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Ideas for Enjoying an Outdoor Summer Evening

It’s June and what means cozy to me this month is enjoying an outdoor summer evening. Finally the nights are warm enough to be outside well past sunset. And when you’re out past dark, you need a bit of lighting in the garden. Here are some great ideas for illuminating your nights. (This post contains affiliate links.)

Lanterns in Trees on a Summer Night in a Garden

Above are suspended glass jars with little tealights tucked inside. A few fairy lights are strung within the trees to create a magical effect.

Today is the first Saturday of the month which means it’s time to join my blogging friends for Cozy Living Saturday. You’ll find their inspiration at the end of this post. 

You’ve probably seen these lighted patio umbrellas before. My daughter has one at her house and it’s such a great way to add a little light at night without making things too bright. It casts a nice ambiance, especially when paired with a small fire pit.

Backyard Deck Umbrella Summer Scene at Twilight

 

If your house is old like mine and you don’t have outdoor electric outlets for lights, consider something vintage and charming like a vintage kerosene lantern. One or two provides enough light for a small patio or deck.

Camp Style Lantern for a Summer Evening

 

String globe lights add fun to a summer evening picnic. String them from the lower branches of a tree and set your table underneath. Your guests will remember the setting with fond memories.

Summer Picnic at Night at Picnic Table

 

Add a large group of citronella candles to an outdoor patio table for evening entertaining (and warding off mosquitoes). A few nearby landscape lights also help to brighten the area.

Cozy summer evening on an outdoor patio

 

Remember outdoor drive-in theaters? Create your own evening entertainment by setting up a makeshift screen framed in lights for easier viewing. What a fun, nostalgic night this would be.

Small cinema with old analog films in summer garden

 

Edison lights are all the rage when it comes to outdoor lighting. You can string these almost anywhere, like a deck or porch railing.

Outdoor Edison lights for patio and deck illumination

 

Don’t forget about creating summer evening ambiance at the front of your home. Pathway lights, porch lights, and solar powered lights are all great choices for adding nighttime curb appeal.

Small Solar Garden Light, Lanterns In Flower Bed. Garden Design.

 

Illuminated home garden path patio lights in evening dusk

 

Japanese lanterns create interesting patterns across a garden path. I love this look!

Japanese landscape lights at garden path

 

An etched milk carafe creates a cute lantern with a tea light – you can also use a mason jar lantern or other vintage jar. Hang them from branches or shepherd’s hooks wherever you need to illuminate a garden space.

Beautiful glass lantern hanging from apple tree

 

I hope these outdoor lighting ideas gave you some inspiration for creating cozy spaces in your yard and garden.

Be sure to visit my Cozy Living friends below to see what they’ve got going on this month.

 

Cozy Living June 2021

Creative Cain Cabin / Making It in the Mountains / Town and Country Living

 

Cozy Living June 2021

Duke Manor Farm / Finding Silver Pennies

 

 

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4 Comments

  1. All beautiful and magical ideas. Here in Michigan it sure got hot all of a sudden and I’m spending my days on the porch reading. I keep telling myself I need those outdoor solar light strands. Do you notice they attract bugs?

  2. Such great and magical ideas. I absolutely LOVE the first image and the outdoor movie night. I’m so excited about being able to be outside after dark and also being able to gather with family and friends now that the vaccine is rolling out 😉