In outdoor kitchens, you need quality lighting to help you see while cooking and entertaining guests. Outdoor sconce wall lighting is key around BBQ grills, dining areas and any food prep areas to improve visibility and cook safely. In this article, we explore how to light a BBQ area safely, as well as how to determine the best lighting for outdoor kitchen work spaces.
Why You Need Great Lighting Around a BBQ or Outdoor Kitchen Area
Outside lighting is important no matter what area you are illuminating, but when it comes to outdoor cooking area lighting, it is even more so.
Perhaps the most important reason for installing lights in garden cooking areas is the ability to more clearly see while cooking. Poor lighting can present hazards when working with knives, fire and other elements outdoors that could potentially injure you.
Exterior lighting can also extend the number of hours you can enjoy your outdoor living space. With ambient lighting around dining areas, seating zones and bar counters, you can enjoy an inviting and warm atmosphere for you and your guests.
Choosing quality BBQ area lighting is a must, considering the elements it is exposed to and the heat around the grill. Having IP-rated lighting that can withstand exposure to the elements can protect it against the effects of weather exposure, such as rust and corrosion.
How to Zone Lighting for Outdoor Cooking and Dining Areas
In large, open spaces of outdoor cooking areas, the individual spaces can easily blend into one another if you aren't careful. By layering your lighting around the area, you can zone out the individual spaces visually while ensuring even lighting.
Cooking and Preparation Zones
This area is perhaps the most important to light because of the safety implications. Outdoor wall lights around the area, as well as soffit downlights and recessed downlights, will provide ample ambient and task lighting in the area.
Dining and Social Areas
Having dimmable exterior wall lights in the area can help you create a nice atmosphere for your guests. You can also use bollard lights around the sitting area and LED strip lighting under counters and tables to separate it out.
Ideas on Different Types of Lighting Fixtures You Can Use
Outdoor BBQ areas give you a lot of opportunity for adding different types of lighting to your space. Get familiar with some of the options available so you can begin planning your lighting easily.
- RECESSED DOWNLIGHTS. Recessed outdoor ceiling LED lighting for outdoor kitchens provides illumination from fixtures that stay out of the way and won't create obstacles. It can make task lighting over preparation and cooking zones as well as general lighting in a sheltered outdoor kitchen.
- WALL LIGHTING. Wall mounted outside lights provide indirect lighting, which is especially good for seating areas or BBQ areas that have adjacent walls.
- PENDANT LIGHTING. Pendant outdoor kitchen lighting can hang over dining areas and give off a nice glow that is direct and focused, serving as task lighting. They can also be generally hung over seating areas to give them a central focal point.
- EXTERIOR STAIR LIGHTS. Stylish step lighting along stairs and serving as pathway lighting can help you navigate the different areas of your outdoor living and cooking space.
How to Choose the Best LED Colour Temperature
Colour temperature, also sometimes called CCT, is a way to discuss how warm or cool a light appears to be. Colour temperatures exist in a range of Kelvin units between 1,000 and 10,000. The higher the number climbs, the cooler the lighting is.
Cool and warm lights both have their places, especially outdoors.
Neutral White Light
Lights around 4,000K are great for task lighting outdoors. They provide clear illumination without colour variation to give you better visibility while cooking and preparing food or cleaning up in outdoor sinks.
Warm White Light
Outdoor ceiling lights benefit from warm white lighting between 2,700K and 3,300K. This colour of light mimics candlelight and can provide a nice, soft glow. It is ideal for dining table areas, lounge seating areas and bar counters.
Cool Light
Cool white light above 4,000K doesn't tend to be recommended in social outdoor spaces. That said, you can include it elsewhere, such as in your security lighting.
What Are the Rules for IP Ratings for Outdoor Kitchens and BBQ Area Lighting?
IP ratings, or Ingress Protection Ratings, indicate how well a light resists exposure to moisture and debris. The first digit indicates the resistance to solids, while the second indicates resistance to moisture.
Outdoor lights especially must adhere to the IP ratings to ensure they are not damaged by weather exposure. A general guideline for IP ratings and weatherproof outdoor lights in different zones are as follows:
- Cooking and prep zones: IP65 or higher
- Sink or wet areas: IP66 to IP67
- Under sheltered areas: IP44 minimum
- Ground-level or drive-over lights: IP67 to IP68 lights
Design Advice, Tips and Guidance
If you're looking to incorporate your garden kitchen lighting ideas but don't know where to begin, this quick guide can help you get started.
- Make a Plan
Take a moment to plan out what you're hoping to accomplish in the area. For example, lighting cooking zones means bright, focused lighting; dining and social areas need ambient, warm lighting; accent and feature lighting should provide visual interest and drama. Having an outdoor kitchen lighting layout in place before installation can help optimize the results.
- Layer the Lights
Once you know what you want to accomplish, you can decide on how to layer the lights all together. For ambient lighting, install recessed lighting or pendant ceiling lights. Task lighting for BBQ areas tend to work best as pendants or spotlights, while accent lighting can be accomplished through recessed outdoor wall light.
- Integrate the Lights
Take a moment to consider the materials and design styles of the area you are lighting when implementing your outdoor grill lighting ideas. Match the finishes of the fixtures to the materials around, such as metallic or wood tones. Grazing lights can highlight unique textured surfaces, like brick or stone walls.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Get familiar with some of the most common mistakes when installing outdoor lighting so you can avoid them.
- IGNORING IP RATINGS. Not using waterproof outdoor kitchen and BBQ lighting puts your lights at risk for taking on moisture damages and entry of debris. Pay attention to the IP ratings of your lights and opt for IP65 or above unless the lights are under a covered area, like a pergola.
- FORGETTING NATURAL LIGHT. Not taking into account the way natural light plays over the area can leave you with an over-lit space or one with awkward shadows. Pay attention to how sunlight moves over the area at different times of day and plan accordingly.
- NOT MINDING REFLECTIVITY. Using fixtures that have reflective properties, like stainless steel, polished granite or glazed tiles can cause unwanted glares. Consider fixtures that have indirect beam angles and matte finishes to avoid this.
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NEGLECTING HEAT ZONES. Especially over the grill areas, you will need to be mindful about the amount of heat that is generated. It runs the risk of damaging the lighting if you place it too close to sources of heat.
Why LED Lighting Is Best for an Outdoor Cooking Area
LED lighting for outdoor BBQ lighting fixtures has become the clear choice over the years, and for good reason. Perhaps the most famous perk of LED lights is the energy efficiency it provides. LED lights use 80 percent less energy than standard halogen lighting. This lowers your environmental impact while also lessening your electric bill.
LED lights also last exponentially longer than halogen bulbs. They can outlast tens of thousands of hours, whereas halogen bulbs only tend to run for 1,000 or so. A longer life means you'll have to replace them less often, which can save you upfront costs.
Another perk of LED lighting is the versatility it provides that halogen bulbs do not. LED lights come in a number of different colour temperatures and brightness levels. With so many to choose from, you can easily customize the lighting plan in your outdoor space.
They also make the best patio lighting for cooking because they don't generate any additional heat. It will be hot enough cooking over the grill, and you don't want halogen bulbs adding even more heat. The heat generated by LED lights is so small that it practically doesn't exist and won't contribute to the heat levels in your patio space.
Do You Need Planning Permission for Outdoor Kitchen Lighting?
Whether or not you will need planning permission for your outdoor lighting will depend on a few factors. Generally speaking, though, in most cases, you won't need special planning permission.
For standard outdoor lighting, like recessed lights, wall-mounted downlights or path lighting, you most likely won't need to get permission. Fixtures that are installed on your own property, are modest in brightness and make no significant impact on your neighbors are fine to install on your own.
Some of the circumstances where you may need planning permission include:
- Lights installed in a conservation area or on a listed property
- Lights that cause light pollution
- Lights with high-powered floodlight illumination
- Lights that are a larger part of the garden structure, like a permanent outdoor kitchen with a roof
Conclusion
Outdoor cooking areas need ample lighting for you to see by when cooking, preparing food, or entertaining for your guests. In this article, we've outlined the different aspects of outdoor lighting to consider for your cooking area. Keep it close as you plan and implement your new lighting.
