25 Outdoor Lighting Ideas That Won't Break the Bank

Adding outdoor lighting to your home can be a daunting task. From hiring an electrician to finding the right fixtures, costs add up quickly. Stay outside all day and night with these low-cost exterior lighting ideas that are easy to install and even easier on the eyes — no expensive rewiring required.

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March 23, 2021

By: Kamron Sanders and Amanda Lecky

Related To:

Pretty + Practical Outdoor Lighting Ideas

It may not be noticeable during the day, but come nightfall, outdoor lighting is the pièce de résistance of your home's exterior. From decorative purposes like highlighting architecture and casting a glow around landscape features to practical purposes like increasing safety and lighting up a stairway, there are plenty of ways to improve your outdoor spaces with lighting. Keep reading for 24 budget-friendly ways to light your deck, patio or backyard.

From: Environmental Design Studio

Illuminate Your Swimming Pool

If your great outdoors includes a pool, pond or water feature, don’t forget to take advantage of the reflective qualities of water. Adding bistro lights, rows of candle lanterns or solar-powered fixtures along the water's edges will cast a subtle light that appears to dance across the mirror-like surface. Learn more genius pool lighting ideas with our tips, below.

learn more: Pool Lighting Tips

From: LGB Interiors

Light It Up With Lanterns

Decorative lanterns, vintage or new, are one of the easiest and most attractive ways to add lighting to an outdoor space. Cluster them on a dining table, group them together around the edges of the space or line them up on a wall — the possibilities are endless. The best part? You can swap out real wax candles for LED candles or even opt for solar-powered to keep things safe.

From: THELIFESTYLEDCO

String Up Some Vintage Charm

A string of twinkling lights will add a little something special to any outdoor space, but vintage-style lights with exposed filaments go the extra style mile. These Edison bulbs add a fun party attitude to decks and patios and make every night feel like an event. Vintage not your thing? There are plenty of string light styles to choose from, below.

Go Shopping: The Best Outdoor String Lights for Every Space

From: Casa Smith Designs, LLC

Shine a Light on Concrete

If you aren't lighting up your concrete, you're doing it wrong. The beautiful texture of concrete is only enhanced when illuminated by the warm glow of a low-voltage light. For board-formed concrete walls like these, choose a warm light with a color temperature around 2700K to achieve achieve that quintessential glow while casting tiny shadows off all the little details. Love beautiful outdoor spaces like this? Check out HGTV's Ultimate Outdoor Awards, below.

learn more: HGTV Ultimate Outdoor Awards

From: Landwell Design + Build Co.

Add a Glowing Gas Fire Pit

Nothing says cozy like the warm glow of a fire, which is exactly why this beautiful arched patio has a gas fire pit. Plus, gas fire pits are surprisingly inexpensive, require no electricity and, because they are odorless, you don't have to worry about smelling like a campfire every time you use them.

Go Shopping: 12 Best Propane Fire Pits

From: Illustrated Properties and Luxury Portfolio International®

Clear a Well-Lit Path

Imagine this tiered stone walkway without the glow of these solar path lights. Not only would it be practically invisible at night, but it would also become a serious safety hazard. By lining a walkway with inexpensive solar path lights, you'll make your property safer and infinitely more beautiful at the same time. Watch the video below to see what solar lights can do for you.

Watch the Video: Low-Voltage and Solar Lighting

From: Bob Hursthouse

Say Yes to Security Lights

When it comes to home security, often more is more. Easily boost your exterior's security and your peace of mind — without electrical work — by installing some solar security lights. They come in a variety of designs and even include motion sensors to scare off a would-be thief or just make getting home in the dark a little easier. Learn how to easily install them yourself with our best tips, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: How to Install a Solar-Panel Security Light

Use Lights to Showcase Plants

If you have a unique tree or plant on your property, find a way to showcase it using lights. This could mean directional lighting, an up light or, one of our favorites, string lighting. Simply wrap small string lights around the tree's limbs to highlight every little detail and create a beautiful design moment in your outdoor space.

From: Jenkins Custom Homes

Hang an Elegant Chandelier

Looking to add some elegance to your outdoor dining space? Nothing does the trick quite like a chandelier. To avoid the expensive cost of an electrician and necessity of an outdoor-rated fixture, hang a candle chandelier from the beams of a pergola or covered patio. Then, use remote-controlled, battery-operated LED candles for easy operation. Dig into more outdoor dining room ideas, below.

See More Photos: 50 Stylish & Functional Outdoor Dining Rooms

Or, Go a More Rustic Route

Sometimes, it just takes a little creativity to save some serious cash. With a unique piece of wood, a hook and eye and some mini battery-powered string lights, you can easily craft this unique, rustic chandelier that is sure to catch the eye of anyone who visits your outdoor space.

Add Step Lights for Safety

If this curved stairway at night wasn't already a safety hazard, the boulder-strewn water feature beside it doubles down on the potential risk. For added safety, this designer chose to illuminate each step using integrated, low-profile step lights. To avoid the cost of wiring, inexpensive solar step lights will increase the safety of outdoor steps while giving them a gorgeous glow.

Go Shopping: The Best Landscape Lighting Buys for Every Outdoor Space

DIY Your Way to the Perfect Patio

Want to spend more time on your patio? Invest in its aesthetic and you'll never want to leave. Don't underestimate the power of some pretty furniture, a gorgeous potted plant and, of course, the ambient glow of a gorgeous lamp. This two-in-one outdoor floor lamp/planter combo is the DIY solution to all your patio problems. Get crafting with our pro tips, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: Jazz Up Your Patio With an Outdoor Floor Lamp and Planter In-One

Give Upcycling a Go

Who doesn’t love mini sparkle lights? Add a little magic to your outdoor table with cool or warm tone LEDs. They’re even cuter when placed inside an upcycled vase or jar. Most mini string lights have a remote control, which allows you to get creative on how and where you use them. Ready to reuse even more of what you already have? Check out our best outdoor repurposing pointers, below.

See More Photos: Outdoor Upcycles: 60 Ways to Reimagine, Repurpose + Recycle for a Beautiful Yard on a Budget

Plant Your String Lights

Trendy bistro lights add a gorgeous glow to any outdoor living space, but they can be tricky to hang if you don’t have trees or other tall objects to string them from. Luckily, we have the solution: Create a freestanding support using wood posts, planters and a bit of cement. The best part? It’s totally temporary, so it’s perfect for renters and the indecisive, alike. Tackle this weekend DIY with our helpful how-to, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: String Light Solution: Hang Patio Lights Using Planters and Wood Posts

From: Sam Henderson

Layer Your Lighting

Landscape architect June Scott installed small directional lights in the large tree above this table to create what she calls a "moonlight" effect. Clever, right? Additionally, she opted for dots of light in the form of lanterns and more directional lights grazing the wall. Layering lights outdoors is a great way to achieve a soft glow around your property.

Shed Some Light on Outdoor Dining

Skip the call to the electrician! All you need to do to light up your outdoor dining space is adorn the underside of a patio umbrella with string lights. Simply run an extension cord down the umbrella pole and attach the string lights using clear zip ties. Far from an outlet? No worries — go the battery-powered route.

Learn More: The Best Outdoor Patio Umbrellas for Your Backyard

From: Bob Hursthouse

Light Up a Date Night Destination

Lighting remote locations may be one of the hardest feats to accomplish on a budget. To add some glistening romance to a spot like this without all the wiring, suspend a lantern or candle chandelier from a tree. Whenever you visit, simply bring along a candle or two to create a date-night destination on your own property.

Rope Lights: An Easy DIY Solution

Waterproof rope lights will turn your deck railing into an eye-catching design feature. By tucking them beneath the railing, they'll stay hidden from sight in the day but cast a soft glow around your deck's perimeter at night.

Don't Stop at Just One

Can we just sit here all afternoon? Instead of only one source of light, the designer of this beautiful outdoor dining space opted for multiple budget-friendly lighting options. A creative chandelier holding candles and plants, a wall of votives and some suspended string lights make this spot whimsical in the day and ready to party at night. Ready to take your celebrations outdoors? Our tips, below, will help you stylishly party on the patio.

See More Photos: 50 Tips for Planning the Ultimate Backyard Get-Together

Blast Your Patio Into Orbit

To say outdoor lighting is expensive is an understatement. From the electrician bill to the special fixtures, installations can add up quickly. That's why we designed this DIY sputnik chandelier that utilizes solar landscape lights to create a unique statement piece that will light up your outdoor space for a fraction of the usual cost. Want to DIY your own? Lift off with our tips, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: How to Make a Sputnik-Shaped Solar Chandelier

Dream Up Something Different

Maybe your outdoor space has lighting, but it's harsh and uninviting. We totally get it! To enhance the ambiance and make your space more welcoming, turn off the installed exterior lights and turn on something more creative. To recreate the magical look of the outdoor dining area, below, suspend glass lanterns at varying heights above your table. To view more of this dreamy spot, check out the link, below.

learn more: HGTV Dream Home 2013

Put Trees in the Spotlight

Give your yard a glow-up! You can add some serious ambiance to your landscape by uplighting trees. From solar to low-voltage options, there are plenty of directional lights that make this impactful addition to your yard something you can knock out in a weekend. Ready to brighten up your landscape? Enlighten yourself with our pro tips, below.

learn more: Landscape Lighting Trends and How to Choose What's Right for Your Yard

Cast a Cagey Glow

Think outside the ... cage? Remote-controlled mini LED string lights make these colorful DIY birdcage lights the perfect way to light up the trees in your backyard. Spread your DIY wings with our helpful how-to, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: Easily Turn a Birdcage Into a Remote-Control Lantern

Tiki Torches: Working Double Time

Old-school tiki torches are charming and undeniably functional. With a large flame and more citronella oil than your average candle, they can light up a space while keeping pests at bay. After a more sophisticated vibe? Look for torches with a painted or metallic finish, then arrange in groupings, staggering the heights for a relaxed look and ambient glow.

Photo By: Caryn Waechter

Photo By: LGB Interiors

Photo By: LCo Design

Photo By: Mark Pinkerton, vi360

Photo By: Joslyn Amato

Photo By: Illustrated Properties, a member of Luxury Portfolio International

Photo By: Tomas Espinoza/Flynnside Out Productions

Photo By: Tre Dunham

Photo By: Howard Roberts, Liquidscapes

Photo By: Photos: Christopher Shane/Styling: Elizabeth Demos

Photo By: Tomas Espinoza

Photo By: Rustic White Photography

Photo By: Sam Henderson

Photo By: Martin Cox Photography; Design By: June Scott, June Scott Design

Photo By: Rustic White Photography

Photo By: Sandy Koepke

Photo By: Gary Payne

Photo By: Rhiannon Slatter

Photo By: Tomas Espinoza

Photo By: Rustic White Photography

25 Outdoor Lighting Ideas That Won't Break the Bank

Related To:

Pretty + Practical Outdoor Lighting Ideas

Illuminate Your Swimming Pool

Light It Up With Lanterns

String Up Some Vintage Charm

Shine a Light on Concrete

Add a Glowing Gas Fire Pit

Clear a Well-Lit Path

Say Yes to Security Lights

Use Lights to Showcase Plants

Hang an Elegant Chandelier

Or, Go a More Rustic Route

Add Step Lights for Safety

DIY Your Way to the Perfect Patio

Give Upcycling a Go

Plant Your String Lights

Layer Your Lighting

Shed Some Light on Outdoor Dining

Light Up a Date Night Destination

Rope Lights: An Easy DIY Solution

Don't Stop at Just One

Blast Your Patio Into Orbit

Dream Up Something Different

Put Trees in the Spotlight

Cast a Cagey Glow

Tiki Torches: Working Double Time

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