Summer is here and many of us are enjoying the longer days and warmer weather. Perhaps you might be thinking about adding outdoor lights to help brighten up your entertainment space. From solar and string lights to lanterns and uplighters, it can be hard to decide what to use and where. We’re here to help. Here are 10 effective and inspirational backyard lighting ideas.
Adorn a Pergola
Whenever you’re thinking of adding outdoor lights, it’s a good idea to start by considering how you can use and enhance your existing backyard structures. Pergolas are perfect for outdoor lights. They’re tall with multiple posts and beams that you can use to hang and display different lighting. You can wind fairy lights around the timbers, string festoon lights across the top, or hang lanterns and orbs overhead. If you want to zone for an outdoor dining space or create an outdoor room, try hanging curtain lights around the sides.
Add Depth with Boundary Lighting
Your boundaries are another area of the yard you can utilize for your lighting. Adding lights around the edges of your yard can help to add more depth to the space as it draws attention outwards. So, it’s a great option for helping to brighten and expand a compact outdoor space. String lights around the whole fence line or place an up-and-down light or solar lantern on each post. If you don’t want to suspend lights from your fence posts, you could place uplights in the borders. Or you may prefer to add trellis to the fence tops and weave fairy lights through it.
Create a Cozy Seating Area with Lanterns
While placing lights around the edge of your yard will make it feel bigger, positioning lights next to your seating and around your patio area will help to create a much cozier ambience. If you like the sound of this, you could cluster lanterns in the corners of your patio or arrange them in and around your outdoor furniture. You might choose classic glass storm lanterns, lit by LEDs or candles, to achieve a warm glow. Or opt for Moroccan and rattan-style lanterns that throw out subtle patterns across your seating area, drawing the focus inwards.
Get a Glow from a Fire Pit or Outdoor Stove
There’s nothing like the flicker of a real fire for creating a cozy glow in your backyard. Although they’re primarily used for heat, fire pits and outdoor stoves can also be used to create warm, ambient lighting. The great thing about this type of lighting is that it makes the ideal focal point for your seating area. Seats can be arranged around your pit or stove, so you’re facing warmth and light. Consider a wide and shallow, bowl-shaped pit or a stove with glazed panels on all sides to maximize the light.
Use the Flicker of Flames to Enhance a Tablescape
If you want to light up a more formal outdoor dining space, a firepit might not work. But if your heart’s set on using dancing flames to brighten up your décor, a bioethanol tabletop fireplace might be the answer. These typically come with glass around the edges, so not only are they a safe option, but they can also act as a modern take on a traditional hurricane lantern.
Showcase Your Plants
Lights are also a great tool for showcasing your best plants. You can shine downlighters on your smaller plants to highlight them and use uplighters and spotlights to pick out details – such as intricate flowers or the shape of leaves and the texture of bark – on larger plants and trees.
Wrap Fairy Lights Around a Tree
As well as picking out individual features, you can shine a light on a whole tree by wrapping it in fairy lights. Winding twinkly lights around the trunk and branches will give the tree a magical glow. Plus, the illuminated space below could make the perfect spot for a bench or sculpture.
Light Up a Water Feature
Lighting up a water feature, such as a fountain or pond, is a great way to add interest and brighten your outdoor space. You can use submersible or floating LEDs to illuminate a pond, giving you a bright display and a window into the aquatic world below the surface of the water. Or you could position an LED strip light at the top of a cascade to highlight the flow of water. If you have a fountain, spotlights grouped around the base will light up the water droplets, giving you a dynamic and engaging light.
Stake Out a Path
AC outlet or solar stake lights are ideal for lighting up stone pathways, helping to add an extra dimension to your yard as the daylight fades. Not only that, but they make it safer and easier to navigate at night – enabling you to use terraced, lawned and decked areas that are away from the house. If you’d prefer lights that don’t stick out so much, you could light a path with recessed lights or stake your lights in amongst the foliage.
Embrace a Party Atmosphere with Festoon Lights
One of the best ways to achieve a bright and fun outdoor space is to use color-changing bulbs and orbs. If you’re looking to create a lively atmosphere, they’re the perfect addition. Many of these are smart, app-controlled lights, so you can turn your backyard from a vibrant party space to a low-key social space at the touch of a button.
Tips For Getting Your Lighting Right
If you’re feeling inspired by these lighting ideas, here are some more tips that will help you get your illumination just right.
Choosing Between AC Powered or Solar Lights
How do you decide which is best? Well, it’s worth considering their installation costs and suitability. Solar lights are typically easier to install and can be put up without any expert help. However, AC powered lights are generally more reliable, especially in shady yards. They also tend to be more durable.
Consider Smart Lighting
Smart lights will enable you to adapt the color, tone and brightness of your lighting to suit the occasion, be it a cozy gathering or large celebration. You can use the controls to help zone the areas of your yard and switch the focus from one area to another. In addition, you should be able to save lighting settings and automate turning them on and off. If you already have standard outdoor lights, you can automate them or add voice controls by installing a smart outdoor socket. This will save you needing to upgrade all your existing lights.
Pay Attention to Durability
To ensure lights are durable, it’s a good idea to look for an Ingress Protection rating of IP55 or above. The higher the numbers, the better your lights will be at keeping dirt and water out. You should also look for materials that are resistant to corrosion and UV rays. If you’re leaving your lights out all year round, it’s best to go with some that are heavy-duty, and AC powered. Some are interconnectable, meaning you can add to them and reroute them without too much effort.
Final Thoughts
There are many options to brighten up your backyard with lighting. If you want to make sure your outdoor space shines day and night, consider combining a few different types of lighting. Layering your outside lights will add depth, help to zone spaces, and add a cozy and magical ambience. If you want your lighting to be durable, reliable and adaptable, it’s often best to choose AC powered lighting. To ensure they’re installed safely, it’s a good idea to bring an electrician on board.