12 Budget-Friendly Patio Lighting Ideas That Work No Matter What Your Style Is

If you're looking to perk up your patio, one of the most impactful changes you can make is incorporating some new lighting. Unfortunately, however, landscape lighting can get shockingly expensive, especially if you opt for professional installation. Options that require you to connect your lights to your existing electrical network can run you thousands of dollars for a full setup and could require some serious renovations. Thankfully, this isn't the only choice you have.

The easiest way to cut down the cost of your outdoor lighting is to consider the power source. There are plenty of lighting options on the market that are solar-powered, battery operated, or can easily plug into an existing wall outlet. Because they don't require professional rewiring, they're much easier to install on your own and significantly less expensive. While it might seem like your selection will be limited to a few basic options, there are actually plenty of different lighting looks that you can accomplish with some clever placement. Whether you're on the hunt for some trendy decorative light fixtures to spruce up your outdoor space or looking for low-profile lighting that's nearly invisible during the day, you're sure to find a cost-effective option that will make your patio shine.

If you're looking for a budget-friendly, accessible, and trendy option for your porch lighting, look no further than classic string lights. Because they're so popular, there are plenty of different options available to fit just about any budget, style, or specific need. These Metaku Globe Fairy Lights from Amazon, for example, are completely waterproof, battery-operated, and just $16.88 for a 30-foot strand, so they're a cost-effective way to light up your outdoor space even if you don't have access to an outlet. Simply tack them up, flip them on, and you're ready to enjoy your new lighting.

Wall lights are a low-profile, sleek way to illuminate your outdoor spaces, but if you don't want to shell out a ton of money for complex installation, you might be convinced that they're not a possibility for you. With some research, however, you'll find that there are plenty of options that are much more budget-friendly than expected. Case in point: these Luhlee Solar Outdoor Wall Lights from Amazon. For just $29.99, you get a two-pack of sconces that you can stick directly to the wall. Because they're solar-powered, they're self-sustaining and don't require any wiring.

If you're looking for something that's decorative both day and night, consider investing in a few paper-style lanterns. Lanterns made of real paper obviously won't hold up very well if they're exposed directly to rain or high levels of humidity, but there are waterproof options available that have been designed for outdoor use and are a bit more resistant to changes in weather. These Yucurem Outdoor Garden Landscape Nylon Waterproof Solar Self-Hanging Lanterns from Walmart, for example, are built to withstand wetter conditions, don't require any complex wiring, and are only $12.54 for a pack of two.

Sometimes, it's best to keep it simple. If you have a small outdoor space or want to curate a cozy, romantic vibe, pick up some faux candles to act as your lighting. This is by far one of the lowest-cost options on the list, but even a small investment can make a big impact. Look for something that's designed for outdoor use like these Better Homes and Gardens 6" White Flameless Flicker LED Candles from Walmart. You can leave them as-is or spruce them up a bit with a candle holder, a tied-on ribbon, or even some painted-on designs.

Lanterns have been used as a form of outdoor lighting for centuries, but wall-mounted, wired options can be expensive and difficult to install. Luckily, there are plenty of other ways to incorporate this classic lighting choice into your outdoor space. If you're just looking for a simple tabletop lantern, you can pick up something like this Borrby Lantern from IKEA and fill it with a battery-operated candle. There are also quite a few all-in-one options like this Black Solar Outdoor Lamp from At Home that can be easily hung on a garden hook or secured to the wall.

It seems a bit counterintuitive, but the most undetectable lighting is often the most expensive. Luckily, this doesn't have to be the case. With some clever placement and the right products, you can easily create stairway lighting that you'll barely notice when it's not in use. To accomplish this, pick up some puck lights like these YiLaie LED Solar Deck Lights from Amazon. Secure them to the risers of your outdoor stairs, then sit back and enjoy the automatic illumination once the sun goes down. Because these lights are solar-powered, you won't even have to worry about batteries.

LED strip lighting had quite the moment a few years ago and has since fallen from favor a bit, but, with proper placement, it can become a timeless addition to your outdoor space. Pick up a roll of outdoor strip lights like these Ailbton 100 ft Outdoor LED Strip Lights from Amazon, then get to work planning their placement. The trick is to stick the lights to places where they're not directly visible, like under ledges and behind furniture. This way, you'll get that vibrant, colorful glow without having to see an unsightly plastic strip.

String lights are one of the most popular options for outdoor spaces, but if you're looking for something that's a bit more impactful than a single strand, try decking out the roof of your patio in all-over canopy lighting. While you could accomplish this with regular string lights if you already have them available, mesh-style lights like these Incandescent Mini Christmas Net Lights from Target are much easier to hang. Because they're a sheet of lights rather than a singular strand, all you have to do is secure the corners to your ceiling with some hooks.

Path lighting can help to light your way through the yard, illuminate your driveway, and ensure the entrance to your front door is visible, but it's also a great choice to better illuminate the area around your patio. Pick up a wallet-friendly option like these Mainstays Solar Powered Black Classic Column LED Path Lights for just $0.97 each, then use them to light up the border of your patio and any spaces in your yard you want to highlight. They're solar powered, automatically light up when the sun goes down, and already on a convenient stake.

Many of these lighting ideas involve hanging lights along your roof or on the walls, but if you're looking for a no-fuss installation method that doesn't require any additional tools, consider adding your lighting to your fence or railing instead. This way, all you have to do is wrap or drape the lights along the existing structure — no ladder or nails are necessary. If your fence or railing is further away from the primary seating area, make sure you invest in large, bright lights like this Honeywell Outdoor/Indoor Plug-In A-Shape Bulb String Light Set from Home Depot.

Draping your trees and bushes in glowing lights is common around the holidays, but who says you can't keep the look year-round? Adding some lighting to the greenery in your backyard is a great way to illuminate your space and ensure you're left with a subtle glow rather than a direct, harsh light on the patio. Just about any light that's safe for outdoor use can be used to light up your trees, paper lanterns, and other decorative options included, but one style that really shines is cascading lights like these Waterfall Fairy Lights from At Home.

One of the easiest ways to ensure you're making the most of your money is by investing in items that can perform multiple functions. Using a small fire pit on your patio for warmth, cooking, and lighting, for example, is a great way to get the most bang for your buck. Large fire pit tables can get fairly pricey, especially if they're permanently installed into your outdoor space, but you can accomplish a similar look by investing in a simple metal fire pit or something like this Cinder Tabletop Bowl from Solo Stove.