18' LED Rope Light Kits For Easy DIY Installations
For the deck and column installations we'll talk about here, we used these 18' LED rope light kits. The kits have a power cord already attached and watertight end to end connectors that let you connect up to 250ft of rope light together.
150ft Rope Light Spools
If you prefer to create custom lengths of rope light so you have an exact fit for your project, 150 foot rope light spools can be cut to desired lengths and connectors would need to be added where appropriate. Our Rope Light Instructions can help guide you through working with rope light spools.
Additional Supplies Needed
In addition to red, cool white, and blue LED rope light kits, you'll also need zip ties in a color matching your columns and deck or other anchors of your choice to complete these installation projects. Red, white, and blue bows, ribbons, and additional patriotic decor items may also be needed to add a finishing touch to your display.
How to Wrap Columns With Red, White, & Blue Rope Lights
Installing rope light around columns is all about acheiving a uniform appearance. This will take some time to achieve and may require several adjustments as you go. With this in mind, we recommend you recruit a friend or family member to help you with this DIY project, because it's way easier (and more fun) with two people!
The amount of rope light you need will depend on the width and height of the columns you plan to cover, but a rough estimate would be 1-2 feet of lights for every 1 foot of column height.
- First, merge the three colors together by placing a zip tie around all three at the end with the cap (not the plug end).
- Next, anchor the set of three you just tied together to the top back of the column to help hide the ends. You can use either a zip tie around the column to hold the rope light in place, or install a hook into the back of the column and then zip tie the rope lights to the hook for a more permanent solution.
- Now simply spiral the set of three rope lights down the column. The second person should help to keep tension on the lights while the other person is doing the wrapping.
- If you need to connect multiple lengths of rope light together as you go: detach the plugs from each of the three rope light colors you just wrapped down the column. Then connect the next set of three to the first set using the attached threaded end connectors and continue wrapping down. The second person should help with this process to make sure the rope light stays in place while you're making the additional connections needed.
- If you find that you are short on length or have a little extra rope light to work with when you reach the bottom, the extra person can help to slide the wrapped rope light up or down on the column to create a more uniform finish at the bottom. Make all necessary adjustments before you move to the next step.
- Once you have reached the bottom, zip tie or anchor the rope light to the base of the column and plug the three sets into available power.
Closeup of Rope Light Connectors
Red, Cool White, & Blue LED Rope Light
Columns Wrapped in Red, White, & Blue Rope Light
Patriotic Deck Lights Using LED Rope Light
Railing Wrap Method
You'll need zip ties and 18 foot LED rope lights kits in red, cool white, and blue, to complete this deck lighting project.
- Use a zip tie to secure the three colors to each other before you start, preferably near the plug end. Then use another zip tie to secure the bundle of three tubes to the railing closest to the outlet.
- Begin wrapping the red tube around your deck railings and leave some space as you go for the other two colors. Keep a good amount of tension on the tubing as you create each wrap so the rope light can remain secure as you progress. We found that using this approach of wrapping each color around separately was the easiest installation method and achieved the most even tension.
- When you come to the end of one 18 foot rope light, connect the next by unscrewing the cap on the end of the installed rope light and removing the plug from the next length of tubing you plan to use. Then plug the two pieces together and tighten the seal around them.
- Repeat this process until you come to the end of your railing. A zip tie placed at the end of the entire run is recommended and often necessary to keep the end of the tubing secure.
- After you finish one color, go back and wrap the other two in the same way. Shift the different colors against each other as you complete each wrap so that they lay neatly side by side.
Red, White, & Blue Patriotic Deck Lights
Patriotic LED Rope Light Railings
Swag Method
Remove the rope light from the packaging and unroll it. To help get it a little more straight after being wound up in the box, enlist the help of a second person to assist you in gently pulling on the tubing from opposite sides.
When all of the rope light is out and fairly straight, zip tie the three colors together onto a point on the deck railing near a corner or edge of the house. Then let the rope lights swag to the desired depth and zip tie them to the railing at the second point. Repeat this process across the front and sides of your deck. To create a polished look, add bows to each point where the zip ties are used to secure the rope lights to the railing.
Red, White, & Blue LED Rope Light Swag
Red, White, & Blue LED Rope Light
