27 Things To Do With String Lights

String lights are the chameleons of lighting. They can be hung, strung, twirled or wrapped, and their versatility is the inspiration for thousands of creative DIY projects.

Before we get into this mega list of 27 unique ways to use them, let’s talk about what qualifies as a “string light.” By definition, a string light is a series of lights along a coated wire. From there, the variety flourishes, but I’ve narrowed it down to four basic categories:

Mini String Lights are small bulbs in a variety of shapes and colors and are what you usually see wrapped around a Christmas tree.
Globe String Lights have larger bulbs in different shapes. You may also hear these referred to as Edison Lights, Cafe Lights, Patio Lights or Party Lights.
Fairy Lights or Micro String Lights are tiny LED lights (about the size of a grain of rice) along a very thin bendable wire.
Novelty String lights and Specialty Lights typically have a dedicated theme or purpose, like snowflake or pink flamingo string lights.

For every different type and name that they go by there are endless creative projects and decor ideas, but here’s a round-up of a few of the most memorable string light applications I’ve seen:

27 Unique Ideas for String Light Projects

Star fort made out of cardboard box and string lights — 1 – Star Fort Cave via Life as Mama

DIY flameless fire pit with string lights and cardboard — 2 – DIY Fire Pit via October June

Backyard wedding with string lights — 3 – Backyard Wedding via Style Me Pretty

Nursery decorated with string lights — 4 – Sweet Nursery via Wee Decor

Holiday mantles decorated with string lights — 5 – Holiday Mantles that Shine

Romantic headboard with string lights — 6 – Romantic Headboard

Image via AlbaDorsch.com — 7 – Back Porch Bistro via Dorsch Interiors

Colorful front porch with globe string lights — 8 – Colorful Front Porch via Simple Stylings

Glass lanterns with fairy lights inside — 9- Glowing Lanterns via Gardenista

Glamping tent with string lights — 10 – Glamping via Wild Goose Festival

Hammock with globe string lights between two trees — 11 – Hang Loose Hammock

Backyard movie night with string lights — 12 – Sparkly Vintage Backyard Movie Night via Hostess with the Mostest

Cauldron Costume on Instructables — 13 – Cauldron Costume

LED Light Under Cabinet — 14 – Bohemian Chic Under Cabinet Lighting

Easy Thanksgiving Centerpiece 1 — 15 – Holiday Centerpiece

DIY Outdoor Lighting — 16 – Mason Jar Lights

DIY LOVE canvas with string lights — 17 – DIY Love Art Canvas via She Knows

Ping pong eyeballs painted on string lights — 18 – Creepy Ping Pong Eyeballs via Landeelu

Pallet bed with string lights underneath — 19 – DIY Pallet Bed via DIY and Crafts Ideas

Hula hoop chandelier — 20 – Hula Hoop Chandelier via Sarah H Blog

Photographs hanging from string lights — 21 – Photo Gallery via House Decor Idea

String lights wrapped around an old bicycle rim — 22 – Bicycle Rim Art via Pinterest

Words written with string light on walls as art — 23 – String Light Script via Apartment Therapy

Paper origami cubes folded around string lights — 24 – Paper Cube String Lights via Wit and Whistle

Cupcake wrappers around string lights to look like flowers — 25 – DIY Cupcake Flower Lights via Oh Happy Day

String Lights inside clear storage box as a light table — 26 – DIY Light Table via Here Comes the Sun

String lights wrapped around trees — 27 – Twinkling, Twirling Trees

Inspired? Check out our LED and incandescent string lights selection, and get started!

Renee Carlson

Renee specializes in digital marketing & content development for Pegasus Lighting. When she's not blogging about all-things-light, you’ll find her nestled in the ‘burbs of Raleigh with her husband & three active boys, getting lost in her Kindle, tackling a long list of home improvement projects, or cheering on the Carolina Panthers.

27 Unique Ideas for String Light Projects

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