The Best Photo Clip String Lights for Bedrooms, Classrooms and Dorm Rooms

Buying Guide

At one time, string lights were reserved for the holiday season. Hanging strands of lights for year-round use not only introduced a fire hazard, but it also wasted electricity. Thanks to LED technology, though, small lightbulbs can burn brighter than ever with minimal electricity use and plenty of fire safety.

One great use for LED lighting is in displaying photo prints. You’ll, of course, need paper versions of your favorite pictures, but what better way to show off your photos? With a string of lights and clips, you create an illuminated design on a wall that you can combine with your favorite photos.

• Some options build the LED light into the clip, providing an all-in-one design. If you’d prefer that, look at the design and choose one that has the clips and lights combined. Others use the more traditional bulb look, similar to what you see in strings of lights at Christmas. Between the bulbs are clips that you then use to attach your photos.
• Before you choose a photo clip string light set, though, take a close look at how many clips you’ll get. This should be proportionate to the number of lightbulbs. Make sure you’ll have plenty of room to squeeze in your photos before you bump into another clip, especially if you’re choosing a string with quite a few clips. If you print a lot of landscape photos, you’ll need at least eight to ten inches between clips.
• Photo clip string lights vary in length. Measure the wall space where you’ll be hanging your lights and consider how you’ll wrap them. That will help ensure you’re getting the length you need. Also provide plenty of space for your photos.
• As with other wall-mounted décor, you’ll need a way to hang your string lights. Nails are a traditional option, but you might find a thumbtack is sufficient. There are also adhesive strips that won’t leave a mark on your wall. These can be especially valuable if you’re decorating a dorm room or an apartment.
• Some string lights come with varying light patterns. You’ll at least get steady on, but some build in various blinking options. If you plan to change your lighting often, look for one that comes with a remote for extra convenience.
• Power sources are important with any light-based décor you buy. While traditional string lights required a wall plug, LED lighting can often be powered by simple household batteries. These batteries usually won’t be included, so you’ll need to make sure you have them on hand.
• Clear clips are typically best for string lights. They’ll blend well with the background, keeping the focus on the photos and the lights surrounding them.
• Often the design of string lights locks the clips into a certain position. If you want a little more customizability, look for a string light option that will let you move the clips around a little to space the photos closer together or farther apart.