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Outdoor step lights are one of the many ways you can enhance your home’s exterior. With LED step lights, outdoor living spaces become both safer to navigate and more beautiful to behold. In the article below, we will explore exterior step lights and how they can improve your overall exterior lighting.
What Are Outdoor LED Step Lights?
LED step lights are mini recessed lights that are installed in the risers of stairs. They provide Low level step lighting that makes traversing the staircase easier to do while also enhancing the appearance of the stairs.
They can be recessed into wood to provide deck step lighting or added as deck stair lights leading up to the deck itself. Their versatility also allows them to be fitted into concrete stairs or a raised patio area that provides the surrounding area with effective nighttime lighting.
Such lights can also be used as low level wall lighting along the sides of the steps. When positioned this way, they will shine light across the steps for safety and atmosphere.
Why Use Outside Step Lighting?
Whether you’re choosing outdoor stair lights for wood or outdoor step lights for concrete, there are many benefits to such an arrangement.
- ADDS SAFETY. With the light shining on the steps, guests can more easily navigate their way up and down them at night.
- BRINGS WARMTH TO A SPACE. Low voltage step lights beneath stairs can create an inviting look that lures guests toward the patio or deck seating area.
- ENHANCES MODERNITY. Recessed outside step lights are a contemporary design choice that will enhance the appearance of your outdoor space and give it a sleek, modern look.
- ECO-FRIENDLY AND COST-EFFECTIVE. LED outdoor lights in particular are known for their benefits to the environment. This is due to the fact that they use energy more efficiently, which can lessen your carbon footprint. Because they are so efficient, using them can also lower your energy bills.
How Far Apart Should You Fit Step Lighting?
The distance you place the lights from one another depends on a few different factors, such as the width of the stairs. You’ll also need to consider the kind of effect you are aiming for when determining how far apart to place step light fixtures. It also comes down to simple personal preference.
Even so, a general rule of thumb when it comes to outdoor stair tread lights and decking lights is to place one every three to four feet on each step if the stairs are wider. It is best to place them in such a way that there are no bright beams of light streaking across a step. This could make all of the other steps more difficult to see.
Other Places You Can Use Exterior Step Light Fittings
Garden step lights can be incorporated into a variety of areas in your outdoor living space. A well-placed recessed outdoor step light can make a big difference in the overall appeal of the area.
Below are a few ideas for incorporating outdoor wall lights into your garden area:
- Pathway Low level lighting on either side of a path
- Fixed around the base of a pond along the outer perimeter
- Placed in the upright posts of a deck
- Low level lighting around a porch
- As outdoor lighting in the posts at the end of a driveway
- Placed at a low level around swimming pools
What Is the Best LED Colour For Outdoor Step Lights?
Much like the spacing, there is no set rule for the colour of the lights. It comes down to personal preference.
Still, you should keep in mind that the LED colour needs to match the other light colours that you have in your garden wall lights. If you mix warm and cool colours, they could clash with one another and be unattractive to look at.
Light colour temperature is measured in Kelvin units. Higher ratings indicate cooler colours, while lower ratings indicate warmer shades. The most popular Kelvin rating for outdoor areas tends to be 3000k warm white light. This is especially true if you are placing the lights in an entertainment area.
For security lights, a cooler colour like 6000k is generally used.
What IP Rating Do Outdoor Step Lights Need To Be?
Outside recessed wall light fixtures still experience exposure to the elements and therefore need protection from them. That is where IP ratings come in. IP ratings, or Ingress Protection ratings, indicate a light’s resistance against moisture and solid particles alike.
First Digit – Solid Objects
0 –  No protection
1  –  Protection against any solid matter larger than 50 millimeters
2  –  Protection against any solid matter larger than 12.5 millimeters
3  –  Protection against any solid matter larger than 2.5 millimeters
4  –  Protection against any solid matter larger than 1 millimeter
5  –  Dust Protected, meaning it protects against most dust
6  –  Dust Tight, meaning it protects against all dust
Second Digit – Moisture
0  –  No Protection
1  –  Protects against water that is dripping vertically
2  –  Protects against water that is dripping vertically if the light is tilted at a 15 degree angle
3  –  Protects against water that is spraying vertically if the light is tilted at a 60 degree angle
4  –  Protects against water splashing from any direction
5  –  Protects against water in light jets from any direction
6  –  Protects against water in strong jets from any direction
7  –  Protects against complete immersion as deep as one meter
8  –  Protects against complete immersion over 1 meter
For outdoor lights, it is generally recommended that you use IP65 rated lights. This will protect them from dirt and dust outdoors while also protecting them from precipitation.
Can You Use Recessed Step Lights in a Commercial Application?
Recessed step lights are well suited for commercial use. Using such lights can give the area a welcoming glow, which is especially beneficial in hospitality settings. You can use these lights around commercial buildings such as:
- Car parks
- Cinemas
- Commercial office buildings
- Hotels
- Public parks
- Sports clubs and more
Because these lights have LED bulbs, they are also less expensive to run than traditional bulbs. This is crucial for commercial environments where the light is near constantly in use.
Are Solar LED Step Light Fittings Any Good?
Though there is a lot of conversation surrounding solar lighting, the truth is solar step lights don’t live up to the hype. This is especially true when compared to their low voltage equivalents.
Since solar lights rely on solar power for energy, the weather in the UK can hinder their brilliance. In winter and autumn when there is less sunlight, the solar lights may have trouble charging up. These months are darker than the rest of the year, so having step lights that fail during this time can be especially troublesome.
What Other Lighting Can You Use to Compliment Step Lights?
By layering step lights with other forms of illumination, you can create an ideal outdoor living space for you and your guests to enjoy.
- INCLUDE MODERN WALL LIGHTS. Adding modern wall lights along the walls surrounding the stairs will provide more thorough illumination and remove any nearby shadows. These lights also tend to be decorative and can add an artistic look and feel to your space.
- STATEMENT PENDANT LIGHTS. One of the important layers of light is ambient lighting. This is usually achieved by way of overhead ceiling lighting. By choosing a large, eye-catching pendant for your deck or patio, you can enhance the appearance of the outdoor space while also including ample illumination.
- INCORPORATE ACCENT LIGHTING. If you have any unique architectural or botanical features that you want to highlight, accent lighting is a good choice. Using uplighters and other types of accent lighting, you can highlight trees, sculptures and beyond, drawing attention to them more easily.
Ideas for Outdoor Step Lighting
Not only is the ODL041 1 Watt Square Recessed Black Outdoor LED Wall Light great for step lighting, but it can also be used as low level lighting on a deck or patio. The light shines a rounded pool of illumination down onto the area before it, covering a larger area of space. It features a sleek square shape finished in stark black and outputs 70 lumens of 3000k warm white light. This light features an IP65 rating.
The ODL042 1 Watt Round Recessed Black Outdoor LED Wall Light is a great choice both for step lighting and low level wall lighting on patios and decks. It features a round, durable exterior that is finished in black for a subtle finishing touch. A total of 70 lumens of 3000k warm white light shine from the fixture, which features an IP65 rating.
Enhance your outdoor space both practically and in a decorative way with the ODL043 1 Watt Square Halo Effect Recessed Black Outdoor LED Step Light. This step light features a wall washing design that shines light back onto the wall in a halo formation. This IP65 rated light is well suited for outdoors, and it shines 70 lumens of 3000k warm white light.
Brighten up your outdoor steps with the ODL701 3 Watt Round Black Recessed Outdoor Wall Light. This round light is finished in a sleek black that works well with any surrounding decorations. It features a half-screen from which the 3000k warm white light filters through at 70 lumens. The IP65 rating protects it from the outdoor elements.
With the ODL702 3 Watt Square Black Recessed Outdoor Wall Light, you can add ample illumination to your outdoor steps while also making your deck or patio more inviting. The product features a square fixture finished in neutral black to easily match its surroundings. It outputs 300 lumens of 3000k warm white light, providing plenty of visibility at night. It is rated IP65.
