6 Ideas for Lighting Your Patio
1. Keep it low. At night, any bright light that’s shining in our eyes will cause glare and make it harder for us to see. Light your deck and patio floors with step lights or rail-mounted lights to keep the light low and discreet. You can install lights directly into the deck or patio or get creative with continuous LED strips hidden below steps and platforms.Find LED strip lights
3. Bring back the stars. In rural areas with limited light pollution, you might be able to gaze at plenty of real stars. In brighter urban and suburban environments, try mimicking the look of stars with hanging string lights. The small bulbs will add a soft glow at night without too much glare.Browse outdoor string lights
5. Make it bigger. You can expand the visual space of your patio or deck by selectively illuminating nearby features such as trees, landscaping and walls. This allows you to see past the edges of the patio or deck, making the space feel larger. Limit light pollution by using the lights only when you’re outside to enjoy them.
6. Enjoy the dark. To really experience the night, leave some areas of your patio and landscape dark. I try to avoid placing lights in a “dark zone” from about waist-high to just above your head. This keeps offensive light out of your eyes so you can better enjoy the fire, gaze at the landscape and linger long into the night.The illustration above visually recaps the six lighting tips discussed here. Consider pulling all them together to create the perfect nighttime patio experience.MoreHow to Hang String Lights OutdoorsSpring Patio Fix-Ups: 6 Ways to Light Your Outdoor RoomFind a landscape designer to integrate outdoor lighting
Summer brings warmer nights and the yearning to linger outdoors. But once the sun goes down, your patio or deck requires special lighting to make it as inviting as the inside of your home. Here are six easy ways you can transform your patio or deck lighting. You might never want to go back inside again.
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