Brilliant ways to amp up your yard or porch for the holidays.

7 Ideas for Outdoor Holiday Lights
Thomas J. Story

One of the joys of the holiday season is all the light. As the days dwindle toward being the shortest they will be all year long, it’s nice to have a little sparkle in the darkness. 

Lights on the Christmas tree are classic, of course, and for many the holidays can’t really begin until a stressful afternoon has been passed nailing up the icicle lights. But for a more restrained look that can last into the New Year, try some of these outdoor lighting ideas. They all provide a warming glow to your backyard, and they all involve little more than string lights and the backyard furnishings you may already own (like a firepit). Best of all, they’re safe even in the driest of drought years, because they use LED lights, not actual flame. So try incorporating one of these near-genius lighting tricks and watch your backyard glow like Rudolph’s nose at your next outdoor holiday party.


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