It's Lit! 10 Outdoor Lighting Ideas That Will Make Your Summer Shine

Patio season is upon us. And now that you’ve got your outdoor space set up and stocked with your favorite chilled beverages and uber comfy seating, it’s time think about lighting. Sure, citronella candles are great and add to the ambience (and keep the bugs away, at least theoretically) but if your summer plan is to spread out and spend more than a few long, languorous hours in your outdoor space (and who among us doesn’t have that plan quite frankly?), what you need is lighting.

Whether entertaining friends of cozying up with your nearest and dearest, nothing sets the mood and helps you get the most out of the outdoors like a few well-placed lighting touches. We’ve pulled together a host of options that will create the perfect vibe for your space. 

String lights are ideal for pulling a space together. These Edison style bulbs with a spiral filament will add a touch of Brooklyn cool to your scene.

These LED globe string lights are solar powered. Simply stake the panel in the ground or mount on a wall where it has access to full sun and you will be good for 7-8 hours of light.

Give your outdoor space that indoor living feeling with a pendant light. This one is also solar-powered. It’s ideal over an outdoor dining space or conversation set.

If you need to light a path or create firm perimeter, these torches will do the trick. They are solar-powered and feature a “dancing” flickering flame to add to the ambience.

These beautiful, all-weather lace lanterns cast a magical spell when suspended from trees. Powered by the sun for up to 7 hours.

Add a dose of charm to your outdoor space with this "BAR" sign — and make sure your guests know just where they can find a cool one.

These vintage LED lanterns are battery- powered and come in an array of fun colors — pink, purple and teal, please! A dimmer knob let’s you control light output.

These solar-powered mason jars are brilliant. The top cap features a small solar panel that powers fairy firefly lights in the jar. Hemp rope and hangers are included so you can suspend them from tree branches or string them up together.

Cactuses are totally a thing this year. Stay in step with everyone’s favorite trend with these micro cactus string lights. The best part, no prickers!

If you’re looking for some dramatic accent lighting look no further than this metal Moroccan style lantern. Includes an LED candle that comes with a handy timer.