You’ve probably strung fairy lights or Edison lights between your trees and through the slats of a pergola. You’re careful to place bollard and mushroom lights along walkways for both beauty and safety, and you’ve placed uplights to highlight especially beautiful trees. However, you might want something a little outside the box for your next party. Here are some ideas you can try.

Use Lanterns

The types of lanterns you can use for nighttime lighting are only limited by your imagination. They range from globular lights you can hang in clusters from trees, to Moroccan fanoos you can place in groups on the tables, to taller, solar-powered “street lights” you place along the edges of your walkways, steps or garden. One idea is to group together lanterns of different heights, or place a tangle of fairy lights into mason jars, and put them everywhere. Line them up against an otherwise bland wattle fence, hang them from trees, or tuck them into corners that never get much light.

Hang a Chandelier

Your interior décor might not be compatible with a beautiful Maria Theresa chandelier full of glittering crystals, so why not hang one in a pergola or cabana? The sight of a chandelier in those places is both startling and classy. One major advantage of outdoor lighting is that you can be flexible with the rules.

Install Lighted Beach Balls and Frisbees

Lighted beach balls and frisbees might be just the thing for a party on the beach or around the pool. They’re inflatable with LED lights tucked inside them. What’s more, the lights change color, which you control remotely. You can also knock them around and even toss them into the water.

Don’t Forget Candles

Candles are a staple at nighttime parties, and no other lighting is more romantic. You have a choice of pillar candles, votive candles, tea candles or tapers, gel candles, candles that float on water or even those fragrant candles that come in jars. Like every other modern lighting option, candles can also use LED lights. This cuts down on the risk of something catching on fire.

Light Up Your Swimming Pool

You can also have lights installed within your swimming pool, though you’ll need to do this well in advance of your party. Like the lighted beach balls, you can change the color of the water remotely through your device. If you don’t want lights actually installed, you can arrange candles and lanterns and beach balls all around your pool for a sensational look.

Creative night lighting makes your outdoor entertainment both festive and safe. And solar-powered and LED lights make them safer. If you live in Levittown, PA or a surrounding area and need lighting services, make your first call to McHales.