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Patio led lighting ideas


23 creative ways to light a patio |

(Image credit: Getty Images/Rosendale Design/Lights4Fun)

Patio lighting ideas are a must if you have a patio or are planning to add one to your garden. Taking your space seamlessly from day to night, patio lighting ideas are perfect for extending the usability of your patio.

Just like indoors, outdoor lighting ideas have a dual role of curating an atmosphere and providing practical illumination. Whether you use your patio ideas as an outdoor dining space or as an area to relax with sofas and armchairs, these patio lighting ideas can help you to achieve the perfect balance between pretty and practical.

Patio lighting ideas

When you're planning your patio ideas, it’s vital to create sufficient light for everyone to move around the space and take their seats safely – as well as see their food and drink. But a surfeit of illumination will ruin the cozy ambience, and sense of intimacy.

‘Adding patio lighting ideas to your space, lets you enjoy a cup of coffee or tea on the deck after dinner or allows your gathering to continue well into the night and gives your outdoor living area a cozier ambience,’ says Mark Feldman, chief home officer of Riverbend Home . ‘Try ceiling lights overhead on a covered patio alongside outdoor table lamps, step lights for safety, path lights to illuminate your walkways. For softer lighting, add some candlelight with lanterns or candle holders. You can also hang string lights along railings or overhead for a festive look.’

1. Layer your lighting

(Image credit: Kate Anne Designs)

When designing a patio, you'll need to factor lighting ideas into the equation from the start.

'Lighting is an instant way to make the space feel more custom or higher end,' says Kate Anne Gross, of Los Angeles landscaping design build firm Kate Anne Designs . 'For example, when you go to resorts or high-end restaurants with outdoor seating, their lighting game is always on point.'

To achieve this, Gross says a layered look is key, similar to how you would design a lighting plan indoors. 

2. Hang a chandelier

(Image credit: Josh Young Design House)

Give your patio unmatched wow factor with a chandelier hung from a tree.  

'I love incorporating unexpected, architectural design elements and touches in any space, and we sourced and converted this antique street lantern and hung it like a chandelier above the dining table,' says artist and designer Josh Young, of JOSH YOUNG DESIGN HOUSE . 'Suspended from the branches of our 150-year old maple, the lantern grounds and centers the space, while adding a sense of formality in the garden of our DC townhome.'

3. Frame your outdoor dining table in light

(Image credit: Terrain)

To set an inviting ambience for evening dinners al fresco, wind a set of string lights around an over-the-table rod , like this one from Terrain. It'll instantly elevate your patio furniture ideas, and set a tone for something special.

For a semi-permanent solution you can use plug-in lights, but if you're dressing up your patio for an occasion or lack easy access to a power source, battery-powered lights work just as well. 

4. Use paper lanterns

(Image credit: Jenniy Reimold)

Paper lanterns add whimsy to a patio pergola.

'I love using our back porch for outdoor entertaining with guests, especially under our shaded pergola which is the perfect place to set up a seating area for an evening BBQ. I like to bring the space to life and add some ambiance by tying various outdoor lanterns on branches of a nearby tree or hanging from the top of the pergola,' says Jenny Reimold, interiors stylist and HomeGoods style expert.

Reimold notes that if you're looking for light, opt for lanterns with battery operate candles inside.

5. Add lights to a pool house or shed

(Image credit: Kate Anne Designs)

If you're lucky enough to own a patio that includes a pool house, incorporate patio lighting into your pool house ideas. The structure will likely be set back from your main house in an area that requires additional lighting. 

Adding a few exterior lights to the outer walls of your pool house can turn an unused space into an evening gathering area, a la the patio above, by Los Angeles based landscape firm Kate Anne Designs.  

6. Add wall lights to provide functional illumination under a pergola

(Image credit: Pooky)

Pergola ideas provide a versatile addition to the patio, increasing the usability of your backyard and enabling you to spend more time outdoors. However, when the sun sets the space under your pergola can quickly feel dark. Installing wall lights provides a quick and easy way to extend the usability of the space. 

7. Illuminate structures, trees and arbors for architectural interest

(Image credit: Lights4Fun)

If your patio is framed by an arbor or pergola, or perhaps is flanked by towering trees, then consider entwining the trunks or frame with string lights. One of the most atmospheric patio lighting ideas, they will create a welcoming glow that frames your patio. 

Pair with groups of candles to further set the scene. However, the requirements of safety mean they shouldn’t be left unattended, nor positioned where they could cause a trip hazard. Candles are also liable to be extinguished by the wind outside. Therefore, if you are thinking about adding candles to your patio lighting ideas consider hurricane lanterns which will be protected from breezes and be less likely to topple over. Alternatively, opt for battery powered LED candles, new designs are nearly indistinguishable from the real thing, providing a safe and easy way to get the same look as a lit flame.

8. Help your patio to blend into your garden with lighting

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Patio lighting ideas offer the perfect opportunity to harmonise your patio with the rest of your garden ideas. Installing staked solar lights in your border will illuminate the greenery and throw light towards the rest of the garden, rather than just centralising around the patio. Pair your border lights with occasional illumination such as candles and spot lights on the patio and on the table to set a warm and welcoming tone.

9. Create a laid-back party vibe with paper lanterns

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Take inspiration from Miami beach parties and similar celebrations by incorporating paper lanterns into your patio lighting ideas. While traditional paper lanterns are lit with a flame and set free to illuminate the sky, these LED versions make for a beautiful hanging addition to your patio or deck ideas. 

Best used in shaded areas, the nylon outer-casing is durable but will not survive adverse weather, therefore are best used as occasional patio lighting ideas; perfect for setting the ambience for an al fresco dinner party or a family celebration. 

10. Add practical lighting to keep your patio safe

(Image credit: Lighting for Gardens)

As well as looking for patio lighting ideas that help to set the tone of the space, also think about practical patio lighting ideas. For example if your patio has steps or different levels, then illuminating them is a must. 

There are several options for adding patio lighting to steps. The preferred option, where possible, is to set lights into the walls either side of the steps, however, this is not always possible. Alternatives include strip lights that are recessed into the overhang of each step, illuminating the step below, or spot lights that are installed into each step's riser, providing a similar method of illumination.  

When lighting steps, another consideration is the quantity of lights you need. After all, you want enough light to see where you’re walking, but not so many that they detract from your patio. ‘Putting artistic considerations to one side, the quantity of lights you need is mainly determined by the height of the lights above the steps,’ explains Philip Milner, technical manager at Lighting For Gardens . 'If the lights are only a few centimetres above the treads you will need one for every step, or two if you want to light from both sides. If the lights are higher up, (300-400mm) above the steps, one light for every two to three steps is usually sufficient. If you are lighting down from higher up above, you may be able to light a small flight of steps with a single downlighter.'

11. Incorporate patio lighting ideas into your outdoor ceiling fan

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Outdoor ceiling fans are a must for formal patio areas, especially in parts of the country that have frequent heatwaves. However, they also bring with them the opportunity to integrate patio lighting ideas. 'Use an outdoor ceiling fan with lights as it will deliver both task and ambient light to your seating or dining areas as well as offering a cooling breeze,' advises Mark Feldman.

12. Create rustic style with festoon lights

(Image credit: Lights4Fun)

Outdoor string lighting ideas are a great complement to cottage patio ideas and can be easily hung from a rustic pergola. Let them drape towards the table for a soft effect and gentle light for the tabletop. Team them with other light sources for sufficient illumination for the patio area. 

13. Consider a firepit for a natural glow

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Even the warmest days can bring with them cool evenings, So as the sun sets, light up the fire to keep the party going into the night. Firepits have seen a rise in popularity in recent years and for good reason. Creating a cozy centerpiece on your patio, they provide a space around which friends and family can congregate and enjoy each other's company.

In addition to providing heat, the flickering flames also bathe the patio in a soft glow, setting the perfect, intimate backdrop for after dinner conversation.

14. Choose a pendant for outdoor patio lighting ideas

(Image credit: Zinc Textiles)

Pendant lights aren’t just a solution for the interior of a home, outdoor versions make an attractive feature in all different garden ideas, especially when suspended above outdoor dining furniture. When choosing your pendant light, it is important to size up. Opting for a large design will ensure that the light doesn’t become lost in the space. A metallic finish will also catch the sunlight during the day and make for an eye-catching feature.

'Hang pendant fixtures from the ceiling of a covered area with seating, such as your wraparound porch or paved patio. You can choose styles that match your home’s architecture or you can capture the string light look with clustered pendants featuring glass covers and Edison-style bulbs,' says Mark Feldman.

15. Frame an outdoor fireplace with symmetrical wall lights

(Image credit: Rosendale Design)

Set lights either side of an outdoor fireplace to create a sophisticated exterior living room. They can provide sufficient soft background lighting for a seating area that’s gently enhanced by the flickering flames of the lit fire. The symmetry of a pair of lights either side of the fire is the perfect complement to facing sofas that make for a fabulous alfresco entertaining space. 

16. Opt for portable lamps for versatile illumination

(Image credit: Nedgis)

You patio lighting ideas don't have to be permanent fixtures, in fact, investing in a collection of smaller lights that you can move around the patio will offer increased flexibility when creating your lighting scheme. 

From small candles and lanterns through to larger standing lights, portable patio lighting ideas will offer a delicate pool of light that's more than enough to create a cozy atmosphere. Alternatively, layers lots of smaller lights to create a more impressive display.

17. Bring the inside out with a floor lamp

(Image credit: Salt and Steel)

Like pendant lights, floor lamps definitely shouldn’t be confined to the interior of your home. Adding a standing floor lamp can make a stylish addition to a patio used for dining or relaxing and can be bought to complement your patio furniture ideas.

It should, of course, be a version specially made for outdoor use, and a weighted base will help keep it secure in exterior breezes. Want to avoid cables? Look for a design with a chargeable lamp.

18. Mix shapes and colors in your patio lighting ideas

(Image credit: Sparkle Lighting)

A group of lanterns above a patio dining table makes an attractive and eye-catching focal point and are wonderful accessories for brightening patio cover ideas. For a casual boho effect, mix different shapes and shade colors as well as suspending them at different heights.  

Think about echoing the colors that complement your flower bed ideas, or repeat tones from the table setting for a colorful sophisticated display.

19. Go for warm light to create a cozy atmosphere

(Image credit: Ella James)

When selecting your patio lighting ideas, the bulbs are as important as the lights' design. It is important to select bulbs that have a soft effect that is relaxing on the eye. If you’re going for LED lights or solar garden lighting ideas, that means picking a type that produces warm white light like those shown here. Cool white is more luminous than warmer tones, however, it is can feel cold and slightly clinical. Therefore, cool lights are better suited to practical applications rather than creating a cozy laid-back environment. 

20. Wash light down a wall

(Image credit: Davey Lighting)

If your patio is sheltered by a wall, it’s the ideal place to add permanent lighting that makes using the space super convenient. Wall lights with a hooded lid will wash light down the wall to make a feature of a painted or textured surface and to illuminate patio planting ideas or seating below as well as providing general illumination.

21. Hang a series of pendant lights to create a centerpiece

(Image credit: Nest )

Just as in indoor dining room ideas, a row of pendant lights over the table makes a great feature outdoors too. The key to achieving this look is to ensure that you have enough lights to illuminate the whole length of the table. 

Also, bear in mind that they’ll need to be suspended high enough to avoid blocking views and conversation across the table, but at a level lower than a pendant: the series should feel visually connected to the table below.

22. Double up with a patio light with integrated heater

(Image credit: Umbra)

If you live in a cooler part of the country, you'll know the value of a patio heater. Consider choosing an electric version that will provide light for the area as well as warmth. Select a design with a shade has the style of a lamp, too, as well as a lamp’s elegant lines.

If your patio is small, and a floorstanding patio heater will take up too much of the space, tabletop versions are a neat and handsome alternative.

23. Complement a contemporary patio with wall lights

(Image credit: Future)

If your patio is part of a modern yard design with the emphasis on hardscaping with materials such as stone, concrete and metal, along with architectural planting,  your patio lighting ideas need to be contemporary, too. 

Echo the geometric lines of the yard design in the shape of wall lights, and repeat the colors of a modern materials palette as well for a pulled-together effect.

What are the best lights for an outdoor patio?

The best lights for outdoor patio are those that suit the way in which it’s used, and which complement its style. For a festive feeling, outdoor string lights are hard to beat and can be solar or battery-powered, which makes them easy to fit and avoids any trailing cable worries.

But for regularly used patios, fitted lighting is the most convenient, and can combine pendant and wall lights as background lighting, along with other patio lighting ideas such as exterior floor and table lamps, plus accent lighting to highlight plants and architectural features. This will, of course, be best incorporated at the same time as you are planning and designing a patio, although can be less neatly retro-fitted.

If you are fitting electric lighting or outside outlets, always follow building codes and regulations and call in a qualified contractor.  

How do you light an outdoor patio?

To light an outdoor patio, think first about the ambient or background lighting for the space. This could be from an outdoor pendant light or string lights, for example, and will create overall light for the patio that’s soft and atmospheric.

You could complement these with wall lights on some patios. Just make sure to look for up and down lights to avoid glare.

If you’re grilling as well as dining on the patio, don’t forget that you will need bright enough light for safe working – in other words, task lighting. This should be able to be operated separately, though, so you can turn it off once cooking is done for a more relaxing mood.

For patios with seating areas, floor and table lamps are worthwhile additions to a lighting scheme, casting intimate pools of light over those seated.

Don’t forget that accent lighting that puts the focus on chosen features can double as a safety feature, highlighting the edge of the patio or steps, for instance. Any path to a patio should also be lit so the way to the area is clearly apparent. 

Do I need a special bulb for an outdoor light?

Yes, you do need a special bulb for an outdoor light. All outdoor lightbulbs will have a UL Rating. Look for bulbs that have been classified as UL Listed.  It must be UL Listed not UL Certified as Certified bulbs have not been tested for use outside. 

UL Listed bulbs will also provide guidance on  where the bulb can safely be used. Bulbs listed for use in a Damp Location can be used in a sheltered patio, such as one that is attached to the house. However, if your bulbs are to be used outside, ensure that they are listed for Wet Locations. These can be used in the garden for all your patio lighting ideas.

Can I leave patio lights out in winter?

Yes, you can leave patio lights out in winter so long as they have been rated suitable for outdoor use. However, leaving your patio lighting ideas outside during harsh winters will shorten their lifespan. This is especially true of solar lights where the solar panels can become damaged by snow and ice over time. 

To set an inviting ambience for evening dinners al fresco, wind a set of string lights around an over-the-table rod , like this one from Terrain. It'll instantly elevate your patio furniture ideas, and set a tone for something special.

For a semi-permanent solution you can use plug-in lights, but if you're dressing up your patio for an occasion or lack easy access to a power source, battery-powered lights work just as well. 

Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor. Previously executive editor of Ideal Home, she’s specialized in interiors, property and gardens for over 20 years, and covers interior design, house design, gardens, and cleaning and organizing a home for H&G. She’s written for websites, including Houzz, Channel 4’s flagship website, 4Homes, and Future’s T3; national newspapers, including The Guardian; and magazines including Future’s Country Homes & Interiors, Homebuilding & Renovating, Period Living, and Style at Home, as well as House Beautiful, Good Homes, Grand Designs, Homes & Antiques, LandLove and The English Home among others. It’s no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house renovator. 

With contributions from

7 Awesome Outdoor Lighting Ideas for Your Backyard

Assessing Your Yard's Needs

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Darkness needn’t put a damper on backyard activities like swimming and barbecuing. By installing backyard lighting, you can keep the party going long after dusk, boost outdoor ambiance, and protect your property from unseen threats.

The three main types of backyard illumination are safety lighting to deter prowlers and improve navigation, landscape lighting to accentuate garden features, and accent lighting to put the focus on the hardscape. Ultimately, you’d want all three types in your backyard to achieve different lighting levels for different needs—and within each of these categories, there’s a variety of lighting choices. So let us shine a light on the best backyard illumination options, so you’ll know what to put in your outdoor space.

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1. Security Lighting

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Security lighting, generally the brightest backyard lighting, is safety lighting to illuminate large areas and scare off would-be burglars or destructive animals. Powered by standard, 120-Volt current, this lighting is installed high spots such as the eaves or above a garage to cast wide beams of light down onto main walkways or the backyard fence entrance.

Your best bet for security is motion-sensing floodlights that mount to the surface of exterior siding or walls and contain two- or three-bulb housing units that go on only when built-in sensors detect movement in the area. Their intense light exposes prowlers and may fool them into thinking you’re home and on alert even if you’re not.

Our Pick for Security Lights: Available in black or white, Ring's floodlight (available at Amazon ) is weather resistant and can be connected to a Ring doorbell, other Ring lights, and even Amazon Alexa. Its two optical LED lights produce a powerful 2000 lumens to light up your landscape as bright as day, and it can detect motion from up to 70 feet away. 

RELATED: Buyer's Guide: Outdoor Motion Sensor Lights

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2. Path Lighting

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Path lighting is soft to moderately bright safety and landscape lighting designed to help you navigate walkways while attractively highlighting them.  Install it on the ground along both sides of main walkways from the back door to your fence door, along stepping stones from the main walkway to a backyard feature like a fountain, and/or around flower beds to emphasize their contours.

Path lighting is often available in low-voltage (12- to 15-V) and solar LED options consisting of a decorative bulb housing unit attached to a short stake you drive into the ground. If you choose low-voltage path lights , you'll need to use a transformer to reduce the 120-volt house current to 12 volts; energy-saving solar versions, meanwhile, require no extra wires. Even if your walkways are shaded, these lights will stay bright for several hours after dusk, thanks to a solar rechargeable battery or remote solar panel you station somewhere else in the yard that gets direct sun.

Our Pick for Path Lights: With a stainless steel finish and cylindrical panes, this elegant 6-pack of solar path lights by Signature Garden (available at Amazon) earns high ratings from Amazon shoppers. The lights' water resistance is another draw, along with their LED bulbs, auto on/off power, and crystalline solar panel. Emitting a warm white light, they are also super easy to install.

RELATED: Buyer's Guide: Solar Path Lights

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3. String Lighting

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String lighting is soft, low-voltage accent lighting used to evoke a warm, intimate ambiance that’s especially desirable for entertaining. Hang string lights wherever the activity is—be it on the eaves of the home to brighten an outdoor kitchen or from the posts of an outdoor pavilion or gazebo to illuminate patio furniture.

Look for waterproof, rechargeable, traditional battery-powered or solar-powered outdoor string lights (which usually come with a remote solar panel), preferably those with long-lasting LED bulbs. Such lights avoid the need for running extension cords across the yard, enable lighting in far corners of the yard without electrical outlets, and ensure that lights stay on safely even if spattered with rain.

Our Pick for String Lights: Hang 48 feet of Brightech Ambience Pro waterproof string lights over your patio table or under a pergola to lounge in the warm white glow of 15 indoor-outdoor bulbs (available at Amazon). Not only are these Edison-style bulbs stylish in a retro way, but they are also energy-efficient! These LEDs will last longer than your average incandescent options and won't cost as much to use over that long lifetime.

RELATED: 7 Ways to Transform String Lights from Holiday to Every Day

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4. Outdoor Wall Lighting

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Outdoor wall lighting is a low-voltage, moderately bright form of safety and accent lighting used chiefly to illuminate and improve navigation in small recessed areas of the yard where shadows lurk. You can mount them on any vertical surface, such as along the interior of your pergola; above stairways; and around sunken seating areas, pools, and other low-lying spots.

Wall sconces with an open-bottomed design (i.e., the bottom of the bulb housing is uncovered) are the best options because they cast the maximum amount of light down onto recessed areas. If you have scarce space on exterior walls, consider semi-flush-mount sconces (i.e., the light is attached to a narrow arm that mounts to a plate on the wall) instead of flush-mount sconces with the whole fixture up against the wall.

Our Pick for Outdoor Sconces: Just as the market of indoor wall sconces is large and varied, so are your options for outdoor wall lighting. You'll see all shapes, sizes, and metal finishes—this Lora outdoor sconce (available at The Home Depot) comes in seven finishes, from a shiny red to oil-rubbed bronze. The shallow fixture focuses light from an incandescent or LED bulb down toward the entertainment happening below, while the clean lines of the design blend easily with any other fixtures you may have in place around your exterior.

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5. Lanterns

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Lanterns offer soft, low-voltage accent lighting for a small expanse of an outdoor wall to play up architectural details or decor. They’re often installed in the vicinity of the back door to highlight a transom window, arch, or ornate wreath atop it. Most lanterns are semi-flush mount, consisting of a glass-and-metal exterior attached to an arm affixed to a plate on the wall. However, battery-powered tabletop lanterns bring that same visual interest to eye level while softly illuminating elements that you might reach for when outside entertaining: bowls of snacks, beverages, board games, and more. Choose lanterns with a translucent as opposed to a clear glass covering to provide diffuse, glare-free nighttime lighting that doesn’t distract from other backyard light fixtures.

Our Pick for Lanterns: While there are plenty of variations on the traditional wall-mounted lantern, with its hard corners and boxy shape, feel free to think out of the box. If your sense of style leans toward farmhouse or coastal, you may gravitate toward the Globe Electric's modern matte black take on caged lantern (available at Amazon). The quality of this affordable fixture and its seeded glass shade constantly impresses Amazon buyers.

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6. Deck Lighting

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Deck lighting is standard-voltage, moderate- to high-intensity lighting designed to help folks get up, down, and across the deck by night, avoiding tripping hazards and visual clutter, and also accentuate nearby garden features.

It’s installed as a series of LED lights recessed into grooves in the surface, so that you can safely walk over them, never even feeling them underfoot. Deck lights also belong around the perimeter of the deck surface, in between the individual steps of stairs, and/or along deck stair railings.

Our Pick for Deck Lights: Illuminating the edge of your deck and its steps is essential to preventing trips and falls in the dark. Whether you're fixing up an existing structure or setting out to build a new one, consider SMY Lighting's recessed LED deck lights (available at Amazon). The lights are just over 2 inches in diameter and about 3/4 inch deep. They are durable enough to withstand weather and foot traffic and maintain a consistent (while economical) glow. The 6-piece set should be ample lighting for a few deck steps when spaced 3 feet apart.

RELATED: Safety Check: 5 Tips to Protect Your Deck from Disaster

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7. Spot Lighting

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Also known as “up-lighting” or simply landscape lighting, spot lighting is standard-voltage landscaping lighting used to shine narrow, moderate- to high-intensity beams upwards, usually to showcase a plant or ornamental feature. You might install it at or above ground level below tall trees or a lawn ornament to make them look more statuesque.

To light taller objects, such as trees, opt for bullet-shaped lights on a base you drive into the ground with a stake. Bullet lights have an adjustable head that sits above ground and casts bright pins of light over longer distances at an angle of your choice. For shorter features, such as shrubs, try well lights, round lights that are pushed into the ground to cast light upwards over shorter distances. Because they’re hidden in the ground, they let small garden features take center stage.

Our Pick for Spot Lights: Cast a warm white light on your prized patch of landscaping around the patio or front lawn with hykolity's LED low-voltage spot lights (available on Amazon). Sold in sets of four with an IP65 rating that's suitable for wet locations, these spot lights connect to your 12-volt low-voltage lighting system in a matter of minutes, thanks to the user-friendly installation process. And they are a set-and-forget addition to your yard: Because the LED bulb is completely integrated with the light fixture, it's both highly efficient and maintenance-free.

RELATED: 12 Expert Tips for Eye-Catching Front Yard Landscaping

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Let There Be Light

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There's a lighting option for every backyard.

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Don't Miss!

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norms, methods of lighting, selection of lamps

Terraces or patios are often arranged for a cozy design of the open area of ​​a private house. They allow you to arrange your vacation or evening gatherings with the family, however, the planned activities will stop after dark if there is not enough visibility. That is why in this article we will consider the lighting of the terrace. In view of the fact that all lighting fixtures will be located on the street, a number of special requirements are imposed on them.

Standards and regulations

When providing outdoor lighting on a terrace, it is important to take into account the effects of moisture from precipitation or temperature changes, dust injection and direct sunlight.

In addition, note that insects at night can be a real punishment on the summer veranda. Therefore, all terrace lighting devices must be located at some distance from sofas, chairs and tables.

Ways of lighting a terrace

All terraces differ both in the way they are made and in their dimensions, which will further determine the methodology and strategy for organizing their lighting. In general, all methods may differ in style, layout and purpose. You can arrange outdoor veranda lighting in hi-tech, classic, ethno, country, loft, etc. styles. The main thing is that the idea is consistent with the interior design.

In addition, the method of lighting may differ in the location of lighting devices: on the ceiling, in the floor, along the perimeter of the fence or walls. Of course, all of them can perfectly complement each other in the exterior design of a residential building, so you can combine several sources into a single composition. For example, install one central terrace lighting device and decorative step lighting. By purpose, terrace lighting can be divided into basic lighting, decorative or backlighting, then we will consider each of them in more detail.

Base light

Base light is designed to provide sufficient visibility on the terrace. In fact, this is a house adjoining territory, which can have a closed and open type of execution. If there is a roof or canopy, basic lighting devices can be mounted in the ceiling plane, as this provides good coverage of the space below them.

However, this solution is not always advisable:

The number and angle of dispersion of lighting devices should be selected depending on the area and design of the veranda.

Decorative lighting

In addition to the general lighting of the terrace, many owners do not lose the opportunity to turn this space into a fabulous corner on their site. A well-made veranda is already a decoration of a house or garden, but the use of lighting effects will enhance the image at night or create an additional decoration. Most often, decorative lighting is performed with LED strips or spotlights.

Depending on the application, decorative lighting can be made as:

Please note that the purpose of decorative lighting is to decorate, and not to create a powerful luminous flux, so the power of the lamps is chosen appropriately, flexible neon is also appropriate here, since it will give little light, but will create an excellent color effect. If you want to ensure visibility, a special backlight is equipped.

Illumination

Unlike the previous version, terrace lighting is also functional.

It not only decorates a certain area, but also makes it visible for any operation:

Selection of luminaires

Lighting fixtures of various types and designs can be used to decorate the veranda.

The most common options are:

Luminaires location options

Depending on the location of the lighting fixtures, there are five most popular ways: along the perimeter of the terrace, on the wall, on columns, on the ceiling or from the periphery of the yard and its fences. The location of the lamps around the perimeter will provide uniform lighting, especially true for open terraces.

Installation of lighting equipment on the wall is suitable either for closed gazebos or terraces adjacent to the building, especially elongated along the perimeter of the walls. Mounting lamps on poles is relevant in open terraces - on a high leg if there is a fence or on a low one if it is absent. Also, lighting devices can be installed on the fence around the site or supports near it, directing the light of street lamps directly onto the terrace.

Wiring details for terrace

  1. Depending on the installation location of the patio lights, the cable routing will also differ. In one case, it will hide under a canopy or come out of the wall of the house, in the other, it will have direct contact with the ground or be in the open air. It should be noted that it is not worth laying the cable in an open way to the terrace, as this will significantly spoil the appearance of the interior style.
  2. Where is located, electrical wiring must be installed in such a way that it cannot be reached by pets or children during play. When arranging a wooden floor, under which the wiring will pass, they are separated by a non-combustible base, for example, a metal pipe or sheet of metal along the entire length of the gasket.
  3. When laying in the ground, the cable must be at least 0. 8 m deep. If you try to save time on digging a full-fledged trench, you run the risk of breaking the cable during the processing of the beds or being left without light due to the natural actions of animals.

Ready -made ideas in the photo

Used literature

Terrace lighting at home and in the country - photo, video, best ideas

It is almost impossible to imagine a country house without a terrace. This is a favorite place for the whole family in the warm season, because it is so nice to have a festive dinner outdoors, invite guests, play board games or just read an interesting book alone. In order to make the atmosphere of this place truly unique, we suggest you familiarize yourself with tips on how to make beautiful terrace lighting at home and in the country.

The right light on an open veranda depends on many factors: the choice of lamps, ceiling lamps, the successful location of lamps and the presence of moisture protection. We have prepared 12 useful tips for you on how to organize the best terrace lighting:

  1. Be sure to follow the bright lighting of the stairs at the entrance to the terrace attached to the house. You can install LED strip on railings or even in stairs. A more classic option would be to purchase wall and floor lamps.
  2. There should be more than one light source on the stairs, as the steps will cast a shadow, making it difficult to perceive the size of each step and may lead to injury. It is best to place the lamps on both sides of the stairs.
  3. The design and choice of lighting fixtures depends on the style in which you decide to make a terrace. You can draw beautiful photo ideas for inspiration from this small gallery:

  4. If you have a spacious outbuilding, you can choose a beautiful chandelier for lighting. For more modest dimensions, wall sconces are suitable, which are appropriate to buy in the amount of two pieces and install on both sides of the front door.
  5. A popular solution for the terrace in 2017 is the installation of spotlights, which can either be an almost invisible source of light or become a bright accent in the interior.
  6. Outdoor verandas will always be affected by the weather. In order to prevent heavy rain from damaging electrical appliances, it is necessary to take care of their protection.
  7. It is necessary to organize lighting in such a way that it is completely safe for children and animals. Wires and structural details must be hidden and securely protected. It is for this reason that experts advise using LED lamps for the terrace, as they do not heat up and are safer.
  8. An equally good idea would be to install an LED strip to illuminate the terrace. Hidden ceiling lighting looks quite attractive and original, as can be seen in the photo:
  9. The terrace, which is not an extension to a private house, can be illuminated using four floor lamps placed in the corners. This is especially true if such an open veranda has only a canopy or no roof at all instead of a roof.

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