Adding to the fire's glow, these fire pit lighting ideas help transform your outdoor living space into a welcoming retreat.
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10 Fire Pit Lighting Ideas to Set the Scene for Your Outdoor Space
Updated Jul. 18, 2024
Fire pits are a cozy and elegant addition to backyards, gardens, and patios, but the right combination of lighting can take the outdoor space surrounding your fire put to the next level. Lighting may be one of the most frequently overlooked aspects of home decor, but it’s also one of the most fun and creative. Whether you opt for dazzling string lights or fun and funky tiki torches, you’ll be amazed by the impact carefully selected outdoor fire pit lighting can make. We’ve rounded up our favorite outdoor fire put lighting styles to give you some inspiration for styling your own.
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West Elm Antique Bronze Outdoor Lanterns
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Magictec LED Shatterproof String Lights
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JSOT Outdoor Fence Lights
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Lesli Accent Stoll
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Lighting Ever LED Curtain Lights
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SOLPEX Solar Lights
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Deco Home Metal Garden Torches
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SUNTHIN Smart Landscape Spotlights
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URAGO Super Bright Solar Stake Lights
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West Elm Antique Bronze Outdoor Lanterns
Because a fire pit gives off light, a few strategically-placed outdoor lanterns might be all you need to illuminate the rest of the seating area. This stylish fire pit lighting set comes in three sizes and features an antique bronze finish. Insert one or two remote control flameless candles to set the mood quickly.
Magictec LED Shatterproof String Lights
String lights are a common choice for fire pit lighting because they’re versatile, durable, and add a romantic ambiance. These LED string lights are shatterproof and weatherproof to withstand outdoor elements. Hang them from nearby trees, or install upright posts surrounding the fire pit area to achieve the perfect height for your lights. Here are a few tips for hanging outdoor string lights.
JSOT Outdoor Fence Lights
A nearby fence is an excellent opportunity for lighting a fire pit space. These outdoor fence lights are weatherproof, anti-rust and easy to install with a drill or double-stick tape. Plus, they’re solar-powered to help save energy and automatically turn on when it gets dark, so your fire pit area will always be invitingly lit.
Lesli Accent Stoll
In addition to light, a fire pit needs seating—so why not solve two problems at once? These eye-catching light-up accent stools will wow your guests and give them a comfortable place to lounge by the fire. After charging on the included charging pad, each seat has 8 hours’ worth of light—no batteries needed!
Lighting Ever LED Curtain Lights
These twinkle curtain lights will provide fire pit lighting without distracting from the glowing ambiance of the fire. Hang them from a gazebo, a nearby tree branch or against a wall for just the right amount of light and whimsy. This set has a steady “on” option and seven different blinking modes; just remember you’ll need a nearby outlet to power them.
SOLPEX Solar Lights
Use ground lights near your fire pit and the pathway leading up to the fire pit area to help guests find their way. These solar ground lights charge during the day and automatically turn on at night, staying lit for 8 to 10 hours. Each one comes with a ground stake, allowing you to easily push them into the soil or grass so they’re flush with the ground.
Deco Home Metal Garden Torches
Tiki torches are an often overlooked outdoor lighting source but are a great choice. You can easily set them up almost anywhere. And if you fill them with citronella fuel, they can help keep bugs away. This set of four tiki torches has a sleek, modern look and is powder-coated black, which provides extra protection against corrosion and weather. Be sure to take a look at these breathtaking outdoor lighting looks.
SUNTHIN Smart Landscape Spotlights
Remember: when lighting up your fire pit area, the light source doesn’t need to be right next to the pit. Landscape spotlights shine a light on plants or trees near the fire pit, highlighting the landscaping and providing ambient light to the entire area. These color-changing smart landscape spotlights can be controlled with an app, touch button or voice control using Alexa or Google Assistant.
URAGO Super Bright Solar Stake Lights
Lights installed in the ground with simple stakes are a great fire pit lighting choice because they can be placed anywhere— no wires or outlets are required! These solar-powered garden lights give off a beautiful mandala pattern on the ground for a unique look. They are also waterproof, corrosion-resistant, rust-free and continuously glow for 8 to 12 hours when fully charged.
Minetom Star String Lights
Rope lighting is another versatile fire pit lighting idea that can be adapted to your layout. The flexible LED rope can be placed under a bench, on a nearby wall, or around a tree or column to provide light and a unique design element. It can withstand rain and snow, and you can attach up to 15 ropes to extend the length as needed.
Types of Fire Pit Lighting
Seat Wall Lights
These lights are the most popular and can be added easily. The appeal of seat wall lighting is that you can install them without calling on an electrician or handyman, and they’re fairly cost-effective! Of course, an expert is required to install more modern models, but they are simple to install.
Uplighting
Uplighting can be added around trees and steps to create soothing and relaxing ambient light in outdoor spaces. The lights aren’t as bright as spotlights, so they complement the light of the firepit.
Path Lights
Make a safe path to your fire with a lit walkway. You can place one son stakes, which are affordable and have an expensive look.
Outdoor String Lights
Grab some for your outdoor patio if you love the look of string lights. Hang them around your fire pit, which illuminates the space even more. If they’re high enough not to be directly in the flames, the lights can drape over the pit.
What To Look For When Buying Outdoor Fire Pit Lighting
Consider the look and feel you wish to create when choosing lighting for your outdoor fire pit. Outdoor spaces are an extension of your home, and lighting is one of the key ingredients of home decor. Lighting helps create a mood and atmosphere, and it’s important to think about how you want your guests to feel in your space. For example, fairy lights and curtain lights are whimsical and playful, while outdoor lanterns are elegant and understated. Imagine what might be most cohesive with the rest of your decorating choices.
Beyond aesthetics, it’s important to consider ease of installation. While installing LED stools may be as simple as placing them around your outdoor space, installing solar ground lights or stake lights may be a more involved process. Consider whether you will install them yourself or hire a landscaper or electrician to do it for you.
You’ll also want to consider the type of lightbulbs you use for the sake of efficiency and the cost of your electric bill. Opt for LED lights whenever possible over traditional filament bulbs, as they are more energy efficient and last longer.
Why You Should Trust Us
Erica Young, the author of this piece, is a seasoned writer with years of experience in home decor, organization, cleaning, landscaping and DIY projects. Her work has been featured in publications including Family Handyman, Taste of Home, POPSUGAR, The Belladonna, Your Tango, The Organized Mom, Reader’s Digest and Curbly.
Nina Derwin is a commerce updates editor for Reader’s Digest, Taste of Home and Family Handyman with experience researching and reviewing various items to help shoppers find the best products on the market. She researched and updated this piece.
How We Found the Best Outdoor Fire Pit Lighting
Outdoor lighting plays a key role in establishing the mood of your patio, garden, or yard. In searching for our top choices for the best outdoor fire pit lighting, we paid close attention to how the lights looked and their ease of use and efficiency. We focused on finding visually attractive styles that won’t send your electric bill through the roof, and we carefully considered their versatility, prioritizing options that can be used all year round instead of just one season. We considered customer reviews and pared down our choices based on cost and bonus features, like smartphone app compatibility.
FAQ
How high should string lights be over a fire pit?
To ensure safety at all times, it is recommended that you hang your string lights at least eight feet above your fire pit.
Are fairy lights or LED lights better?
The best choice is fairy lights with LED bulbs. LED lights utilize less energy and have up to ten times longer lifespan than traditional fairy lights.
Do outdoor lights use a lot of electricity?
Most modern outdoor lights rely on LED bulbs, which are far more energy-efficient than old filament bulbs. Therefore, outdoor lights use minimal electricity and have a low impact on your monthly electric bill.
Originally Published: July 21, 2021
