I joke that it’s like “turning off a big light.” The sun is setting, and suddenly the whole yard is glowing. The lights are on, the string lights above the lake are swaying in the wind, the street lights are starting to glow, and the trees are lighting up below. It’s our favorite time of day out here. Creating this magic is about a few different things, and I’m sharing how we pulled it off.
After we shared the new reel on Instagram, many of you asked the same question:“How do we make our yard look like that at night?”” The honest answer is that it is not a single gamelayers. Our backyard glow is a few light sources, each one performing a single function, all set to the same warm temperature. That way, the whole area feels cohesive instead of patchy.
Our Rule: Warm, Layered, and “Light” not “Bright”
Before we get into the quest, here’s the philosophy that ties it all together. We always go to warmer light temperatures – somewhere2750–3000K– and we place many small sources rather than relying on a few bright ones. The goal is soft, even light on flat faces and tablets, never a hard light. If you take nothing from this post, take this: match your color temperature to everything, and your entire yard will read on purpose. (If you want to remove the bulbs, our bulb guide goes in-depth.)
Now, let’s go to the back yard, light by light.
String Lights over the Pool
These are the displays! They are the canopy of lights that everyone asks about. We have waterproof string lights strung over the pool, and they instantly make the whole space feel like a party (even if it’s just us). We did a lot of research before settling on these: we wanted2700KLED warm white bulbs are energy efficient and externally rated, and they hold up well.
If you’ve never hung string lights before, fear not. We’ve written a full tutorial on how to set up a string of lights that goes between ancho, space, and keeps the swag balanced.
Store: String Lights
Water Lights (Built-in + Floating)
The lake itself is a source of light. Ours has itbuilt-in color-changing lights— girls love to race bikes with colors (“disco” setting is a favorite here). Many indoor and outdoor pools can be equipped with LEDs that change color, and make the water glow inside after dark.
We love it toofloating pond lights. You just throw them in, and drill the top – they look incredible next to the string lights above and require zero installation.
Floating Pool Lights
Night swimming just got a lot more fun with these solar powered floating lights.
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Perimeter & Up Lights
This is a layer that many people forget, and it’s one that adds real drama. We put in a little electricitylights upshining through our large green trees and a few prominent oaks, and a brick wall. At night, lighting the trees from below makes the whole circuit feel mysterious and huge, as the yard goes on forever. We also have deck style lights placed along the edge of the outdoor kitchen counter for a cool breeze.
For a no-wiring version of this look, thesesolar powered outdoor lightsto bring light to the warm perimeter.
Speaking of solar, one of our latest additions to the backyard is thisrechargeable umbrella lightsfrom Amazon. They offer Mediterranean summer nights at their best.
Store: Hardscape Lighting | Solar-Powered Spot Lighting|Umbrella Lights
A pit of fire
Every backyard needs a fire feature – equal parts light source and gathering place, and it works all year round. Ours is a built-in gas fire pit, and the area around it has small pendant lights for added ambiance. But you don’t need anything built-in to get light: something portableSolo Stoveancientstone fire pitor even this collectioncitronella torchesit will cast a nice flickering light (and keep bugs at bay).
Pro tip: keep a s’mores basket full for spontaneous summer nights. (Our blackberry campfire s’more is non-negotiable.)
Solar Table Lamps
This is my secret weapon for close nights. I have a littlesolar powered tabletop lampsspread across our living space, and are perfect for intimate conversations. That soft light on the side table makes everything feel cozy. Because they are solar powered, there are no wires to hide and nothing to plug in; they charge all day and light up all night.
Store: Solar lamp
Street lights
Traffic lights do double duty. They help keep everyone safe on stairs and walkways,againthey add that low, ambient light that makes the yard feel finished. We installed path lights on both sides of our stairs and placed planting beds that followed the natural walkway.
If you’d rather skip the wires, solar pathway lights are a great DIY option – and we’ve actually tested over 14 of them over two years to find the best. Ours2026 winnerit was the Better Homes & Gardens Elijah Light (Set of 4, Walmart, ~$57): a smooth, clean, even light glass shade with no distracting starbursts on the floor, the highest lumen output of anything we tested, and a 2-year warranty. The runner-up was the Brown Low Voltage set from Wayfair (Set of 6, ~$56) with a nice brass finish.
Better Homes and Gardens Elijah Solar Powered Path Light
Our solar pathway light test winner is under $15/light when you buy a 4-pack.
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The Perfect Formula
If you’re looking for a day-to-day result, here’s a layered recipe:string lights overhead, solar lights on tables, walkway lights, tree and perimeter lights, pool lights that glow in the water, and a fire feature to match— all set to the same warm temperature. Start with one or two layers and build from there. You don’t need everything at once to feel magical.
Buy a Lighting System
Want more? You can shop every backdrop, room by room, on our Backdrop Sources page, and see how all these pieces fit together in the Steal the Look: The Backdrop Formula post.
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