Fun With Outdoor Lighting
It's about that time again. The beauty of the sunset has passed you
by, the natural lighting is nearly behind the horizon, and you and your
guests are not ready to stop the party. And (alas!) your township does
not permit bonfires in your neighborhood. So, how will you keep the
fun going after the sun goes down?
If you think I'm about to
suggest you call one of those expensive landscape lighting companies to
empty your bank account... you're on the wrong track! As outdoor rooms
become, at once, the most sought after vacation spots and poured over
designer spaces... outdoor lighting has become more fashionable and more
affordable than ever.
But you're no lighting expert. With so
many options available, how do you pick which kinds of outdoor lighting
options are best for you? We're always here to help!
Walkway
Lights: Walk way lights are downward pointing lights that attach to the
walls surrounding a walkway. This will make sure that everyone is safe
on stairs, garden bridges, or uneven paths. Many walkway lighting
designs come with color options; not only for the decorative encasing of
the bulb, but walkway lights can shine a slightly blue or pink hue.
Imagine coordinating the color schemes of your outdoor rooms, patio
umbrellas, and outdoor furniture cushions to the color of your
lighting! If you want to use your outdoor lighting to keep your porch,
gazebo, or outdoor living space lit up at night... walkway lights will
probably not be enough. While they provide an important safety measure
and can add some brilliant colors, you'll want to consider adding other
kinds of outdoor lighting as well.
Post Cap Lighting: Decorative
post caps are a fantastic way to add lighting and style to your outdoor
room. They are designed to attach to the railings on steps or fences,
posts of a porch or garden bridge, or any other outdoor structure with
posts. One great part of post cap lighting is that it adds wonderful
accents to our outdoor living space during the day, while lighting up
the area at night. Most post caps are either low-voltage electrically
powered or solar powered. Electrical lights will likely be more
dependable and may provide more light, but they do require a skilled
electrician to install the wiring and ensure safety. Solar powered
lights use a completely renewable resource to "power-up" during the day,
and then shine bright all night! Certainly the green and sustainable
option, they also boast the easiest set up. Just attach and you're
done! Though, some might find them less dependable. It all just
depends on your preference! A long line of post cap lights across an
entire porch or backyard structure will likely provide enough light for a
party or get together. Though, if you wanted to use lighting to
highlight a certain spot, like the outdoor dining set, you'll want to
augment this lighting option with accent or hanging outdoor lights.
Outdoor
Ceiling Fan Lights: If you thought the post caps were the ultimate
fusion of fashion and function, you haven't even begun to be amazed! If
you haven't jumped on the outdoor ceiling fan trend yet, do yourself a
favor and take the leap! Outdoor ceiling fans will allow you to enjoy
your porch or outdoor living space when the heat is high. Especially on
those humid, still days, your outdoor ceiling fan can provide cooling
breezes to keep you comfortable. Plus, a ceiling fan creating air flow
will be the most natural deterrent to flies and mosquitoes! Flying
insects prefer still air that allows them to lazily buzz and land on
innocent food and people. But, a cooling breeze to us can be a wind
that makes their tiny wings tire quickly. You can simply wave goodbye
as they fly to easier areas! Plus (of course), a lot of modern outdoor
ceiling fans now feature light options as well. Perfect over your
picnic table, you can simply flip on the light to illuminate your
evening meal or midnight snack!
Hanging Outdoor Lights: A hanging
light will truly up the style of your outdoor room. While many choose
to string lines of hanging lights, like Japanese paper lanterns, you can
also choose to make a dramatic lighting statement by creating focused
pools of light over your favorite spots. Whether you do this with an
outdoor pendant light or even an outdoor chandelier, it will give your
outdoor space a bit of height both spaciously and fashionably. The
closest to indoor lighting, you can create truly luxurious outdoor
spaces that create both comfort and class with hanging lights.
Outdoor
Table and Floor Lamps: For those who favor ambient lighting instead of
overhead lighting, but still want the comfortable appeal of indoor-style
lighting, outdoor table lamps paired with outdoor floor lamps might be
your best bet! Available in nearly as many styles as indoor lighting,
you can certainly stick with your design scheme while creating your
lighting scheme! A lot of lines contain short table lamps and tall floor
lamps that match each other, which will give you a more holistic
pattern.
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While, mixing and matching styles can certainly create interest.
Plus, outdoor lamps can be moved to wherever you need more lighting. If
you split your outdoor table and floor lamps between your outdoor
seating area and alfresco dining room, you can move all of the lighting
toward the outdoor dining set when the family is gathered there for an
intense game of Scrabble. After all, you'll want to make sure nobody is
substituting a "Q" with an "O" because the low lighting lets them get
away with it!
So, while the sun is a plenty beautiful and
certainly functional lighting element during the day, you definitely
have your options cut out for you when it comes to keeping the party lit
after the sun has gone to sleep. The most important thing is to have
fun with your outdoor lighting. I suggest mixing and matching, keeping
your options open, and always making sure you can see the faces of the
family and friends creating those wonderful summer memories!