# These giant glowing globes changed my patio

> A hands-on look at 6-inch color-changing sphere lights that do Christmas, Halloween and every night in between.
- Title: These giant glowing globes changed my patio · Family Handyman
- Summary: A hands-on look at 6-inch color-changing sphere lights that do Christmas, Halloween and every night in between. You get the whole color-changing show from a…
- Keywords: outdoor lighting, smart home, patio, string lights, product review, giant, glowing, globes, changed, Family Handyman
- Source: Family Handyman — https://familyhandyman.com/article/oversized-smart-sphere-lights
- Author: Mary Henn
- Published: 2026-09-03T18:57:23+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: outdoor lighting, smart home, patio, string lights, product review
## Lighting makes the space
Outdoor lighting decides whether a patio feels finished or forgotten. Opening a box of Enbrighten sphere lights and seeing 6-inch color-changing globes was an instant yes.

> Lighting can make or break a space, even an outdoor one.
## They do everything
These globes twinkle, flicker, dim, strobe and shift to nearly any color. Presets cover the holidays, from red-green-white at Christmas to warm orange for fall.
## That hip cafe look
Old-fashioned globe lights have been the signature of every cool bar and restaurant for a decade. Oversized spheres bring that same feel to a patio without copying the neighbors.

> creating instant ambiance without looking like every other patio on the block
## What's in the box
Twelve oversized spheres spaced five feet apart along 72-1/2 feet of cord, plus a 12-foot lead, a 2-foot tail and 12 cord clips for mounting.
## Glossy, glass-like finish
Each sphere wears a glossy white shell that reads like real glass when it is lit, and the whole string is app-compatible for finer control.
## Skip the app entirely
A single-button power box on the cord cycles through yellow, white, multicolor and holiday presets. No Wi-Fi, no account, still the full color show.

> You don't need the app to enjoy these outdoor globe lights.
## Setup with zero instructions
The box had no pamphlet and no QR code, which was worrying. The Enbrighten app was easy to find and the lights paired automatically on power-up.
## What the app unlocks
Endless colors, a long list of effects, custom multicolor scenes, six white-light tones, presets, schedules and modes. Alexa and Google Assistant both work.

> Alexa, turn on the outdoor lights
## Too big for the railing
The plan was to swap them for small deck lights that rabbits chewed through overnight. The spheres are too large to tuck under the railing, so yard stakes are next.
## Toddler and weather tested
The plastic spheres survived a few tumbles onto the deck and some rough handling. IP44 rated, weatherproof and built for year-round outdoor use in wet conditions.
## One catch, plus the price
Nothing on the packaging mentions UV protection, so constant direct sun could fade them. Partial shade is the safer spot. They run $180 at Amazon, Target and Costco.

> The twinkling orange setting for fall looks like a string of tiny, glowing pumpkins floating through the air.
## Key takeaway

You get the whole color-changing show from a single button on the cord, so the app is a bonus rather than a requirement.