Outdoor Halloween Lights – Creating Great Halloween Yard Lighting

Outdoor Halloween lights go a long way to creating that perfect ‘haunted house’ ambiance for your home at Halloween. They can be placed both in the garden and on the roof and exterior walls of your house to great effect, and there’s a huge variety of external Halloween lights on the market to choose from. They’re a must if you’re having a party or just want to create the best Halloween display possible, and this article looks at some outdoor Halloween lighting ideas that will help you create one of the most impressive outdoor Halloween displays in your neighbourhood.

Types Of Halloween Outdoor Lights

There are lots of different types of Halloween lighting effects you can create, especially if you mix up a variety of different types of light. Here are some of the most popular:

1. Halloween String Lights / Fairy Lights

Tiny string lights aren’t just for Christmas – you can get Halloween versions too! Orange and purple lights are the most common colours for Halloween, and they’re often shaped like pumpkins, or sometimes other Halloween characters like witches or skulls.

2. Halloween Rope Lights

As the name suggests, rope lights consist of a solid rope, which often has a variety of flashing effects, or maybe solidly lit. For Halloween look out for those in traditional colours such as orange.

3. Halloween Stake Lights & Other Standalone Lights

Stake lights are anchored in your lawn by use of a stake, which makes them very stable. Halloween stake lights might be shaped like characters such as zombies, ghosts, pumpkins and other Halloween motifs. Other standalone Halloween lights may not feature a stake, but have a solid base which enables them to stand securely, or they may be designed to be strung in the trees or other areas; an example of this type are those lights shaped like spiders webs which are draped over trees or placed in the window, or illuminated hanging critters like spiders (below, from Amazon).

4. Solar Halloween Lights

Solar Halloween lights are a great idea if you care about the environment, and want to reduce your electricity bills too. They are safer too, as they need no wiring, but instead recharge during the day. Another advantage of solar lighting is that it’s easier to setup, again because no exterior wiring is needed. Solar Halloween lighting comes in various forms, including pumpkin lights, and lights shaped like other Halloween characters.

5. Projection Lights

Another option for outdoor Halloween lighting is to use a projector to decorate the walls of your house with various scary images. This Halloween lighting option can also be used indoors, and is a great idea for Halloween parties. Since the images you project can be changed as often as you like, this is a more versatile choice than many other types of Halloween decoration and lighting.

6. Halloween Pumpkin Lanterns

Halloween pumpkins are a staple part of any household’s Halloween decorations, make great outdoor lights as well. Once you’ve carved your pumpkin with a suitably scary design, it can be lit from within by using candles, a torch or other lighting source. Illuminated jack-o-lantern lampslook great after nightfall, and can be mounted on stands or placed around your porch to welcome your Halloween party guests.

7. Black Lights

Black lights make another great Halloween lighting option. They emit a spooky purplish glow when it gets dark, and if any of your Halloween props feature fluorescents paints, or your guests wear fluorescent make-up, this will be shown off to great effect under the black light bulbsYou can enhance your Halloween decorations further by adding black light spray to make them glow under black lighting.

8. Halloween Light Covers

You don’t have to buy Halloween lights specially either. If you already have lights on the exterior of your house, another option is to get hold of some Halloween light covers which fits over the top of these. In this way, you can create some great looking outdoor Halloween lamps with very little hassle or extra expense.

Tips for Installing Outdoor Halloween Lighting

If you’ve never created an outdoor Halloween lighting display before, be warned that it can be a time-consuming process, depending on how complex your ideas are.

You’ll probably want to create a written plan to begin with, so you’ll know what you need, and where everything needs to go. It’s important to make sure you’ve got all the accessories you need to securely attach your lights to walls, trees etc, and also that you don’t end up overloading any electrical circuits.
It’s also important to use lighting that’s specifically designed for outdoor use, and ensure that all plugs and cords (including extension cords) are well insulated against water. Always follow any instructions that are included with your lights carefully, and the whole process will go much more smoothly.
Don’t forget too, that solar Halloween lights provide a much more fuss-free option, although that you may not find the same variety to choose from.

Where To Buy Outdoor Halloween Lights

Many general department stores and other places that sell Halloween paraphernalia will stock a variety of Halloween yard lights. However, you’ll probably find the best bargains online, as web-based retailers tend to have much lower overheads than their brick and mortar counterparts, and can pass the savings on to you.
It also pays to start shopping for your Halloween lights early, as prices tend to increase as Halloween draws closer. I suggest checking out Amazon and eBay, as these sites have some of the lowest prices and best selections online. Just make sure that you buy good-quality lights wherever you shop from, as safety should always be the first consideration.

Related posts:

1. Halloween Yard Decorations – Outdoor Halloween Decorating Ideas