clean custom layouts, and weather-ready mounting built to last.
Nick Hiatt
Owner, Saint Nick's Christmas Lights, Portland, Oregon
I spent 25 years on ladders around the Northwest before Saint Nick's was ever a company, and I've been designing and installing custom holiday lighting in the Portland area ever since. I write these guides myself. No fluff, just what I'd tell you standing in your driveway.