Table of Contents
Your outdoor living space is somewhere you spend a lot of time hanging out, eating and entertaining guests. Taking care that your patio lighting, garden lighting or other modern outdoor lighting is as pleasant and efficient as it should be is a great way to make it every bit as comfortable as the interior. In this article, we’ll provide you with a few ideas to get started planning your patio and decking lights.
Benefits of Outdoor Patio Lighting
Modern patio lighting is a must for those who want to spend more time outdoors. There are many perks to having lighting for patio areas, including:
- AESTHETICS. Stylish wall fixtures and hanging lights go a long way towards enhancing the look of your patio. Good lighting, both in terms of illumination and the fixtures themselves, will enhance focal points on the patio and provide decoration. They can be used to make the interior feel like the exterior in terms of style for a smoother transition.
- EXTEND YOUR LIVING SPACE. By having a patio area where you love to spend your time, you can make the most out of all of the space your house has to offer. Patio lights will allow you to continue using your outdoor living space long after it grows dark instead of cutting activities short and heading inside at dusk.
- STAY OUTSIDE FOR LONGER. With the ability to remain outdoors later into the night, you’ll get to enjoy more time spent in nature instead of cooped up indoors.
- FOCAL POINT CREATION. Outdoor spotlights and wall lights are a great way to show off certain areas of the patio. If you have unique architectural features, sculptures or plant life you want to show off, focused patio lighting allows you to do so.
- ECO FRIENDLY GARDEN LIGHTS. LED patio lighting can help you reduce your overall carbon footprint while saving on your energy bills. Low consumption LED fixtures require less energy to run, so they put a smaller strain on resources like electricity.
- AMBIENT IMPROVEMENT. There are many ways you can use light to create atmosphere in your patio space. Set a romantic mood for date night outdoor dining with dim, warm lights, or create an energetic outdoor space for parties with friends in the summer.
- HIGHER PROPERTY VALUE. Potential home buyers look for a lot of things when deciding if a home is right for them. Outdoor lighting is usually one of those aspects. By having a well-lit patio, you can raise the overall appeal of your property and increase the resale value of it.
Ways to Use Lighting Around a Patio
Using LED patio lights, you can turn the space immediately outside of your home into a place you’ll love to be. Check out some of these patio lighting ideas to get started.
Layer Your Lights
Much like you would inside your home, layering your outdoor lighting can provide an even spread of illumination and make the space feel more complete. Layered lighting includes ambient lighting, accent lighting and task lighting. It can be accomplished with patio lighting fixtures such as outdoor downlights, outdoor wall lights and lamps.
A simple way to incorporate one layer of lighting into the space is to choose the LWA211 6 Watt LED Black Outdoor Wall light. This light features a simple cylindrical shape that can blend in or make it stand out as much as you would like it to. Inside is an LED bulb that shines 430 lumens of 3000k warm white light, giving it a soft glow that is easy on the eyes.
Light Your Dining Table
Using metal rods and fairy lights, you can create a unique frame of light around your outdoor dining table. This can be done by creating something of an arch over the length of the table, making it inviting and cosy in appearance.
Try Paper Lanterns
If you want to go for a whimsical feel, adding paper lanterns will accomplish this. You can add lanterns all in one neutral colour or bring the area to life with some vibrant hues.
Focus on Accent Lighting
If you have trees or structures on or around your patio, using accent lighting to draw attention to them is wise. Using such lights will more easily incorporate the area into the patio itself, making it feel whole and more complete.
Incorporate Practical Lighting
To make your patio easier to navigate, it is a good idea to include lighting with the main purpose of illuminating key areas. These areas can include pathways, staircases and other places that must be safe for moving about. Outdoor step lighting, such as concrete step lights, can shine a light on the walkways from a low angle. This provides plenty of lighting while still keeping with your stylish, modern theme.
Give Your Patio a Rustic Look
Adding festoon lights can add a chic rustic or cottage look to your outdoor living space. You can allow such lights to gently hang down near the table to provide a romantic, gentle lighting effect.
Opt for a Pendant Light
Outdoor downlights such as pendant lights are perfect for the ambient layer of your lighting. Suspending the pendant light fixtures above outdoor dining furniture lights the space well and adds a focal point to the table. They are also a useful choice for hanging over seating areas.
Frame Your Fireplace
An outdoor fireplace can be made even more appealing when you install wall lights on either side of it. Even when there is no fire roaring, these lights will give the space purpose and added visual appeal.
An impressive choice of wall light for flanking your outdoor fireplace is the LWA454 6 Watt Wall Wash LED exterior Wall Light. The square shape and sleek, small design make the light a subtle choice but one that draws attention to and balances the fireplace all the same. When turned on, it shines 600 lumens of warm 3000k LED light downward. It washes against the wall, giving the area a more artistic effect.
Use a Floor Lamp
To bring the styles of the inside outside, consider a floor lamp. Putting a standing floor lamp near your seating area creatively adds more ambient lighting while also decorating the exterior.
How To Light Your Entertaining Area Under a Pergola
Your pergola offers a unique opportunity for decorations, especially lighting. Below are a few modern outoor lighting ideas for this unique space.
Hang Curtain Lights
Curtain lights can bring the light from top to bottom under your pergola without making the structure feel too walled off. These lights give a gentle glow that can make dusk feel more magical.
Choose a Chandelier
Hanging a chandelier or other such outdoor downlight provides you with a larger wash of illumination over your space, making a great choice for the ambient light layer. A more dramatic chandelier can also serve as a focal point in your pergola.
Surface Mounted Lighting
If you don’t want a bold chandelier or similar downlight, you could instead opt for simple surface-mounted lights. Lights like the LBL249 12 Watt Round Black Surface Mounted Soffit LED Downlight can be attached directly to the underside of the pergola where it will shine 1000 lumens of 3000k warm white illumination down onto the area. This ambient light works well with black pergolas thanks to the black finish on its high-quality aluminium exterior.
Hanging Lanterns
Put a whimsical touch on your pergola by hanging small lanterns underneath it. These allow you to get creative with colour and personality to make any pergola design out of this world.
Add Sconces
You can add exterior wall sconces to the posts of the pergola, bringing you the benefits of wall lighting even in this type of structure that has no walls to speak of.
Play with Uplights
Using uplighters, you can cast illumination up and onto the structure itself, a wall behind it or a feature inside of the pergola’s bounds to draw attention to it.
Fairy Lights
Similar to curtain lights, fairy lights can make the atmosphere of an outdoor structure feel playful, casual and relaxed. The lights can be strung up along the upper bars of the structure to add sparkles of light along its borders.
Incorporate Shapes
Another way to use lights in your outdoor space is to think of them as a practical decoration. Downlighters like pendants and surface-mounted lights in bold shapes can add modern flair to the area. Attaching a light such as the LBL186 5 Watt Square Black Surface Mounted Soffit LED Downlight to the cross sections of the pergola will add some visual charm with its square shape and boxy look. The black hue works well with structures of any color, so there is no fear of clashing. From the inside of the high-quality aluminium exterior shines an LED light that produces 430 lumens.
Decking Lighting Ideas to Enhance Your Space
With so many types of lighting styles available to you, you can customise your deck lights to your exact liking with ease. Take a closer look into some of the fixtures you can use to dress up your deck.
- STEP LIGHTS. Step lights can be placed either in the stairs themselves, off to the side, or on the stair risers. These will make the path up to the deck easier to see at night, while also generally enhancing the appearance of the deck.
- RECESSED DECK LIGHTS. Installing lights into the deck floor itself can provide a contemporary, stylish source of light. They shine from the ground up, providing an even layer of low level lighting and enhancing the aesthetics as well.
- DECK POST LIGHTS. Installing lights on the post caps of the deck will bring light around the entirety of the thing. These will help fill in any gaps in illumination that the other lights leave behind.
- STATEMENT LIGHT. If you want to make your deck memorable, add in a statement fixture. Usually, this comes in the form of a floor lamp. If you have a covered deck, you can install a statement pendant light instead.
- STRING LIGHTS. If you want to add an air of whimsy and mystique, string lights are a great choice. Add fairy lights for a delicate, fairytale-like appearance, or edison bulbs for a more industrial-modern approach.
How to Enhance an Outdoor Decorative Feature
If you have a water feature, split-level back yard or tree growing through the middle of the deck, you can use accent lighting to make it the focal point. Surrounding it with wall lights or shining an uplighter onto it are just a few ways to accomplish this.
Festive Festoon Lights
Make your deck feel more rustic and cosy with festoon lights hanging throughout. They can be draped along a back wall for gentle decorative lighting or hung low near tables to create a more intimate environment.
Permanent Downlighters
If your garden has some sort of exterior wall, you can use it to host permanent downlighters. These are great for seating areas, dining areas or just along walls to help provide those necessary layers of illumination.
Highlight the Perimeter with Strip Lighting
Around the soffit of your home connecting to the deck, you can hang strip lights to provide overhead illumination. This may also help to keep the deck apart from the rest of the home visually while still giving it a smooth transition from the interior space to the exterior.
How To Use LED Step Lighting in the Garden
From concrete step lights to recessed lighting in wooden tiers, layered decks are not complete without step lighting. Get inspired by some of the step lighting ideas below.
Under Stair and Step Lighting
Step lighting for decks with deep steps comes in the form of under-stair lighting. These lights can shine a glow beneath the stair itself, making the steps appear to be glowing instead of shining a light down onto them. This is one of the most modern ways to light up your stairs.
LED Strip Lights
Flexible LED strips can be tucked beneath the stair treads on your steps, offering a subtle glow that makes the path of the stairs obvious all the same.
Ways to Use Low Level Lighting on Steps
Recessed outdoor wall lighting placed on either side of the stairs that shines light down onto them can make your space feel cosier with a subtle glow. A good example of this type of lighting is this ODL041 1 Watt Square Recessed Black Outdoor LED Wall Light. This light features a square shell that hosts a single lightbulb. It shines down onto the step below it, covering its surface with a warm glow through a total of 70 lumens. Adding these lights to each step can offer an artistic look while still making it easier to see for navigating the steps.
Floating Candles
Adding lights above the stairs themselves using surface-mounted lighting can create the look of floating candles on their edges. This is a particularly romantic way to add decorative step lighting to your deck.
LED Ground Lights
Think outside of the box and use ground lights to light up either side of the staircase instead of the steps themselves. Ground lights come in any manner of shapes, from round to square and in just as many finishes. Through them, you can get the perfect style to match the appearance of your outdoor space.
Tips on How To Design an Alfresco Dining Area
Make dining outdoors more enjoyable than ever before with these alfresco dining lighting ideas.
- COVERED PATIO AREAS. One of the best ways to achieve an al fresco dining space is to position the dining area under something covered. An awning or balcony makes the perfect ceiling for these areas and allows you to easily include pendant lights.
- INCLUDE A TABLE RAIL. Adding a rail over the table will compensate for any lack of covering if you don’t have that available. You can hang lights from it just as easily, including any string lights you want to wind around it.
- CHOOSE THE RIGHT FURNITURE. Be sure you have proper furniture for the dining area. Besides being weatherproof, you want it to fit the vibe of the rest of the décor of your home.
- BRING IN A FIRE PIT. A fire pit doubles as both mood lighting and a way to keep warm. If you intend to use your outdoor dining space all year long, this is a must.
- INCORPORATE PLANTS. Let your garden creep into your dining area by bringing in some plants. Whether they are hanging plants or potted ones, they can make your outdoor dining space feel comfortable and look its best.
How To Layer Light for an Outdoor Dining Area
Much like your interior lights, exterior lighting designs need layered lighting in order to look and function at their best. Layering lighting is simply the process of adding ambient, task and accent lighting to a space. Outdoor dining designs should include all three.
Ambient Light
Ambient light is the main light source of an area. This typically is an overhead ceiling light of some sort. It provides a general wash of illumination that you can supplement with task and accent lighting.
You can create ambient patio lighting using certain terrace lighting fixtures such as a chandelier over an outdoor dining area. Other types of pendant lights are also popular for this application.
Task Lighting
Task lighting refers to focused illumination designed to help you complete activities. This is particularly important for an outdoor dining area. Include task lighting for food preparation, serving and dining in clear and easy light.
This can be accomplished by pendant lights, as well as wall sconces near high-activity areas. Be sure the light is directed right where it needs to go to avoid glare.
Accent Lighting
Accent lights provide the patio décor lighting that ties the space together. This is generally used to highlight certain areas of the patio, such as unique architecture, sculptures or landscaping elements. Spotlights, outdoor wall lights and uplighters are good choices here.
Popular Outdoor Dining Area Styles
Like other areas, garden lighting has trends that come and go. Below are some of the most popular patio trends to give you some ideas:
- MODERN MINIMALIST. Minimalist spaces prioritise having as little clutter as possible. Clean lines, sleek surfaces and simple colours characterise this style. Choosing neutral hues with accent colours on items like throw pillows or lamps further this style. Geometric pendant lights or recessed lights work well with this trend.
- MEDITERRANEAN. Creating a breezy feeling outdoor space can be as simple as mimicking the Mediterranean. Take inspiration from coastal areas in Southern Europe with patterned tiles, bright colours and lots of greenery. You can add some mosaic accents and terra cotta pots to really drive it home. Ambient light from sconces, lanterns and candles are ideal.
- RUSTIC. Make your outdoor living space feel homey and cozy with rustic charm. Warm brown tones, rattan furniture and wooden tables provide a great start. Drape some string lights over tables and seating areas to contribute to the rustic vibe while providing ambient lighting.
- TROPICAL. Perfect for garden party lighting, tropical lights bring a lively and upbeat feel to your outdoor living space. Tropical prints, vibrant colours and bamboo furniture can make your patio feel beachy in an instant. String lights and tiki torches enhance tropical spaces such as these.
- URBAN INDUSTRIAL. Raw materials, simple colours and exposed structural elements make up an urban industrial vibe. Choose reclaimed wooden tables, concrete and metal furniture to create this atmosphere. Edison bulbs, industrial wall sconces and bulbs with exposed filaments are the best lighting choices here.
Do You Need to Use a Special Type of Light Outdoors?
Because outdoor lighting is exposed to the elements, you need lights that won’t rust or corrode. To ensure your lights pass the test, choose the proper IP rating for them. IP ratings are indications of how well a light can hold up against solid and liquid particles.
Generally speaking, IP65 ratings are the best way to go, but there are others you can consider depending on your outdoor space. Below, you can get familiar with what each means.
Protection From Solid Debris
Below are the indicators for the first number of the IP rating, which is solid materials:
0 – Offers no protection.
1 – Offers protection from objects that are greater in size than 50 mm.
2 – Offers protection from objects larger than 12.5 mm.
3 – Offers protection from objects that are greater in size than 2.5 mm.
4 – Offers protection from objects that are greater in size than 1 mm.
5 – Dust Protection protects against most dust entry.
6 – Dust Tight protects against any dust at all.
Protection From Liquid
The second number indicates how well sealed the light is against moisture:
0 – Offers no protection.
1 – Offers protection from vertical dripping water.
2 – Offers protection from vertical dripping water at a 15-degree angle.
3 – Offers protection from vertical water spraying at a 60-degree angle.
4 – Offers protection from splashes of water.
5 – Offers protection from light water jets.
6 – Offers protection from strong water jets.
7 – Offers protection from complete immersion up to 1 metre.
8 – Offers protection from complete immersion deeper than 1 metre.
How To Create Lighting Effects with Low Level Wall Lighting
Low level lighting is a kind of light that either sits on the surface of the wall or is recessed into it at a lower height. As it sits close to the ground, it tends to shine light downward or at an angle parallel to itself. This creates a cosy glow that can be turned on at night when you aren’t interested in bright lighting.
You can achieve this effect by choosing recessed lights that fit into the wall near the ground, such as the ODL703 3 Watt Rectangular Black Recessed Outdoor Wall Light. This rectangular light shines a wide beam of 3000k warm white light down onto the ground. Its soft 300 lumens of light makes it great for adding ambient lighting but can still light the ground and make it easier to see.
What Colour of Light Is Best for Outdoor Lighting
The question of whether to use warm or cool outdoor lighting often comes down to preference. If you want to create a warmer, cosier, more intimate-feeling outdoor space, you should use warmer lighting colors. Warm lights are better for seating areas for this reason, and they are gentle on the eyes.
Cooler lights are not good for seating areas, but they do have their place. You can illuminate plants in a more natural way using cool lights. You can also use cool light to show off any structures you might have in your outdoor area, like statues, arbors or other unique features.
How To Use Candles and Lanterns in Your Decking and Patio Areas
You can incorporate candles and lanterns in any number of ways in your outdoor areas:
- MANTELS, TABLETOPS AND ENTRYWAYS. You can light up an oversized candle lantern and place it on a table to create a nice centerpiece. Grouping lanterns near the entryway to the patio or deck may also add a warm and inviting feel to the space. Placing candles and lanterns on a mantel will bring light to areas that are otherwise sometimes difficult to illuminate.
- Placing candle lanterns on the floor of a deck can bring light down to the ground and create a softer glow. They can be used to outline seating areas, walkways and more in a way that has lots of rustic charm and personality.
- HANGING LANTERNS. Suspending a lantern will give off a rustic, cabin-style feel as well. It can be hung using wire, chains or ribbons to achieve the look you prefer.
Is It Safe To Use 240 Volt Lighting on Your Decking or Patio Area?
It is indeed safe to use 240-volt lights outdoors, but it is important that a qualified electrician does the job for you, much like the installation of lights anywhere else. Lights featuring 240 volts have become more popular than 12-volt lights over time, not just for their easy installation but also for their efficiency.
Lights featuring 12 volts are thought to be safer but are nowhere near as easy to install as 240-volt lights, since they need a transformer. The 12-volt lights also suffer in the way that they need cables that are a certain length, or you will experience a voltage drop, causing the lights to flicker or dim.
Why Are LEDs The Best Choice For Lighting a Patio?
LED bulbs are increasing in popularity thanks to their many benefits. Their perks can be found when you use an LED patio lantern opposed to traditional bulbs. Some benefits of LED lighting include:
- ENERGY EFFICIENCY – Energy efficient outdoor lights are important to consider when choosing your garden lights. LED bulbs are incredibly energy efficient, using far less energy than traditional bulbs to generate illumination.
- LOWER COST – Due to the lower amount of electricity used by LEDs, you will notice in time a lower electric bill as well.
- LONG LASTING LIFE – LED bulbs are often rated for patio lighting and are a great way to add personality and atmosphere to your outdoor living space. With outdoor patio lights, you can create a welcoming space for you and your guests to relax at night. Below, we’ll discuss LED patio lights as well as how to incorporate them into your space.
How To Care for Your Patio Lights
On occasion, you are going to need to take some time to maintain your LED patio lights. Outdoor lighting in general is exposed to the elements and will therefore need a little more attention than interior lights.
Before you clean anything, you will first want to turn off the power supply to the lights as a safety measure. Once the lights are off, all you will need is a bucket with warm tap water and a small amount of mild soap.
Using a rag or sponge, dip into the liquid lightly, just enough to make it damp. Then, gently wipe down the housing of the fixtures. Following that, rinse off the soap by using another rag that is damp with pure water.
Once the lights are clean, you can perform other maintenance tasks. For example, if you need to double down on your weatherproofing, now will be a good time for you to apply another coat of whatever weather-proofing material you use. You can also apply wax or polish to the metal aspects of the light fixtures
When it comes to lacquered fixtures and brass, be sure that you are not using abrasive cleaning liquids or pads, like rough sponges. This may cause scratches and other damage to the fixtures that will be harder to cover up.
How To Use Home Automation When Lighting a Patio
Contemporary garden lighting would not be the same without some smart lighting components. By incorporating your patio lighting into your smart home, you can make lighting the patio more convenient and stay in control of it down to the finest details.
All you will need is your existing smart home system, such as an Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, Google Home or other such system. There are also specific lighting automation technologies for the job.
Garden lighting fixtures that you have outdoors can be connected to the smart home system by installing smart light hubs and bridges. Installing them will allow you to control them through the smart home system by connecting it to wifi.
Once the smart light fixtures are connected to the hub, you can start controlling them. There are different ways to accomplish this depending on the home automation system you are using. Phone apps, timers and even your voice alone can help you switch lights on and off in an easy way.
Consider using your smart home system to set up timers. Timers will allow you to control the lights according to the schedules you set them to automatically.
Sensors can also provide hands-free control of the lights. Motion sensors or daylight sensors will automatically turn the lights on and off according to occupancy levels or lighting levels respectively.
Top Selling Patio and Decking Lighting
