How to create patriotic lighting for the Fourth of July

December 6, 2021

On the Fourth of July, we celebrate freedom, independence, good barbecue, and summer fun — all with a side of spectacular fireworks shows. Though fireworks are fun, explosives aren't necessarily the safest way to celebrate this holiday at home. Luckily, you can leave the pyrotechnics to the pros and create your own Fourth of July show from the comfort of your favorite lawn chair!

Use Fourth of July outdoor lights to set the tone

If you already have multiple outdoor lights, set them to red, white, and blue for some easy patriotic decorations! Using the Hue app, you can effortlessly show your pride and let others know that you're celebrating this quintessentially American holiday.

Friends having drinks in the front yard with smart outdoor lighting

Point three color-capable Lily outdoor LED spotlights — which conveniently come in a three-pack — up high in the trees of your front yard and set their colors to red, white, and blue. This creates a Stars and Stripes backdrop that perfectly complements your other July Fourth decorations.

Bright idea: Set your outdoor sensor to trigger a scene based on Old Glory — use red, white, and blue to greet your family and friends as they approach the door, creating a whimsical welcome for guests young and old.

Create your own outdoor light show

They may not be fireworks, but Fourth of July outdoor lights can be just as impressive! Use the dynamic scenes feature in the Hue app to cycle through patriotic lighting colors. Create a custom light scene with a mix of red, white, and blue light colors. Tap the play icon on the scene card to make it dynamic, and watch as your lights cycle through the scene’s colors to create an America-themed light show

Friends enjoying dinner with smart outdoor lighting on the Fourth of July.

Finish off the show by displaying an American flag in light! You can certainly use Outdoor lightstrips to create your finale, but you can use red, white, and blue string lights to design your big finish if you don't have enough strip lighting.

Bright idea: Include a Hue Go as your table's centerpiece, whether you have a buffet or individual tables. Make it an even more eye-catching display by setting it your Hue Labs Living scenes Formula to match the light show.

Surprise guests with patriotic lighting inside

Many people throw an Independence Day barbecue, meaning they and their guests are outside most of the day. Still, you can set your indoor lights to give your guests a pleasant surprise when they walk in to get another drink. Use your Hue Motion sensor to trigger a special patriotic lighting scene. For example, set the sensor to trigger a scene with red in the kitchen, blue in the hallway, and white over the dining room table.

Don't forget the music!    

No Fourth of July party is complete without some tunes. Spend some time creating the perfect playlist for the big day — remember to include the classics, such as Grand Old Flag and America the Beautiful, but don't forget to add some dance numbers to keep the party going! If you don't have an outdoor sound system, a Bluetooth speaker lets you take your music outside, transforming your backyard into a dance floor.

Bright idea: Experience music like never before with Philips Hue + Spotify. Link your Philips Hue and Spotify accounts to see your patriotic playlist come to life with smart light.

*When a bulb displays "Up to" a certain number of lumens in its specifications, it displays the maximum lumen output of the bulb. It shows how bright the bulb can get at 2700 K (White bulbs) or 4000 K (White ambiance or White and color ambiance bulbs). Learn more about brightness