Where I’ve seen indoor strings of lights the most is in college dorm rooms, where the rooms are often windowless, and lacking in good lighting. Those lights were only cheap Christmas tree decorating lights, salvaged off Craigslist or in garage sales, but the effect was immediate and cozy when they were lit. If you want the look in your own home to be a little more classy, there are strings of lights that are made specifically for draping in the corners or along the upper corners of your walls or ceilings. I have also seen them draped in reading nooks, along the tops of four-poster bed frames, and above framed art on the walls to draw attention to it. If you want to learn how to make the adorable fairy lights you see on the left, visit Espirit Cabane for the full instructions (and more pictures!)

Strings of lights are also popular at larger parties, especially outdoors, so that the host/hostess can keep the area dark and friendly-feeling without leading to undue falling as guests struggle to navigate an area they are unfamiliar with. If your lights are going to be exposed to the elements, make sure they are a kind suitable for the outdoors, and that one storm won’t render them useless. Check out Urbanspoon’s excellent blog post about all the varieties of outdoor lighting options available to you if you want to learn more about this style of outside decoration. Several options I didn’t even know existed (now they have solar-powered strings of lights?).