Pergola Lighting Ideas: Transform Your Garden with Outdoor String Lights

Over the last few years, pergolas have become one of the most sought after additions to UK gardens. More than just a stylish structure, a pergola creates a defined space that feels like a brand new 'room' outdoors. Whether used for dining, entertaining, or simply relaxing, pergolas are transforming patios, lawns, and decking areas across the country.

But how do you take your pergola from functional to magical? The answer lies in our outdoor string lights.

With Lighting Legends’ wide range of connectable string lights, you can achieve a look that suits your space perfectly!

Why Pergolas Are Growing in Popularity

The rise in garden pergolas in the UK reflects a wider trend, with people wanting to extend their living space and enjoy the outdoors for longer, even as the darker nights begin to draw in. A pergola offers shade during the day, shelter from light rain, and a cosy atmosphere in the evenings. Add comfortable seating, a dining set, or even an outdoor kitchen, and your pergola quickly becomes the heart of your garden.

It’s no surprise that many homeowners now view their pergola as a true outdoor living room.

Pergola Lighting Ideas That Add Ambience

A pergola without lighting quickly disappears into the darkness at night. By adding outdoor lights, you can transform the structure into a warm, inviting focal point that extends your time outdoors.

Some of the best options include:

• Festoon String Lights - Our best selling ranges, the 'Elite Festoon' and 'Super Festoon' connectable string lights are a top choice for creating a professional finish. Supplied with shatterproof & replaceable LED bulbs, these festoons draped across pergola beams adds instant character. These are often the go to choice for illuminating any outdoor space. Fully waterproof and IP65 rated these lights are designed for year-round outdoor use. 

• Fairy Lights for Pergolas - An underrated, yet highly effective choice for lighting pergolas are our 'Pro Link Fairy Lights'. For a softer, more decorative look, fairy lights can be woven around the beams, trellises or wrapped around posts to create a twinkling glow. Available in Warm White, Bright White and Multi-Coloured options, these are becoming an increasingly popular choice. 

• Solar String Lights - On occasions where mains-powered lights are not an option, our 'Solar/ USB Dual Festoon String Lights' bridge the gap and provide further opportunity to light up pergolas whilst maintaining the classic festoon style. These charge during the day via solar or USB power, and illuminate automatically at dusk. Perfect for pergolas in sun-lit spots! 

And to really push the boat out, by mixing festoons with fairy lighting, you can layer your look and create a unique style that oozes personality.

Easy Installation Options for Any Pergola

One of the biggest advantages of using Lighting Legends Outdoor String Lights is the flexibility of installation.

No matter what type of pergola you own, whether it’s a modern aluminium frame, a traditional timber design, or a DIY garden build, there are plenty of ways to achieve a secure and stylish finish.

Our range of lighting accessories and fixings includes heavy-duty screw hooks, cable ties, and guide wires, making it simple to drape festoons overhead, run string lights neatly along beams, or suspend lights in zig-zag patterns for extra drama.

For wooden pergolas, screw hooks can be installed directly into the beams and hold the lights securely in place, while on aluminium pergolas, our adhesive cable tie bases provide fixed installation without permanently drilling into the surface.

The professional-grade guide wire kits are also perfect for spanning larger spaces or alongside the frames for extra structural support.

With lights that are connectable up to 650m from a single plug, you can start small and extend your display overtime as your outdoor space evolves.

Warm White vs Bright White: Choosing the Right Glow

When designing your pergola lighting set up, it’s worth considering colour temperature. At Lighting Legends, we stock both bright white bulbs and warm white bulbs across our outdoor string light ranges, giving you the flexibility to choose the look that best suits your garden. 

For most pergolas, Warm White outdoor string lights (2700K-3000K) are our top recommendation. They create a cosy, welcoming feel and are also more wildlife friendly than harsher bright white LEDs, which can disrupt natural behaviour in birds and nocturnal animals.

Warm white provides the perfect balance of ambience and functionality, making your pergola inviting well into the evening while keeping the glow natural and comfortable. 

A whole range of replacement bulbs in various colours, styles and pack sizes can be found on the 'Bulbs' section of our website. Visit this for more details as well as all of our latest offers!

The Finishing Touch for Your Garden 'Room'

Your pergola is more than just a structure, it’s an opportunity to create an outdoor sanctuary. By adding the right string lights to your pergola, you can enjoy your garden long after the sun sets.

Whether you’re hosting friends, enjoying family dinners, or unwinding with a glass of wine, pergola string lights transform your garden into a stylish, welcoming retreat.

With both warm white and bright white bulb options available, you can choose the perfect style for your outdoor 'room'. 

We welcome you to explore our full range of festoon lights, fairy lights and lighting accessories at Lighting Legends!

Like Salt & Pepper, Fish & Chips or Spongebob & Patrick, Pergolas & String Lights are quite arguably the 'Perfect Pair'!