It's almost that time of year again: time for dressing down in your favorite pair of shorts, calling up your closest family and friends, and of course throwing a few slabs onto the sizzling grill. That's right—it's time for a barbecue! But before you begin making those phone calls and inquiring about who's bringing which side, consider sprucing up your outdoor lighting setup. These decorative lighting tips can help to create a fun ambiance and are also helpful if your barbecue bash lasts into the evening.

String Lights

Who doesn't love Christmas in July? Add spunk to your outdoor space by using Christmas string lights in numerous places across your backyard. Christmas outdoor string lights are perfect for quickly adding ambience and decorative lighting. They come in a wide variety of incandescent and LED options, including mini lights, C7 & C9 string lights, icicle lights, and much more.

For example, run C7 or C9 lights along fences, gazebos, or patio roof lines. Use tree wrap lights to enhance the trunks of your trees or shrubs. Another option for stringed lights is simple-to-use net lights. Wires can easily be concealed in bushes and other shrubbery, allowing the sparkle of your lights to be the main focus.

Outdoor Lighting 101: When selecting any type of lights for outdoor use, whether light bulbs or string lights, ensure they are outdoor-rated. In most cases, you will want lighting that is wet-location rated.

Patio Lights

Another option for lighting your outdoor space is patio lights. These lights are both functional and decorative, providing better illumination than holiday string lights while creating a cozy atmosphere. Patio lights can be hung from your house to trees, posts, and even fences. For installation tips, check out the video below:

What makes patio lights so popular is the ability to pick out the bulbs you want. Some of the most popular bulb choices include antique bulbs, S14s, and globes. We do recommend using shatter-resistant bulbs if installing lights near pools, play areas, and other high-traffic areas. If you are more budget-conscious, we also offer patio light kits that come with bulbs.

Outdoor Lighting 101: When selecting bulbs for your patio lights, make sure you don't exceed the maximim wattage of the strings. Most strings with have a wattage limit on the individual sockets, as well as the total run of the strings.

Yellow bug lights used for outdoor lighting help deter bugs.

Yellow Bug Light Bulbs

Nothing gets in the way of a good outdoor barbecue more than pesky insects. No one wants their guests to deal with the itchy agony of mosquitoes and bothersome flies. Equipped with a unique yellow coating that limits flying insects, yellow bug lights are the solution to your fears.

Unlike paraclipse fly traps, these lights do not kill bugs, though they will deter certain flying insects. Because insects view light differently, you will still have some critters flying around, but the good news is there won't be as many. Some of these incandescent yellow lights can last upward of 2500hours—plenty of time to keep the bugs at bay.

Outdoor Lighting 101: Want to deter bugs while being more energy efficient? LED bulbs don't attract as many bulbs . You can learn more

Lanterns

Lanterns can be used year-round, and they are a popular choice for outdoor barbecues. Their flexibility and mobility make them easy to use in a variety of locations and applications. Lanterns can be hung on the branches of trees, placed along your backyard path as path lights, and even used as centerpieces for your outdoor tables. You can use traditional lanterns to achieve these effects. Other options include pairing lanterns with flameless candles or using LED lanterns.

One major advantage of flameless and LED lanterns is that they can be used repeatedly. Since they are battery-operated, you don't have to worry about wax melting everywhere. Flameless candles are also an ideal choice if there are children attending your barbecue, as they reduce the risk of fire-related injuries.

Patio Table Lamps

If you are looking for a way to directly illuminate tables, patio table lamps are the perfect choice. These cordless, rechargeable lamps provide multiple brightness settings as well as a bug light setting. Each lamp recharges using a USB cord, comes in various finish options, and can be used indoors and outdoors. We offer two distinct lines of patio table lamps: Newport and Malibu. Our Newport line has four light levels, is height-adjustable, and comes with a bottle stopper attachment and magnetic hook. The Malibu line features a more modern look and three light levels.

Colored Light Bulbs

This evening is all about summer fun and celebration. What better way to add an extra decorative touch to your backyard barbecue than by screwing in a few colored light bulbs? As we have learned in previous posts, colored lighting has a variety of uses in outside lighting fixtures.

The best places to use these lights during your backyard grub-fest are in patio light fixtures, around swimming pools, and in landscape lighting. Decorating with colored lights can give your barbecue a backdrop of hued illumination throughout the evening.

Now that you have a few lighting ideas for your next barbecue bash, the only thing left to decide is what you're going to cook and who's in charge of bringing the potato salad. Do you have any tips that you would like to add on bringing the light to your next outdoor gathering? You know the drill: write a comment below or send over some of your ideas through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or Instagram! And for help finding the perfect outdoor lighting for any occasion, call 1-866-511-8564 to speak with one of our US-based lighting experts.