Hanging lights in your camping tent can be tricky, particularly if you don’t know how to do it. You might find yourself groping in the dark and hoping for the best or spending too much time trying to figure out how to take down those damn clips. You could even end up damaging your tent because you’re not paying attention when trying to get them installed.
How To Hang the Lights
If you’re planning a camping date, there’s no time like the present to figure out how to hang lights in a tent. String lights are a great way to set the mood and create ambiance. Here’s how you can hang String Lights with ease.
Things You’ll Need:
- The Hole. You’ll need something to hang the lights through; otherwise, you can use an Expanding Industrial Strength Clear Cable, which needs a hanger of your own to hold it in place, or a Grommet & Screws Kit, which includes two grommets and two screws each – perfect for a hanging installation.
- The Hanger. To install the hanger in the tent, place your tent stakes in one corner, then hang a line or rope through them. Loop it through a hanging loop (a carabiner) so that you can easily unhook it when needed to exit or go inside the tent.
Step by Step in Hanging String Lights
- Drill a hole in the center of your tent poles, so they’re even with one another. Depending on the type of light you own, use a drill bit that’s bigger than the diameter of your light’s mounting bracket, so there will be room to insert and screw the hanger into place easily.
- Screw the hanger through your tent poles and make sure it’s evenly centered (do this at night so you can easily see if it’s positioned correctly).
- Complete the installation by fixing your lighting to the hanger using wire cutters and your screws or grommets, depending on how you tackle your installation. There’s no need to worry about it being too tight because the hanger will expand once you’ve moved in there, so use caution while gently pushing the light into place when hanging it.
- After installing the lights and hanging them through your tent, you can either leave it as is to create a mood or fully utilize its ambiance.
How To Choose The Right String Light For Your Tent
When choosing string lights for a tent, think about the purpose of the lighting and how that corresponds to the tent’s size and shape.
Here is a list of types of lights which you can choose from and their uses.
- Low and High Beam Headlamps: Wide-angle headlamps like these would be beneficial for tent camping because they can provide a good amount of light in every direction (this is why they’re also great for larger tents). You can use them to mark the corners of your tent, hang lanterns down, and turn on the lights when you need to do things like change clothes or sleep in a different area. Headlamps light up most of the tent and would be ideal if you’re camping on a road trip.
- String Lights: String lights are perfect for shelters of all shapes and sizes. They can also mark out areas like the bed area, bathroom, or area where you’re cooking in your tent.
- Lanterns: If you want to add a touch of elegance to your space, consider using lanterns for both their ambiance and lighting purposes. Lanterns are also used to make a space feel more open and can also be used to provide light for activities within the tent. If you’re hanging string lights for lantern purposes, plan where your lamp will hang based on your power source. Candles, batteries, or electricity can run lanterns. If you’re using a candle, place your lantern where it doesn’t block your entry or exit, and make sure that you choose a safe place to keep it.
- Floor Lanterns: Floor lanterns are an excellent choice for general lighting in tents because they can provide a wide area of light and provide task lighting.
- Photo Lights: You don’t need to take them with you into the tent; these lights can be used to illuminate a minor area or entire tent or can be rigged for specific purposes like creating extra light for cooking in a kitchen area.
- Other Types of Lighting: You can also use wireless lighting or even fishing and Christmas lights with hooks hanging from your ceiling. Photo lights are extra-long lasting, and bright and can light the tent up.
When choosing the right string light for your tent, the easiest thing to do is to think about what type(s) of lighting you want and then decide which light will best meet those needs.
Some of the Frequently Asked Questions People Ask are:
Will lighting enhance my tent camping experience?
Yes! Lighting helps you create a comfortable and cozy environment, so it’s no wonder that most people light up their tents either with strings of lights or lanterns. It also helps you create the right mood. Whether it’s a romantic evening or simply a special family occasion, string lights or lanterns are excellent ways to help everyone relax and enjoy the moment.
Are String lights waterproof?
Not all string lights are waterproof. The standard types of lights found in most stores are not, but some special ones are on the market. The ones that aren’t waterproof can only be submerged briefly and then need to be dried out, which is a pain if you’re camping overnight and don’t plan on leaving your tent.
How many lights should I use?
The number of lights used is dependent on what you are trying to achieve and how large or small your tent is. The idea is to create an environment or atmosphere where people can relax and enjoy the moment, so the number of lights you choose depends on how much lighting you want.
Does this light provide enough lighting?
If it is not bright enough to read a book or even see what you’re doing at night, you might want to consider a brighter option. If it is bright but causes glare and reflection when there’s low light around you, then you’re going to have some problems with sleep time.
In I easily reach these strings to turn them on and off? If you don’t want to track down an extension cord, you may want to consider a light that has a remote control that allows you to turn it on/off without leaving your sleeping bag.
String lights have many light options, but all of them can work to illuminate a tent and create warmth and comfort. Choose your lighting based on the type of light you want and the effect you want it to have. In addition, pay attention to the brightness of the light and whether or not it will shine in your face or cause glare and reflection on your walls. Position them around the exterior, interior, and even over the windows so that you can create the perfect atmosphere inside your tent—one that is warm and filled with memories.