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Attaching Rope and String lights around windows

windowroplight One question I was asked a lot last year (2007) was "How did I attach the ropelight around the window, and get it looking so straight?"

Well, this is how and it's really easy and cheap. This technique will also work for Mini's or LED lights.

What you will need:

Screws or nails - make sure they are stainless steel or similar so they don't rust and stain the wood or the ropelight. I used screws.
Wire - I used 2mm stainless steel fencing wire.
Clear cable ties
Ropelight or string lights
A window!

As per the photo drive in the screw or nail a little away from the corner on both sides of each corner.
You should end up with 8 mounting points. I found that having the screw at the corner put too sharp a
bend for the rope light bend without looking wonky.
My ropelight was quite thick (not like the thin warehouse ropelight - that might bend easier).

I don't see any reason why you couldn't put the screws or nails into the side of the frame.
This way when you remove them at the end of the season you wouldn't see the holes.

Now attach the wire onto one of the screws and run it around the frame making sure to wind it
around each screw/nail a couple of times and keeping it as tight as you can until you reach the end.
The tighter you get the wire the straighter the lights will sit.

Then finally cable tie all around at the screws and any other place required to hold the light straight.

I put 4 on each side and that seem to work well.

dropelightwindowfinishedbad

This image shows what can happen if there aren't enough cable ties to hold the light straight.

ropelightwindowfinished

As you can see it looks a lot neater when done correctly.

For Mini and LED strings:

I would pretty much suspect the same techniques that I used for the ropelight would also work for Mini and LED strings. I would probably make the following adjustments:

* I would only put small nails on the corners as they aren't as heavy as ropelights.

* I would go around the window at least twice with lights (specially mini's as they aren't as bright as LED's) Perhaps one set of flashing and one set of static to get more impact.