Backyard and Patio Lighting Tips and Ideas

When the weather starts to warm up again, it’s time to get ready for another season of relaxing outdoors. If you’re looking forward to dinner on the patio or enjoying drinks on the back deck with friends at the end of a long day, then you’ll need to start preparing your outdoor space with the ideal lighting setup. Keep reading to learn some of the basics of choosing and setting up outdoor lighting.

Outdoor lighting is specifically designed to withstand exposure to the elements. These fixtures can accommodate wind, water and dust in ways that indoor fixtures cannot.

Additionally, most outdoor lights run on a lower voltage than indoor lights. This means you will need a transformer to convert the energy going from your home to the outdoor lighting grid. Fortunately, most homes come with a transformer already in place. If not, installing your own is not too difficult.

Because less voltage is required for their operation, outdoor lights are more energy-efficient and longer lasting than many indoor light options. To conserve as much energy as possible, only use lights and light bulbs that are intended for outdoor use when you are lighting your patio, deck, backyard or walkway.

To run outdoor lights off a transformer, you will need to wire sections of the lights together and then run a single wire from each section to the main power source. While this may seem like a hassle, it means that you can switch everything on from one place, generally right by your backdoor.

There are also smart transformers that work with outdoor smart lighting. This pairing lets you use your smart home system to monitor and control your lights, even using voice commands to switch them on and off. Whatever transformer you choose, make sure you know how much wattage it can handle. To set yourself up for future outdoor projects that will require power, it’s a good idea to have a transformer that can manage more than the current load needed. Remember, when wiring anything in your yard, you must use equipment intended for outdoor use and secure the wiring so that it will not be easily misplaced by wind or pose tripping hazards to people.

Having to switch on each individual outdoor light string requires more effort than turning on a single switch by the door. However, if wiring your whole backyard sounds overwhelming (and you want to help the environment), solar power is a great option.

Solar-powered lighting operates on energy from the sun, so it does not need to be connected back to a power line on the house. The fixtures or strings of lights simply attach to solar cells and batteries placed out in the yard. Solar panels store energy during the day so that you can use the lights at night. Many solar lights, such as pathway lights and post lights, turn on automatically when it gets dark. Some models of security lights use motion sensors that are activated after the sun goes down.

When mapping out the lighting in your outdoor living space, make practicality top of mind. You want to illuminate pathways and steps in ways that will keep people from tripping in the dark. Prioritize light fixtures in spots that will help people move around in the space. Pathway lights, strategically placed low-voltage spotlights and accent lights are all great options for creating clear walkways. Furthermore, these lighting choices will also contribute to a pleasant atmosphere. If you have an outdoor kitchen, you’ll want to be sure that there is enough visibility for the chef to prepare meals.

To create an inviting space that will welcome guests to relax and unwind, choose lighting that will help set the mood. If you plan to enjoy dinner after dark on your outdoor dining set, you will need more light than if you were simply sitting and chatting with friends. String lights or LED light strips might be enough for catching up over drinks, but you probably want a larger fixture or two to enjoy a meal.

Once you are certain people can move around and use the space easily, think about highlighting elements that contribute to the mood you want to create. For example, you might want to shine a tinted light on a fountain or spotlight the branches of a striking ornamental tree. These styles of accent lighting are the final touches that will transform your nighttime yard into the outdoor oasis of your dreams.