String lights

Festoon lights bring a warm, outdoor-dining glow to a terrace table, a railing or a corner of the garden. Choose them on three points: the length to cover, the power source (solar or mains) and the bulb colour.

• What light do festoon lights give
• Solar or mains
• What length
• Where to install them
• Fixing without drilling
• Colour and temperature
• Weddings and parties
• Care and storage

What are festoon lights and what light do they give?

Festoon lights are a cord strung with round bulbs, lanterns or small shades, hung above a meal or along a path. Here, the cords combine LEDs or E27 sockets with wood, jute, rattan, glass or plastic, in warm white or multicolour.

LED festoon lights or E27 festoon bulbs: what is the difference?

On LED festoon lights the bulb is built in: nothing to replace and very low consumption, as on the Solar noire mat and its 0.06 W. An E27 model, like the Coco, takes a clear Edison bulb that you change when it wears out.

Warm white festoon lights: the table mood

Warm white, around 2700 to 3500 K, brings the terrace close to end-of-meal light, without the harsh look of a work light. It is the shade of the Amber ambrée. The Feliciano in woven jute plays the same card, in a solar version.

Outdoor festoon lights: how to choose between solar and mains?

Outdoors, solar festoon lights save you running a cable: the panel charges during the day, the cord lights up in the evening. An E27 model needs a socket but lets you choose and replace the bulb. In both cases, aim for IP44 outside and keep IP20 for indoors.

Solar outdoor festoon lights: where to place them?

Place the panel facing the sun, not under the pergola or behind a hedge, otherwise the day's charge will not be enough. The 20 m cord of the Solar noire covers a large garden, the 7.7 m of the Solar noire mat is enough for a corner of the terrace. Compare the models in our selection of solar lights without a cable.

Mains festoon lights: when should you choose the E27 socket?

The E27 socket wins when you want to change the colour or the power without buying a new cord. You simply need a socket within reach, or a suitable outdoor extension lead. Plug-in models are gathered in the mains-powered lights, including the Coco and its 4.5 m.

What length of festoon lights for a terrace or a garden?

Measure the distance between the two fixing points, add the slack of the cable and the planned drops, then take the size closest to your measurement. The collection runs from the 2.66 m cord to the 20 m model, with intermediate steps that save you from stretching a cord that is too short.

10 m or 20 m festoon lights: how to calculate?

A 10 m terrace often needs a cord longer than 10 m if you draw a curve or a zigzag between posts. Count the real line, not the length of the room. So read the outdoor string lights for terraces with the spec sheet in hand and a tape measure beside you.

50 m outdoor festoon lights: composing several lines

Beyond 20 m, do not look for a single cord: line up several cords end to end or in parallel lines, with an intermediate fixing point. This spreads the weight and avoids the sag in the middle. LED string lights lend themselves well to this assembly in several sections.

Where to install festoon lights indoors and outdoors?

Outside, they are strung above the table, along a railing or between two terrace posts, in IP44. Inside, they dress a bedroom wall, a headboard or a stair rail, in IP20. The place decides the size and the protection rating, not the other way round.

Terrace festoon lights: above the table

Above a table, the string light is hung high enough not to get in the guests' way and low enough for the light to fall on the plates. The glass balls of the Verrano spread a soft glow, useful late in the evening, and the wooden shade of the Luca frames the light downwards better.

Festoon lights for a staircase or bedroom: the right sizes

On a staircase, a short cord follows the rail without dropping into the void. In a bedroom, it replaces the bedside lamp and creates a halo behind the headboard. Our selection of staircase string lights and that of bedroom wall string lights give the sizes that fit these spaces.

How to hang festoon lights without drilling?

String the lights between two points that already exist: railing, fence, gutter or hooks intended for this purpose. Keep a slight slack to absorb the wind, without letting the cable rub, and keep them away from walkways. Check that the fixing holds the weight of the cord before the season.

Fixing festoon lights on a railing

A cable tie or a flexible hook is enough on a handrail: the string light follows the line, without tension on the fastenings. The Almaga noire, in IP20 and warm white, suits indoor rails, while an IP44 model like the Kaltorica stays outside. More wall installation ideas are in the wall string lights.

Running the cable without over-tightening it

A cord that is too tight breaks at the first gust of wind or comes loose. Plan a support point in the middle over a long length, and run the cable behind the posts rather than in front. Rechargeable string lights also save you from running a power cable.

How to choose the colour and light temperature of festoon lights?

Start from warm white, around 2700 to 3500 K, for a terrace or a table: it lights without dazzling and keeps faces readable. Multicolour is reserved for a party, amber and crackled glass for a retro decor. A single dominant colour per area avoids a messy mix.

Multicolour festoon lights: for what occasion?

Multicolour suits a birthday, a children's garden or a one-off evening, not an everyday terrace. The Nirvana multicolore in 12.5 m covers a large table. For similar models, see the IP44 LED string lights.

Amber or glass festoon lights: the retro effect

Amber and crackled glass pull the light towards the warm yellow of old dance halls. The Amber ambrée, at 0.06 W and IP44, plays this card in solar, and the Verrano in glass answers it in a wall version. The result stays soft, without a spotlight effect.

Which festoon lights for a wedding or an outdoor party?

For an outdoor wedding, a wood, jute or rattan string light matches a boho decoration, and a light curtain dresses a facade or a pergola. Favour IP44, a warm white and a length measured on the table. For repeated use, check the material and the fixing before each event.

Wedding festoon lights: wood, jute or rattan?

Natural wood and woven jute give the most artisanal result, in filtered light rather than bright points. The Alberico in woven rattan and the Feliciano, both 8 m, hold a long table. The Federigo curtain in 300 x 200 cm closes the decor over a height.

Professional festoon lights: the points to check

For repeated use, the IP44 rating, the cord material and the strength of the fixing points matter more than the style. Keep a spare stock of bulbs for an E27 model, and a clear solar panel for a solar model. The IP65 models are aimed at harsher exposures.

Secure payment, tracked delivery, returns and Designix customer service: you order the cord that matches your measurement, and you add the bulbs afterwards if needed.

How to care for and store festoon lights?

Clean the cord with a soft, dry cloth, without abrasive products, and wipe the solar panel so that it captures better. Bring the string light in during winter or a long spell of rain, stored without tight folds. Check the cable and fixings before each season.

Cleaning solar festoon lights

A panel covered in dust or leaves charges less well, and the string light stays on for less time. A damp cloth then a wipe is enough. An IP44 rating resists splashes, never immersion or a direct jet: keep the garden hose away.

Storing the string light without damaging the cable

Wind it loosely around a board or into a wide box, without a tight knot on the cord. Note the model so you can find compatible bulbs the following year. To complete the indoor decor, compare with the outdoor garden string lights and the home lighting universe.

Frequently asked questions

One last point before choosing: measure, then order. Browse Designix string lights and our lighting selection to complete the terrace decor.