9. Curtain Wall of Lights for an Outdoor Room Effect
Curtain lights, which are strings with multiple vertical drops, are typically used indoors during the holidays. But hung outdoors along a patio wall or pergola side, they create a flowing wall of light that feels like an outdoor room divider or a softly glowing backdrop.
Materials include one or more sets of outdoor-rated curtain lights, an outdoor curtain rod or strong wire, and mounting hardware. Optional additions include sheer outdoor curtains layered with the lights for a soft, billowy look.
Install a curtain rod or run a heavy-gauge wire between two anchor points. The anchor points can be the sides of a pergola, a wall and a post, or two trees spaced appropriately. Hang the curtain lights from the rod or wire, ensuring the bottom of the lights is several inches above the patio floor so they don’t get tangled underfoot. Plug the lights into a nearby outdoor outlet, or choose solar-powered curtain lights for a wire-free option.
Installation takes about an hour, and the result is one of the more dramatic options on this list. Curtain walls work beautifully as a backdrop for a seating area, a privacy screen between you and a neighbor, or a focal point behind a small outdoor bar.
To soften the look, layer a set of sheer white outdoor curtains with the lights. When the breeze catches both, the effect is positively cinematic.