{"title":"Vintage LED string lights","description":"\u003cp\u003eA set of vintage LED string lights is a string light where the bulbs stay visible and give off a warm, golden light close to incandescent while using little power. The effect comes from the number of bulbs, their shape and the spacing of the cable, not from wattage alone: these are the three things to settle before choosing the power supply and the protection rating.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#lumiere\"\u003eWhat light do vintage LED string lights give\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#ou-installer\"\u003eWhere to install them, from the tree to the terrace\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#indice-ip\"\u003eWhich IP protection rating to choose\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#alimentation\"\u003eMains, 24V, solar or rechargeable\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#longueur\"\u003eCable length and number of bulbs\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#installation\"\u003eHow to hang and connect them\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#entretien\"\u003eCare and storage\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"lumiere\"\u003eWhat are vintage LED string lights and what light do they give?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eVintage LED string lights are recognisable by their exposed bulbs: the filament stays visible through clear or amber glass, and the light comes out as a warm halo rather than a sharp point. That is what sets the bistro look apart from simple accent lighting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eVintage string lights: visible bulbs and warm light\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe filament draws a luminous line that the eye follows, and the slightly tinted glass warms the hue further. On this type of product, colour temperatures generally sit between 2700 and 3000 kelvins, a warm white range that leans golden. E27 socket models take larger bulbs, E14 ones slimmer bulbs, which changes the visual density of the arrangement. Cable spacing matters as much as the bulb: tight, it makes a curtain of light; wide, it leaves pools of shadow that create the terrace effect. To compare styles, browse the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/designix.fr\/collections\/guirlandes-lumineuses\"\u003edecorative string lights\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eRetro LED string lights or classic LED string lights: what is the difference?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRetro relies on bulbs with a visible filament and often a textured cable, with an openly old-fashioned spirit. Classic stays more discreet: small points of light, a thin cable, a light presence on a wall. The deciding factor is not the technology but the effect: bulbs to look at, or accompanying light. Both families are gathered in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/guirlandes-led\"\u003ethe LED string lights collection\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"ou-installer\"\u003eWhere to install vintage string lights?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThey go anywhere the cable can follow a clean line: facade, pergola, balcony, stair rail, headboard, Christmas tree. Indoors, aim for a wall or a corner worth highlighting; outdoors, choose a model protected against damp and avoid hollows where water collects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor a Christmas tree, start at the bottom and from the inside of the branches, working outwards: the string settles into the hollow of the branches, not on top of them. On a terrace, follow a roof edge, a beam or a pergola arch, keeping the same direction of unwinding to avoid crossings. A sheltered balcony corner easily takes \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/guirlandes-led-ip44\"\u003eIP44 LED string lights for covered terraces\u003c\/a\u003e. To place these models within the rest of the range, take a look at \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaire\"\u003eour lighting catalogue\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ccaption\u003eWhich vintage LED string lights for which place and use\u003c\/caption\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eUse\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRecommended power supply\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eProtection rating\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat matters most\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLiving room, headboard, indoor wall\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e220V mains or rechargeable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUnprotected or IP44\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWarm light and bulb spacing\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCovered terrace, awning, sheltered balcony\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e220V or solar\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIP44\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCable length and fixing points\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGarden, facade, hedge exposed to rain\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e220V or solar\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIP65\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWatertightness of the connections\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndoor Christmas tree\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e220V mains\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUnprotected\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDensity and shape of the bulbs\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBistro and outdoor receptions\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e220V or 24V with transformer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIP44 to IP65\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eConsistency of the effect along the length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"indice-ip\"\u003eIndoors or outdoors: which IP protection rating to choose?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe IP rating gives resistance to dust and water. Indoors, an unprotected model is enough. Under an awning or a covered terrace, IP44 protects against splashes. Outdoors in the rain, IP65 withstands water jets. A higher rating never removes the need to take care with the connections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe weak point of an outdoor installation is the connection, not the bulb. A connector block left on the ground, a plug dangling under the gutter, a connector left uncovered: water gets in there even on a well-protected model. Raise the connection, shelter it under a cover or in a closed box, and check that the cable does not form a pocket at its lowest point. \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/guirlandes-led-ip65\"\u003eIP65 LED string lights\u003c\/a\u003e are designed to stay outside in the rain, not to be submerged.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ccaption\u003eIP44 or IP65: which rating for which location\u003c\/caption\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eProtection rating\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eResists\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTypical location\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAvoid\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUnprotected\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNothing in particular\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLiving room, bedroom, tree\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOutdoors and damp\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIP44\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater splashes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCovered terrace, awning, sheltered balcony\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater jets and immersion\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIP65\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater jets\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFacade, garden, hedge\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eImmersion\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"alimentation\"\u003eMains, solar or rechargeable: which power supply to choose?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e220V string lights plug into a socket and suit long lengths. A 24V version goes through a transformer and is reserved for small spaces. Without a socket, solar works outdoors with enough sunlight, while rechargeable can be charged and then moved anywhere.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e220V or 24V string lights: what it changes for installation\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith 220V, you need a socket nearby and an extension lead if the run is long; it is the simplest solution for covering a facade or a pergola in one go. With 24V low voltage, the transformer becomes the central point: that is what you hide, not the string lights. The benefit of 24V shows on small set-ups, a window ledge, a shelf, a counter top. Compare \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/guirlandes-led-220v\"\u003e220V string lights\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/guirlandes-led-24v\"\u003e24V low-voltage string lights\u003c\/a\u003e according to the length to cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSolar or rechargeable string lights: lighting without a socket\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSolar is installed where the panel gets daylight, otherwise it lights up little or not at all: a south-facing balcony, an open pergola, a low wall. Rechargeable does not depend on the sky: you charge it from the mains, then hang it where no socket exists, including indoors. \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/guirlandes-led-solaires\"\u003eSolar string lights without a socket\u003c\/a\u003e suit sunny outdoor spots, \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/guirlandes-led-rechargeables\"\u003erechargeable string lights\u003c\/a\u003e suit portable uses and dark corners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"longueur\"\u003eHow many bulbs and what length for my tree or facade?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eStart from the length to cover, not the number of bulbs. Measure the run to follow, add enough for the returns and curves, then take the nearest cable length. Tight spacing gives a dense effect, wide spacing a more airy bistro effect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDiamond vintage string lights: what effect does the bulb shape give?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe so-called diamond bulb has facets that send the light back in small glints rather than a uniform halo. The effect looks more sparkling, especially on a tree or a facade where the eye catches the reliefs. It is a mood choice: the shape changes the way the light scatters, not the cable length needed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCable length or number of bulbs: what to look at first?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLength first, because it decides whether the set-up holds or stops halfway along a branch. The number of bulbs comes next and sets the density: on a tree, you want presence in the hollows; on a beam, a regular line is enough. If you hesitate between two lengths, take the longer one and keep the surplus in reserve at the end, never spread loosely in the middle. Details of the models with visible bulbs can be found in the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/guirlandes-led\"\u003estring lights with visible bulbs\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"installation\"\u003eHow to hang and install vintage string lights?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eStretch the cable without pulling it taut, with regular fixing points and a slight slack between two fastenings to absorb the wind. Keep the plug out of reach of water, avoid stacking several connections in the same place and check the height above a table before fixing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow to stretch string lights across a facade or a pergola?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eStart with a fixed point at one end, unwind without pulling, then add the fastenings as you go, keeping a light touch: a cable that is too taut strains the solder joints at the first gust of wind. Above a garden table, the string lights should stay high enough not to get in the way and be visible without looking up. One hook roughly every metre is usually enough to hold a straight line.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhere to plug in string lights when the socket is far away?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThree options depending on the set-up: an outdoor extension lead placed away from run-off areas, a solar model with the panel facing full daylight, or a rechargeable model hung without a power cable. \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/guirlandes-led-solaires\"\u003eSolar models\u003c\/a\u003e avoid any trench and any extension lead on a terrace. If the socket exists but stays indoors, run the cable through an opening already protected from the rain rather than under an open window. For a long, permanent installation, go for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/guirlandes-led-220v\"\u003e220V mains string lights\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDesignix reassurance:\u003c\/strong\u003e secure payment, tracked delivery, returns and Designix customer service to help you choose the length and power supply.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"entretien\"\u003eHow to care for and store vintage string lights so they last?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSwitch off the power before cleaning, dust the bulbs dry and wipe the cable with a barely damp cloth. When storing, coil without bending on a wide support, away from damp. IP65 string lights are made for outdoors, never for immersion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan vintage string lights be left outside all year round?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt all depends on the rating: an IP65 model withstands continuous outdoor exposure in the rain, an IP44 one is limited to a covered terrace. In both cases, protect the connections, check after heavy rain that water is not pooling in a pocket of cable, and bring the whole set in if a storm is forecast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow to store bistro string lights without damaging the bulbs?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCoil them loosely around a wide board, a cut-out piece of cardboard or the original spool: wide loops avoid bending the wires right at the base of the socket, the place that breaks first. Store in a dry place, away from frost, and note the length on the packaging for the following season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne last marker before ordering: define the location, then the protection rating, then the length. To compare the families and find the model that matches your facade or your tree, browse \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaire\"\u003eall Designix lighting\u003c\/a\u003e and the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/guirlandes-led\"\u003eclassic LED string lights\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eWhich vintage string lights for a Christmas tree?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose mains-powered string lights for indoors, with visible bulbs and a spacing suited to the density of the tree: tight for a dense effect, wider for a bistro effect. Choose the length by measuring around the branches, not at random.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eWhat is the difference between retro LED string lights and classic LED string lights?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRetro plays on bulbs with a visible filament and warm light, in an old-fashioned spirit. Classic stays more discreet, with small points of light and a thin cable. The choice depends on the effect you want: bulbs to look at or accent light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eCan vintage string lights be left outside all year round?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt depends on their protection rating: an IP65 model withstands water jets and outdoor exposure, an IP44 one is limited to a covered terrace. In every case, protect the connections, avoid areas where water collects and never immerse the string lights.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eHow to install vintage string lights when there is no socket?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTurn to a solar model if the spot gets sunlight during the day, or to rechargeable string lights that you charge and then move. Both solutions avoid the power cable and suit balconies, pergolas and distant garden corners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eDiamond vintage string lights: what effect does this bulb shape give?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe so-called diamond bulb has facets that send the light back in small glints rather than a uniform halo. The effect looks more sparkling, especially on a tree or a facade. The bulb shape changes the mood, not the cable length to plan for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"CollectionPage\",\"name\":\"Vintage LED string lights: the guide to choosing and installing\",\"description\":\"Vintage LED string lights: visible bulbs, warm light and bistro spirit. 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