When it comes to lighting, the most important word you’re likely to hear is ambiance. Lighting is useful as a tool for illuminating a scene, but it really shines (yea, pun) when you use lighting to create ambiance. Word of the day, right? So how does that work? Generally, ambiance happens when you put the right amount of light in the right place at the right temperature. Not the outside temperature, the color temperature of the light. We’ll get more into that in another article. As a general rule though, think lower color temperature, more ambiance. No one ever said the fluorescent or bright white LEDs in their office really warm up the space. Color temperatures generally vary between 2700K and 5000K, but they can extend beyond those limits. Think of the low side as warm color, like from a fireplace, and the high side as cool color, like in an office space.
So where does this leave us with outdoor lighting? Outdoor lighting is notoriously difficult in a lot of situations because you don’t have the options you have inside. When you’re outside, you’re limited to where you have power (unless you opt for battery power), and you’re limited to where you can place a light. The nice thing about string lights is that you can take the soft light they create and pull that light into the scene. Instead of the harsh light that comes from spot or flood lights, you can gently bring as much light as you need into the environment.
Opt for the incandescent version if you really love that traditional bulb look and warmth. Generally with incandescent bulbs, the dimmer they are, the warmer they get. Remember that with the incandescent versions, you may be changing bulbs more often, and there is a reduction in the number of lights you can string together.
If that super warm, dim glow isn’t a concern, or you need to string many lengths of lights together, opt for the dimmable LED version. For most people, the difference between the two is likely minimal. But if incandescent isn’t a requirement, LEDs look great and will save on electricity too. Watch out for non-dimmable LEDs. There’s nothing wrong with them, but if dimming LEDs are important, look for a set that specifically says dimmable.
Below are three of our picks for a great set of incandescent and dimmable LED outdoor string lights.
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