Solar fairy lights are a fantastic addition to a garden, pergola, dining space, decorative feature, pond surround or fencing, with delicate, twinkling lights that illuminate the garden or front of your property without flood lights that can detract from the ambience of a warm evening outdoors.

Homeowners and businesses are keen to install solar lights in dining areas, decks and patios, wanting to improve the usage and appeal of outdoor seating but needing to ensure their lighting solutions are low-cost, durable, and will look elegant and ‘grown up’.

Here, we’ll share everything you need to know about selecting the ideal fairy lights for your home or business, tips on positioning your lights for optimal functionality, and some ideas about using high-quality modern fairy lights that are cool, current, and refined.

Understanding the Costs and Maintenance of a Set of Solar Fairy Lights

Let’s start by discussing the contrasts between wired lighting and solar lights—our Solar Fairy String Lights are a perfect example of the latter.

Rather than small, thin wiring that is prone to breakages, unreliable tiny bulbs, and cabling that is impossible to keep neat and untangled, professional solar fairy lights provide contemporary lighting. They combine the appeal of a series of small, inobtrusive lights with more advanced features and performance than you may expect.

Conventionally, string fairy lights were very similar to Christmas lights, dependent on mains electricity, and with the inevitable nuisance of having to test and replace bulbs on a regular basis when they blew.

Solar lights, especially those engineered for long-lasting performance, are a world away, with:

  • 100% eco-friendly solar power—this costs nothing to run, recharges entirely through solar energy, and will function regardless of a power outage.
  • Commercial-grade bulbs, automated lighting switches, durable, weatherproof materials, and innovative battery technology to ensure that batteries will not degrade or fail after exposure to hot or cold temperatures.
  • Independently accredited waterproof casings with batteries that function for 1,000+ cycles – equivalent to over eight years of performance with minimal maintenance – quality solar lights.

Each set of solar lights is fully charged within four to six hours when placed in direct sunlight. They also have the dual benefit of a USB charging slot—perfect if you need your fairy lights to function during overcast or poor weather.

Where to Install Fairy Lights for a Warm, Ambient Glow

The dual charging options provide a hint about the best installation points. Solar fairy lights work perfectly if they have sufficient sunlight during the day to achieve a full recharge.

While most gardens and outdoor spaces will provide ample access to solar energy, we’ve incorporated the additional charging option for convenience and portability.

In gardens with overhanging trees, shrubs, and shade, the solar battery can be a little harder to recharge, so temporarily moving the lights to a place with great sunlight or recharging the lights indoors means you have plenty of options.

Each of the ten bulbs across the 8.8-metre length provides a 2,700k colour temperature—a soft, gentle, and flattering light that provides sufficient lighting for dining and entertainment without being overly bright or distracting.

Placing your fairy lights overhead ensures you have a delicate lighting solution, with clear finishes on each bulb that look wonderful:

  • Strung along fence lines and trellises
  • Wound around trees and archways
  • Bracketing focal points and water features
  • Placed overhead on pagodas and pergolas

The smaller bulbs remain visible but blend perfectly into the natural landscape, adding a touch of romance, glamour, and aesthetic or highlighting planting, shrubs, decking, mosaic tiling, and serving areas or food preparation spaces.

You can also use the same fairy lights in indoor settings, making them versatile enough for any space. They are a popular solution for garden parties, weddings and birthdays, outdoor BBQs, and other celebrations where atmospheric lighting can be placed anywhere you wish.

As an added feature, you can pick between six lighting modes, depending on the event or garden space, with dimmable illuminations adapted to your requirements.

Strategically placing one or two strings of solar fairy lights is a great way to capture attention and add subtle touches of colour. In contrast, a larger number of lights provides a mesmerising, magical appearance.

Creating a Welcoming Atmosphere With Outdoor Solar Fairy Light Strings

Solar garden lights require little effort or upkeep and yet look charming. They are ideal for gardens or spaces without a mains electricity connection, for those focused on renewable, environmentally conscious lighting solutions, or as an alternative to the bright glare of security lights.

There are further advantages for play spaces, restaurants and bars with outdoor seating or family-friendly attractions since the lack of electricity means solar fairy lights are child-safe and do not carry any electrocution risks – especially during damp weather when corroded wired lighting can become hazardous.

With a flexible, waterproof cable, the great aspect of fairy lights is that you can hang them however you’d like to, without needing to fix them to an object or use a permanent fixture or wall bracket.

Some of our favourite outdoor styling options that generate an atmosphere of relaxation and calm include:

  • Gentle staircase lighting, winding lights around handrails to ensure steps are clear and marked out for guests but also become part of the space’s ambience.
  • Cascade lighting, often along decks and pagodas with upper beams, with solar lights hung from each corner for a festive, stunning impact that mimics a starlight night sky.
  • Design-focused outdoor lighting, which uses solar fairy lights as a soft, backlit solution to draw the eye to prominent focal points and features.
  • Stringed fairy lights in even lines create a uniform, neat, and professional look with a hint of retro styling. This ensures that every part of a room, balcony, or deck is bright enough to navigate but has a laid back vibe.

You’ll find further information on using solar fairy lights in your outdoor space through our product pages, which include full product specifications and images.

Otherwise, please contact the solar lighting specialists here at Solight if you have any questions we can assist with.