Home » Misc » Pool lighting design

Pool lighting design


10 ways for designing pool lighting |

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Bianchi Design / Michael Woodall)

You’ll need some pool lighting ideas if you’re planning on building a new pool to complete your backyard, or if you want to refresh and update an existing pool area.

There are a lot more options nowadays for pool light ideas that go beyond the standard submerged pool lights. It’s a matter of beautifully and thoughtfully illuminating the surrounding pool area as well, so is an integral decision when planning your pool ideas.

Pool lighting ideas

(Image credit: John Cullen Lighting)

'Outdoor lighting ideas are an integral part of enjoying any outdoor living space and should not allowed to go without serious thought,' says Michael Deo, certified outdoor lighting designer (COLD) and owner of NatureScape Lighting in Millington, New Jersey.

'The overall enjoyment of the space is the reason we install swimming pools to begin with, and often, folks don’t get to use them until well after the sun sets,' he adds.

From path illumination to spotlighting the most aesthetically-pleasing surrounding pool landscaping ideas, these pool lighting ideas will inspire and inform your vision.

1. Brighten up the pool deck or patio

(Image credit: David Wilds Patton Lighting Design/HrH Architecture/John Sutton Photography)

While it’s certainly helpful to light the pool itself, it’s equally wise to illuminate the surrounding pool area, deck or patio, something that will let you see your backyard at night in all its glory. 

This effect will create 'an illuminated border outside the swimming pool,' explains Michael Deo, which can make it the centerpiece of your outdoor space. It also will give you 'a safe pedestrian zone,' he adds, ideal for guests, who will benefit from your pool lighting ideas.

2.

Try uplighting and downlighting 

(Image credit: Bianchi Design/George Gruel)

If you want to give the outdoor features that surround your pool the attention they deserve, consider a mix of uplighting and downlighting. While uplighting as a pool light idea can illuminate branches and plants from the ground up, installed downlighting additionally creates a natural look and covers more surface area. 

Kirk Bianchi, pool and landscape designer at Scottsdale, Arizona’s Bianchi Design , and his consultant Janet Lennox Moyer , lighting designer and author of new book The Art of Landscape Lighting , believe that pool lighting ideas allow us to reconnect with our garden spaces, permitting us to enjoy outdoor living at the prime hours when we are at home relaxing.

Downlights can shine from a tree or an eave of your home, Kirk and Janet explain. 

3. Light adjacent structures

(Image credit: NatureScape Lighting)

When devising pool lighting ideas, don’t just stick to the pool – surrounding structures should not be overlooked.  

'Plan to light adjacent structures, such as pergolas, arbors, and other shade structures, including umbrellas,' says Michael Deo of NatureScape Lighting. 'These spaces provide shade during the daylight hours but may become too dark to enjoy after hours.' 

Consider also lighting a pool house, or other garden building located close to the pool area.

Whether these lights are structure-mounted or hanging, such as an outdoor chandelier, dimmable lighting can make all the difference, adds Michael.

4. Think vertically 

(Image credit: Bianchi Design/George Gruel)

Pool light ideas involve a lot more than simply lighting walkways around the pool. There is also an opportunity to be visual and intentional with your choices, making your backyard look its very best. 

One way to accomplish this approach is by illuminating any vertical surfaces by your pool.  'People see vertical surfaces first within a space,' explain Kirk Bianchi and Janet Lenox Moyer. This means that walls, trees, sculptures, and other background elements need to be lit to fully create a sense of setting around your pool.

5. Highlight plants after dark 

(Image credit: Arterra Landscape Architects/Michele Lee Willson)

While your plants alongside your pool may look stunning in the daylight, they should take center stage at night time, too. 

Michael Deo advises planting colorful plants that look their best during the season when you’ll be using the pool. 'Then, use accent lighting fixtures to minimize glare and highlight your favorite plants after dark,' he says.

6. Use the pool as a mirror 

(Image credit: DDLA Design Landscape Architecture)

Your pool acts as a natural mirror, something that you can use to your advantage in pool lighting ideas. 

'When designing the pool and the yard, ultimately to be enjoyed at night, be sure that there are elements worthy of being lit and reflected in the pool,' explain Kirk Bianchi and Janet Lenox Moyer. This can include the illuminated outline of a nearby pergola, lanterns that line the pool’s edge, or cascading, twinkling lights that hang overhead. 

7. Consider lanterns, torches, or fire features

(Image credit: Outdoor Living of NJ)

Outdoor lighting can tend to focus on LED lighting, but you can always choose to think outside the and incorporate lighting throughout your pool patio ideas. Lanterns showcasing candles, tiki torches, or your outdoor fireplace ideas can double as sources of light.

Michael Deo has a penchant for using professional copper or brass tiki torches in pool areas. These fixtures can be combined with LED lighting, illuminating the patio or garden area below with an oil-burning canister and helping to provide insect control along with warm ambiance.

8. Include path lighting 

(Image credit: ZEN Associates / Nat Rea )

Path lighting isn’t just pleasing to the eye – it is also necessary when it comes to pool lighting ideas.  

'Path lighting is important and should first be accomplished by overhead sources illuminating the adjacent planter beds and indirectly lighting the path by spillover,' advise Kirk Bianchi and Janet Lenox Moyer of their preferred method of lighting up pool pathways. 

'Only when there is no overhead opportunity should path light fixtures or wall fixtures be enlisted, and they must be shielded carefully to avoid glare,' they add. 

9. Make it safe

(Image credit: Bianchi Design / Michael Woodall)

In addition to turning to pool lighting ideas for added safety in your outdoor space, by illuminating pathways and walking areas, you need to think about the safety of the lights themselves. 

'First, you should ensure that any low voltage landscape lighting is located outside of the zone deemed safe by your local inspector,' lighting designer Michael Deo emphasizes. 

Some inspectors use five feet away from the pool as a standard, while others enforce 'the 10-foot rule. Check with your local jurisdiction,' the lighting designer adds.

10. Highlight three-dimensional features 

(Image credit: NatureScape Lighting)

When you have a feature near your pool, such as a striking tree or sculpture, it’s best to use more light fixtures and a lower wattage – a combination that effectively reveals 'the three-dimensional character' of an object, advise Kirk Bianchi and Janet Lenox Moyer.

This mix will prevent bright, glaring spots while still attracting attention to certain features you may wish to highlight with the pool light ideas.

How do I light my pool area? 

To light your pool area, always use the services of a pool professional. This is especially so when the pool lighting ideas involve any underwater lighting, since this is considered to be 'human bathing,' advises Michael Deo, and so the lighting will be properly rated for this use and inspected for compliance and safety after it has been professionally installed.

'Plan early with pool light ideas,' Michael adds. 'If working with a professional, discuss lighting at the start of the project. Even if the lighting is not going to be installed right away, it should be planned for so you’re not "locked out" of critical areas,' he explains.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Can I add lights to an existing pool?

To add lights to an existing pool in a backyard, there needs to be a planned remodel underway, 'where the deck, or other surrounding landscaping is already being removed in the scope of work,' advise Kirk Bianchi and Janet Lenox Moyer.

If a pool remodel isn’t an option, however, then consider getting creative with other outdoor garden lighting ideas, such as solar-powered pathway lights, outdoor pendant lights, hanging string lights, and tiki torches.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

How many lights should a pool have? 

There are no set requirements as to how many lights a pool should have to adequately light the area and it is a matter of personal preference. While some people may prefer low lighting around their pool so they can see the stars, others may want enough ambient light to execute their best pool party ideas well into the evening. 

In their work, Kirk Bianchi and Janet Lenox Moyer will, depending on the length of the pool, place lights about eight feet – centered to the pool – along the house side of the pool, aiming them away from the viewer. 'In this way, you won’t be staring directly at harsh lights at night,' they advise.

Shelby Deering is a freelance lifestyle writer based in Madison, Wisconsin. With a Master’s degree in Journalism and a background as an editor, Shelby has contributed design features, home tours, and other lifestyle stories to national publications, including Domino, Better Homes & Gardens, Martha Stewart Living, Good Housekeeping, and more. 

Outdoor Inground Pool Lighting Ideas & Options

A pool is obviously the place to be when the sun is out and the temperatures are hot. By employing unique pool lighting ideas around your pool in the evening, however, you can turn your pool into a nighttime oasis as well. Pool lighting can create a dramatic mood around your outdoor living space, and is one of the things to take in to consideration when building a pool.

Outdoor Pool Lighting Ideas

For a long time, incandescent in-pool lighting was really the only option, and with that came several limitations. But lighting technology has undergone a revolution in recent years. Now there are cool LED pool lighting options that can give your in-pool lighting an added flair. For example, did you know that some color-changing options are now WiFi-enabled, allowing you to set the perfect colors (and the right mood) with just the touch of an app on your smartphone? 

LED lights are very popular, and it’s easy to see why. They come in a wide array of colors, plus, as we just described, even color-changing options. LED lights are energy efficient as well, giving you even more reason to choose them when building a pool.

Fiberglass | Monaco in Pearl White G3 by Brooks Malone

 

Pool Lighting Options: Steps

Don’t forget to think about illumination for your swimming pool steps when considering outdoor lighting. After all, you wouldn’t want to use a dark stairway in any other environment — so why have one in your pool or leading up to your deck, either? 

Whether incorporated directly into your pool steps or deck steps, or the hardscaping of your swimming pool area, step lighting provides both a visual upgrade and doubles as a safety precaution. That way, you can feel confident you’re getting the maximum bang for your buck — and can keep the party rolling even after the sun goes down. Keep reading to learn about more backyard pool lighting ideas for any climate.

Vinyl Liner Pools

Pool Lighting Options: Water Features

Your pool looks dazzling and impressive during the day — but at night, some of those gorgeous details don’t quite “pop” with the same level of detail. That’s where a combination of outdoor lighting and elegant water features can come to the rescue. Some of our favorite backyard pool lighting ideas include illuminated pool fountains, lit-up waterfalls, and soothing pool bubblers that give off a gentle glow. Whether you’re looking for big, bold, Las Vegas-style luxury — or, maybe something a little more understated — illuminated water features provide a perfect add-on.

Pool Lighting Options: Seating Areas

Pool seating often has subtle curves that might not be easy to spot at night — and besides, who wants to sit around in the dark? Beautiful lighting makes pool benches and swim-up seating areas more conspicuous, more inviting, and most importantly, more safe. Seating area lights can be placed outside of and/or directly within the pool, depending on the overall look and intensity of the illumination you’re going for. You can even use lighting to make a seating area the focal point, creating a swim-up bar that’s ready for evening entertainment! 

Discover more inground pool lighting ideas by browsing our wide variety of fiberglass pool features and designs.

Fiberglass | Astoria in Crystite Classic Ocean Blue

Pool Deck Lighting Ideas

While in-pool lighting can have a dramatic effect for those in the water, lighting around your pool can also help set a mood. It can also help make the area around your pool safer. Strategically placing them around walkways, pool decks and other landscaping elements like pools decks can help light a path for people. It can also help keep light-attracted bugs away from the water.

Need a few more suggestions to help you visualize your perfect pool deck? Here are five bonus ideas to consider for your backyard and pool area: 

What Pool Lighting Option is Right for You?

Lighting not only makes your pool more attractive — it also reduces the risk of a slip-and-fall, a stubbed toe or another type of accident. (It also makes it easier to see your cocktail when relaxing at night.)

Of course, to achieve the best results, you should have an idea for a lighting concept before you start building or designing a pool. As your pool takes shape, you can make changes to account for the effect your the lighting ideas will have on the surfaces around your pool, like the pool deck, pool liner and landscaping.

As the plan comes together, remember that an increased number of light sources with more diffused light is more advantageous than a few sources emitting bright, harsh light.

Vinyl Liner Pools

 

One of the bigger choices you’ll make is among incandescent lighting, LED lighting or fiber-optic lighting. While it’s cheaper initially, incandescent doesn’t touch LED when it comes to energy efficiency and longevity. Fiber-optic is typically more expensive than both incandescent and LED, but it also offers you more flexibility in color and hue. With the increased expense over LED also comes less effort to maintain.

No matter what sort of system or set-up you choose, there are numerous benefits to lighting your pool and/or deck — from a safety, aesthetic and practical perspective. For instance, lighting allows you to enjoy the pool all evening, giving you more time to make the most of your investment (while getting in great family bonding time, too)! After all, what could be more refreshing than a quick, cooling dip on a hot summer’s evening when the A/C just isn’t cutting it?

Here are a few other ways that outdoor pool lighting can deliver even more enjoyment: 

With the proper lighting scheme, you can create an outdoor living space you want to spend time in day or night. To learn more or get started, contact the expert team at Latham online today!

 

Editor’s note: Originally posted July 2017. Updated for relevance and clarity. 

Pool lighting: underwater, interior, surrounding area

Lighting tasks

Safety and comfort in the pool largely depend on the right lighting. It should be pleasing to the eye, and the system itself should be reliable. This will create an atmosphere of relaxation in the bathing area. The pool construction and equipment market is undergoing dynamic changes: technologies are developing, new products are appearing. Architects and designers are constantly looking for fresh ideas. No less attention is paid to the safety and durability of equipment, including lighting. nine0005

Lighting is an integral part of the overall design of the bath (left photo). Sophisticated contour and spot lighting of the bowl and the surrounding area emphasizes the overall style (photo on the right).

The pool lighting design palette is constantly updated. Manufacturers offer interesting and aesthetic technical solutions

Pool lighting is divided into external and internal, street and interior, contour and local

nine0002 Types and schemes of lighting

Pahlen recessed water spotlights (Sweden). Spectravision model with RGB LEDs. Spotlight 12250 in stainless steel with PAR56 incandescent lamp for tiling. Halogen version 12265 for spa pools, fountains, stairs

Blue-turquoise Delphinus glass mosaic from the Fosfo collection by Ezarri (Spain) has a special property. Charged with energy emitted by the sun and artificial sources, its elements begin to glow in the dark. Ornaments, symbols, inscriptions are also laid out with such material. nine0005

Shiny white poufs and poolside tables accent the patio area.

If the pool is closed, the lighting scheme of the area around it is not much different from the standard one. It is advisable to choose not central ceiling, but wall lamps around the perimeter of the room. The main requirements are imposed on the design of lighting sources: they should not be afraid of high humidity and splashes.

If the pool has a simple geometry and its functionality is in the first place for the owners, then a complex lighting scheme is hardly appropriate. It is enough to highlight the water and a couple of accents in the patio area or in the bathing room. So, the use of different types of lamps makes the oriental-style pool even more elegant. The combination of spot and contour lighting turns the room into an exclusive interior. nine0005

Evening charm

Many appreciate the evening swimming in the outdoor pool because of the atmosphere of romance, fairy tales. Therefore, excessive radiance and brightness in this zone is useless. The main requirement for lighting concerns safety at night.

Acceptable scheme: contour lighting is carried out along the perimeter of the pool, and all steps, approaches to the water and adjacent areas are highlighted using point sources. Spotlights are built into the lining of stairs, paths, curbs, terraces and patios, recessed into the lawn. Bollards are also used. nine0005

Lighting control

Light control options in the pool area are wide. In the simplest version, a switch or dimmer is installed in the bathhouse or in the technical unit. In the presence of complex colored illumination, a device with a set of switching modes is connected to each source. The system is complemented by a remote control and audio media. Electronic controllers are used to create light music.

nine0004 The delicate combination of spot lighting of the bath with combined lighting of the terrace creates a cozy atmosphere and does not argue with the restrained color of the natural environment.

One of the trends in the design of swimming pools is the clarity of shapes and lines, the contrast of elements, the absence of lush decor.

The Lampara Faz collection was created by Ramon Esteve for Vondom (Spain). This includes LED floor lamps (type IP 65), similar to iridescent quartz crystals. The waterproof case made of translucent polyethylene on a metal frame is suitable for outdoor use. nine0005

The centerpiece of the Chewton Glen Hotel (UK) spa complex is a circular pool with color-changing water and glowing clouds on the domed ceiling.

Alternative design - play on contrasts: the purple hue of the water appears even brighter against the background of yellow lights that highlight the lush vegetation

Subscribe to our channel

See also

Organization of lighting in the pool

The pool is a special place in the house where the whole family relaxes. This room has its own character, and the design requires a special approach. That is why it is important to carefully consider the design of the pool, so that every moment brings only happiness and joy.

Lighting plays a special role in the interior of the pool. Indeed, with its help, this traditional building turns into a real masterpiece of art - the walls begin to soar, and the water creates the illusion of unity with the floor. Thanks to the wide variety of luminaires on the market today, each buyer can choose lighting devices based on the effect that you want to achieve. nine0005

General pool lighting techniques

Pool lighting is very important because it performs two functions at once. The first and main one is a utilitarian function. The pool is an unsafe place, so improper lighting can lead to injury. There should be enough light, it should be soft and not blinding. It is advisable to distribute the light evenly, avoiding dark corners. After all, such lighting is not used constantly, but only when necessary. General lighting is mainly ceiling light. In this case, it is not required to use waterproof lamps. nine0005

The use of aluminum profiles for LED strips gives a lot of room for action. The LED strip gives a good diffused light, and with the help of profiles of various designs, you can create a truly original solution. As for spotlights, it is better not to use them, since they have a small illumination radius. For these purposes, LED panels are more suitable, which give good diffused light, and also have a fairly large size range.

Some pool owners want to see large chandeliers above the surface of the water. Such a solution can be implemented if it suits the design. However, in this case, a person must be warned that this is not very convenient during operation.

Reflective light is an excellent choice for large and spacious pools. When light falls on the ceiling (necessarily white) and, reflected, illuminates the room. Such light is very pleasing to the eye, it is unusually soft and creates a pleasant atmosphere. nine0005

Decorative Lighting

Spot Lighting

Spot Lighting is a technique ideal for setting accents. It is actively used by designers when there are various architectural elements in the room (columns, sculptures, stucco).

Contour lighting

Contour lighting is ideal for swimming pools with original shapes. Reception involves the placement of fixtures exactly along the contour of the pool. As a result, this design allows you to clearly define the boundaries between water and floor, and for people to easily navigate in space. nine0005

Floating lights add a touch of romance to your pool. Their structures are completely sealed. The structure of these lamps includes a spotlight a light source, and the power source is a battery and a battery.

Bowl Illumination

Illumination with multi-colored streams of light will turn the most ordinary pool into a bright and spectacular spectacle.

Water reflects light well. At the same time, the light coming from the inside, from the very thickness of the water, is able to give the pool bowl a certain volume. It will also create the illusion that the light goes beyond the bowl. Visually, this solution looks very nice and impressive. nine0005

In order to create a uniform and pleasing to the eye lighting, one golden rule should be followed when organizing lighting: the number and power of appliances used in the bowl and around the perimeter of the pool should be the same!

Lamps that are used to organize external lighting in the pool provide an even background light, while underwater floodlights are responsible for harmonious main lighting and colorful perception. External lamps must necessarily have the 1st class of protection against condensation. However, it is better to give preference to luminaires of the 2nd class of protection against water splashes. nine0005

Selection criteria for underwater pool lights

- The maximum possible installation depth - plays an important role, since the lamps and the design of the fixtures are designed for certain loads. If this parameter, which is indicated on the packaging of the product, is not observed, it may lead to malfunctions of the equipment.

- Body Material - Submersible instruments must be constructed from bronze, stainless steel, or durable plastic. Other materials for the manufacture of the case are not used due to the high probability of corrosion. nine0005

Light fiber - is absolutely safe for human health and has a long service life (about 50 years). Optical fiber is very flexible, which allows designers to implement the most daring projects.

Another feature of the fiber optic lighting system is that its light filters can be connected to a computer. This allows vacationers to independently adjust the degree of illumination in the room - you can arrange the most incredible light and music shows in the pool. True, such a system is not cheap. However, if we take into account its service life and the fountain of positive emotions, the result will exceed all expectations and will pay off very quickly. nine0164

What should the pool lighting look like?

External lighting used in the pool is a composition of interconnected lighting fixtures, which are made of plastic or stainless steel, located directly under the water.

In fact, water lighting is an initiative of every pool owner, since the organization of water surface lighting is not an obligatory element of the structure design. To ensure the necessary level of light in the pool, it is enough to organize an overhead lighting system. nine0005

This is especially true for closed artificial reservoirs located in the house. If we are talking about open structures, then it is additionally required to organize the illumination of the place of descent (for example, stairs) into the water.

Water lighting in the pool includes the following equipment:

- Lamps that are built into the surface of the pool (depending on the tasks, overhead, hanging, floating models can be used). nine0005

- Searchlights - their installation is carried out mainly in the walls of the reservoir.

- Boxes containing all wire connections. These are special junction boxes that must have a high level of tightness.

- Transformers for voltage reduction in spotlights.

- Cable.

- Digital microprocessors providing control.

Using this set of equipment, you can create spectacular lighting compositions for any mood: for relaxation, peace of mind, solitude. Water is a natural element, which in itself evokes positive emotions and soothes. With the help of lighting, the pool can be turned into a real work of art, you can create a romantic atmosphere, or vice versa - prepare the "soil" for a pool party. nine0005

Underwater lighting effectively emphasizes the contours of the reservoir, conveys the brightness and color saturation of finishing materials. In combination with external lighting, water can be beautifully played up, creating the illusion of objects being under water or floating above the surface of the water.

Most of the lighting techniques are achieved through the use of recessed spotlights. That is why it is extremely important to determine the location of the fixtures and, in general, the use of water illumination at the design stage. nine0005

Properly select the type of luminaires, their class and category, as well as take into account all the nuances of the organization of the lighting system will help experienced professionals. In this case, you can not do without the qualified help of professionals.

Consumers can also opt for a fiber optic backlight, which is equipped with multi-colored filters for lighting fixtures. It is important to correctly calculate the level of illumination, for example, so that the reservoir can be contemplated from the window of the house. At the same time, it is important not to get a dazzling effect, which will create the most comfortable conditions for relaxation. nine0005

If the equipment for the pool is chosen correctly, taking into account all the nuances and requirements, the pond will acquire its own special charm and make the rest unforgettable.

Underwater lights must operate on 12 volts. This is considered a safe voltage. Therefore, it is forbidden to use devices powered by a 220 V network! Moreover, the degree of protection of flashlights must comply with the safety class IP 68.

All wires used in the lighting system must be sealed. Particular attention should be paid to the junction of wires and fixtures. It is also worth providing free access to the lamps for their quick replacement if necessary. nine0005

When arranging lanterns, one should take into account their location relative to the water - the light should not create glare and blind the eyes of vacationers. At the same time, streams of light should be scattered throughout the pool bowl, well illuminating the bottom and walls of the reservoir.

Violin pool

Designers from the Cipriano landscape design bureau realized a project that is unique in its scale and spectacularity. At the request of an instrument collector who plays the violin professionally, they created a pool in the shape of a Stradivarius violin. The enlarged copy is an absolute repetition of the work of the great master. nine0005

The copy repeats the original instrument in every detail - there are resonant holes, tailpiece, chinrest and strings. Bet this strings, thanks to the original illumination, effectively illuminate the violin from the inside at night. Surprisingly, the designers even managed to synchronize the lighting of the strings of the unique pool with the music playing at a certain moment.

Learn more