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Learn how to hang outdoor string lights on a deck. It’s a simple task with only a few materials needed.

small wood deck with string lights draped around it

We’ve been using our deck space so much more this summer now that we can spend our evenings out here, even when the sun sets and it gets dark. Thanks to this pretty string lights overhead, we’ve created a really beautiful ambience and glow on our deck that keeps up out here until late every night.

Can you see the wooden stake on the top right hand side of our deck? That’s a string light pole and it’s all you need to hang deck string lights! If like us, you don’t have a sort of overhead structure like a gazebo to hang lights from, then this easy DIY will be something you’ll love.

In only 30 minutes, you’ll have those pretty string lights draped over your deck or patio and you can start to enjoy them!

Ready to start this project? Shop the supplies by clicking the links below.
string light pole attached to raised deck

How To Build a String Light Pole on a Deck

Time needed: 1 hour

Simple tutorial to attach a string light pole to a raised deck

  1. Determine how many poles you will need

    We used two – one on each of the farthest corners of the deck. This way we could attach hooks to the house and to the poles and swag the lights back and forth.

  2. Paint or stain the wood poles to match the deck

    Allow to dry. (read about what we painted our deck with here)

  3. Attach poles to the deck

    Using wood screws, attach each pole to the back of the deck. We used two screws for each post to ensure they were stable. Make sure you check for level as you are screwing them in.

  4. Add Hooks

    Screw a hook on to the top of each pole as well as to the side of the house where the string lights will start and end.

  5. Attach String Lights

    Simply hang the beginning of the light set from the first hook and drape across to the next hook, then the next hook and so on. We had a few feet of lights left when we reached the last hook and just let it trail down the side of the house.

    Note: Depending on where your nearest electric outlet is you may need to get a little creative with plugging in your lights.

    Ours is way over next to our bulkhead, which is about 15 feet away from the deck. We plugged an extension cord in, tacked it under the siding and ran it all the way over the deck and up side to meet the lights.

    You can see the white extension cord (in the photo grid above) where it meets the black string of lights.

Get the most out of your deck or patio by hanging string lights

RELATED: How To Clean Patio Cushions


String lights draping over deck and down the side of house

Our deck is not huge, so instead of swagging the lights back and forth, we chose to simple create a perimeter of lights around the deck.

If you wanted to get the swag effect, simply attach more hooks to the house and a center pole (or more) attached to the deck.

Here’s a quick video from my phone so you can get a better idea of how pretty and glowy the string lights are when it’s completely dark out (this was taken at 10pm!).

How To Hang String Lights if You Only Have a Patio

The same ideas will apply! Instead of attaching the wood poles to a deck, I would suggest putting them into a planter and perhaps filling it with a small amount of cement (maybe 1/4 of the way) to really weigh it down. Then fill the rest of the planter with some soil and succulents to make it pretty.

You can also use command hooks to simple drape them across the side of your house, like we did!

how to hang string lights on the the side of a house

See how easy it is to hang string lights on a deck? We really love the effect these string lights have created on our deck and we’ve been spending so much more time outside enjoying our deck while the weather is still nice! 

P.S. Don’t forget to check out the full summer deck reveal!

An outdoor wooden deck with blue and white furniture & decor, under a canopy of string lights

Hang String Lights on Your Deck

Savor a quiet summer evening under a canopy of glowing string lights that you put up yourself!

Materials

  • Furring strips ( 1-in x 2-in x 8-ft ) - stained or painted to match deck
  • Cup hooks
  • Exterior wood screws
  • Outdoor string lights

Tools

  • Electric Screwdriver
  • Level

Instructions

    1. Determine how many poles you will need. We used two - one on each of the farthest corners of the deck. This way we could attach hooks to the house and to the poles and swag the lights back and forth.
    2. Paint or stain the wood poles to match the deck. Allow to dry.
    3. Attach poles to the deck. Using wood screws, attach each pole to the back of the deck. We used two screws for each post to ensure they were stable. Make sure you check for level as you are screwing them in.
    4. Add hooks. Screw a hook on to the top of each pole as well as to the side of the house where the string lights will start and end.
    5. Attach string lights. Hang the beginning of the light set from the first hook and drape across to the next hook, then the next hook and so on. We had a few feet of lights left when we reached the last hook and just let it trail down the side of the house.

Notes

If you have a patio and not a deck, the same steps will work! Instead of attaching the wood poles to a deck, I would suggest putting them into a planter and perhaps filling it with a small amount of cement (maybe 1/4 of the way) to really weigh it down. Then, fill the rest of the planter with some soil and succulents to make it pretty. You can also use command hooks to drape them across the side of your house, like we did!

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21 Comments

  1. Michelle G says:

    I love this idea and will try it on our deck. Also love that striped mat you have down– can you tell me brand name or source? Thank you!

  2. Mary Carter says:

    Don’t the furring strips warp in the weather?

  3. Thanks for the ideas/tutorial.

    How high are your lights from the deck floor? I used 2″x2″x8′ posts, but took them all the way down to the deck floor. This puts the lights, with swag, at the lowest point of the trough(s) at about 6 1/2′. Based on your pictures, it looks like your posts are mounted high on the deck railing making the light strands about 3′ higher (maybe 10′).