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 Best Lighting Effects on Your Deck or Patio
During the summer, we clean off the deck,
and/ or patio, roll out the grill and bring out the deck furniture.
However, after the sun goes down, decks and patios are most likely to be
in the dark.
Therefore, it is important to have the right types of lighting as
well as correctly placed lights to illuminate these areas. Outdoor deck
and patio lighting also provides added security for the exterior of your
home. Listed below are some helpful tips so that you can get the most
out of your outdoor deck and patio lighting.
The first thing most homeowners have to keep in mind is that less is
more. Too many homeowners have their decks and patios lit up brighter
than many sports arenas. This only distracts, ideally, you want to
provide enough light without overdoing it.
Secondly, you want to illuminate your all your steps and stairs so that
you and your guest can clearly see the steps. For this reason, you want
to ensure that you don’t have glare coming from deck lighting or outdoor
fixtures. If possible use indirect lighting whenever possible, have
spotlights directed only on the object they are to enhance, and shinning
in your or your guest’s face.
Another tip to make your lighting installation appear professionally
installed is to hide as much of the light source as possible. If you use
rope lighting around your deck rail, then ensure that the lighting is
neatly tucked out of sight. You want the light to be the center of focus
and not its source.
Another technique that will give your garden lighting the look of
professional installation is to use light to create a moon light effect
and draw attention to a certain plant or area such as a fountain in the
center of a pond. To do this, you want to use a soft but bright cool
light.
When designing your outdoor lighting, you have several types of outdoor
deck lighting to choose from including step lights, path lights,
pendants as well as wall sconces to name a few. Outdoor fixtures are
available in several décor styles including modern, traditional, casual,
or formal that will match or complement your existing exterior lighting.
For a more professional look, we recommend not mixing several different
design styles, but to carry through with the same style, from your deck
on out into your garden.
Before you purchase your outdoor lighting system, take the time to draw
up a plan as to where you want to install your deck, patio, or garden
lights. This way you have less of a chance of missing something, such as
that spotlight for your pond. When you take your time, you know the job
will be done right the first time.
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