LED light strings, for what occasions?

Do you need a special occasion to decorate your home, enhance your terrace, or give a festive vibe to your garden? Whether it's for wedding decoration, birthday parties, family gatherings... Whether you want ideas for summer garden decor or simply to add warmth to your home, festoon light strings are perfect! They come in a multitude of variations: size, color, shape, style, durability, power—there's definitely a festoon light string to meet your expectations.

Outdoor or indoor LED festoon light string?

LED light strings can be installed indoors or outdoors, but not all are suitable for outdoor use. Dust, moisture, shocks, rain—many factors can damage an LED light string, so it's best to decide where you'll install it beforehand to choose a model that's suitable for your intended use.

IP Rating

IP (Ingress Protection) ratings determine the resistance of bulbs and fixtures to rain and dust. For indoor use, IP20 is generally sufficient, except for damp areas where it's safer and more durable to opt for IP44. For outdoor use, IP44 is perfect for festoon light strings installed under an awning, canopy, pergola, or covered terrace. IP65 is a standard used in professional settings, allowing you to install your festoon light string anywhere outdoors and even (although not recommended) leave it in place all year round.

Durability

To install an indoor festoon light string, turning it on occasionally or taking it out for birthdays or parties, you can choose whatever you like and opt for the most unusual shapes. For an outdoor festoon light string, you should choose quality, robust, and sturdy materials to avoid having to replace it every year. Inspect the various elements of the light string and inquire about the brand.

Shape and Usage

Festoon light strings typically feature medium-sized bulbs, evenly spaced along the electrical cord. Multicolored, with a range of colors, or simply white, LEDs can even be programmable with a remote control!

Types of LED light strings

There are several types of LED light strings that will suit your needs. Determine in advance what you need and how you'll use the string.

Battery-powered

Battery-powered light strings are convenient for occasional events. They're easy to set up and take down, requiring nothing more than batteries, often LR6, which can (or cannot) be rechargeable (be cautious, rechargeable batteries are sometimes less efficient, and the lighting may be weaker). These light strings are often of simple quality, but there are all types of models available. They're light strings for events like Easter, Christmas, Halloween; they can have specific colors or shapes.

Check out our catalog of battery-powered LED light strings

Plug-in

• Plug-in light strings are often sturdier, allowing for creativity such as the ability to connect several together or opt for very long cords. A plug-in light string can last an entire evening, be connected to a switch, and remain in place permanently in your garden, on a terrace, or a balcony.

Solar-powered

Solar-powered light strings are equipped with a small, mobile solar panel that can be hung on a tree or planted in the ground. The panel charges batteries during the day, and then they deliver energy to operate the LEDs at nightfall. These light strings are becoming increasingly efficient, although you may observe a power loss during the night with intensive use.

• Check out our catalog of solar LED light strings

How to install LED light strings

Installing a festoon light string? It's as easy as pie! Just plug in the power cord or insert batteries. To position them, make sure to place them away from high-traffic areas or high enough so that no one is bothered by the hanging light strings. Hang them securely to prevent them from falling, which could potentially trip someone. You can use wire to hang the light strings on nails without damaging them. We recommend not tying knots in the wire, avoiding bending it, and being careful not to damage the wire through friction or contact with a hot element. Caution! A damaged light string will not function properly, and if it's connected to the power supply, it could become dangerous if touched. Quality light strings have bulbs connected in parallel rather than in series, allowing them to function independently of each other.

Points to consider when making your choice

Color temperature

Color temperature is the color of the glow from the luminaire bulb, expressed in Kelvin degrees. The higher the color temperature, the bluer and colder the color, but it's representative of natural light. Warm colors, which appear warmer and more inviting, are further from natural light. They are also less effective for good visibility. A warm white festoon light string.

Lumens

• Lumens express the power of the lighting; choose according to your needs: to illuminate or to decorate? The higher the lumens, the more powerful the bulbs. Although LED bulbs consume little power, there are still several on a light string, which can impact consumption!

• Fringe and icicle light strings are perfect for decoration but are not sufficient for illumination alone!

Interconnectable

• Some Guinguette LED light strings are interconnectable, meaning they are designed for you to connect several together, thereby extending the length of the string. Generally, you can connect a certain maximum number (8 or 10) together.

Replaceable bulbs

• There are light strings whose bulbs cannot be changed. Professional and high-quality Guinguette light strings (therefore a bit more expensive) offer the option to change the bulbs to extend the string's lifespan. This is particularly interesting and even essential for restaurants, outdoor bars, Guinguettes, village festivals...

• You can buy Guinguette light bulbs in sets!

Socket type

• The socket can vary from one light string to another. For models with replaceable bulbs, this is important because standard E27 screw sockets are easier to find, for example.

Wire length, number of bulbs

• Some light strings are sold by the meter, others by the number of bulbs. Also, check an important parameter: the length of the wire between the plug and the first bulb!

We've come to the end of our guide to choosing a bright LED Guinguette light string; you have all the necessary information and even more to make your choice! We wish you enjoyable festive evenings!