The Best Garden Lights for Every Backyard

We've been playing with these unique lighting ideas in our own backyards for a while now, so it's about time we share our secret garden lights ideas with you too! There are no traditional landscape lights in this list of ideas. Why? Because we've been there, done that, and seen it a thousand times! This collection of garden lights ideas for every backyard was created using string lights, lit decor, and even some popular Christmas lights in an entirely new & whimsical way to bring your garden to life at night.

We hope you'll find inspiration in the unusual as we have. Leave us a comment below to let us know which idea is your favorite and share your own garden lights photos with us on Facebook and Instagram -- you just might see them in our next "out of the box" outdoor lighting post!

These beauties remind us of sparklers on the Fourth of July, except they never go out! You can line pathways, create walkways, or highight special parts of the garden with LED starburst light stakes in just a matter of moments. There's no assembly, and the branches are flexible so you can create different looks by spreading them really wide, like in the photos shown here, or keeping them together in tighter clusters!

We love this fresh, all-season take on traditional Christmas pathway lights! Globe light bulbs are most often seen in patio lighting, but when you flip them upside down and stake them into the ground, the result is really fun, whimsical lighting that's perfect for the backyard or garden!

Similar in design to paper lanterns, but way more durable, AurorSuperstars™ add a festive atmosphere hanging from tree branches in a garden seating area or outdoor event space. Love the idea of creating a starry night in your own backyard? Visit our star light decorating guide to see more ideas for adding celestial inspired decor to your garden!

Rope light just might be our favorite outdoor landscape light! These flexible tubes of light can be laid out on the ground, cut to the exact size needed, and secured with garden staples to outline flower beds, garden walkways, and other landscape contours. To learn more about using rope light in your garden and outdoor landscape lighting projects, visit our rope light ideas guide!

Want to know a secret? One of the most popular Christmas light styles is also a gorgeous garden accent light! We love using icicle lights to create romantic settings in the garden. You can outline an entire backyard gazebo with icicle lights or drape a set of these gorgeous light strands between two shepherd's hooks for quick illumination anywhere in the garden! Use shimmering SoftTwinkle™ icicle lights to mimic the magical display of fireflies pulsing on and off gently in the night!

If you love patio lights, but have no way to hang them above an outdoor space, this is an easy solution! Hang globe patio lights along a fence, or between shepherd's hooks to illuminate your garden and backyard without having to install posts or climb trees! Use clear or white globe lights for a welcoming glow and multicolor satin bulbs to add a splash of color to outdoor settings. You can also easily attach patio lights to existing outdoor structures like the pergola shown below, or a gazebo, treehouse, or even a tent.

Our final "not-so-secret" tip for creating a glowing garden is to add fairy lights to planters! The thin wires hide well inside of foliage and battery operated options mean you can take these lights just about anywhere. Just make sure to put the battery pack in a bag to protect it from moisture while outdoors. Battery operated fairy lights are generally not meant to be used for long periods of time outside where rain and water can seep in and cause damage. If you're looking for a more long term option, you can find outdoor rated plug-in fairy lights and LED mini light strings that could be used in planters as well.