Ambient patio lighting sets the scene for relaxing and socialising. With the right backyard lighting, you’ll get as much use from your patio at night as you do during the day. Like your indoor dining and kitchen area, the right lighting will serve the practical purpose of illuminating your space. That said, the right outdoor lighting will also set the tone for dining, drinking and catching up with friends. Patio lighting needs to be the perfect balance of purposeful functionality and cosy ambience. Read on to discover the best ways to incorporate lighting into your patio.
Portable Lamps
Portable lamps are practical and aesthetic. They’re perfect for moving around the patio, making them a flexible lighting solution. The small pool of light these lamps emit is perfect if you want to add a hint of light to your backyard patio.
Pendant lights
If you thought pendant lights were just for the inside of your home, think again! This outdoor lighting solution can work as a classy feature when suspended above your backyard patio.
Depending on the other light fixtures and features you include in your patio space, you’ll need to be sure your pendant light is large enough that it works as a feature, and doesn’t blend into the background. Alternatively, you may choose to install a series of glowing pendant lights, perhaps stretching from one end of the patio to the other, or just the length of your outdoor table.
Floor lamps
Floor lamps are another lighting solution that work beautifully outside. Tall floor lamps can bring adequate and practical light to the space, and can also be selected to complement your outdoor furniture. Just be sure you select an outdoor floor lamp that comes complete with a weighted base – you don’t want it to be toppling over in the wind. To avoid trip hazards from electrical cords, consider a rechargeable lamp.
Get creative with colour and shapes
For plenty of residents, the patio is a space where they have the freedom to be a bit more flexible with their design choice. Here, you can get away with creative and energising patio design ideas.
One way to get creative with your patio design ideas is to add some colour and shapes. You may choose to place lanterns above your patio dining table. These work as creative and quirky focal points for the patio, and can really brighten up the space at night. As well as selecting various lantern shapes, colours and sizes, be sure to hang them at different heights. While you have free rein to get creative with your colour choice, you may want to look to neighbouring plants and flowers in your garden for colour inspiration. This way, there’s harmony in your yard colour design that makes everything feel a lot more natural.
Warm lighting is ambient lighting
You want to be able to unwind and relax on our patio. Your lighting should therefore be soft and warm. Cooler lighting is best for more practical applications. So, if you’re opting for solar lights or LED outdoor lighting, you’ll want to be choosing lights that emit a warm white light.
Add a few candles
Perhaps the easiest way to unwind on the patio is by lighting a few candles. Candles look beautiful when they’re dotted throughout the patio space, and preferably in a range of sizes and on various levels (on coffee tables, on the floor, etc.). You may also try to get some citronella candles to ward off mosquitos for summer nights on the patio.
However, candles are an obvious fire hazard, and should never be left unattended. You also need to be sure you place your candles where they won’t be tripped on. If it’s a windy evening, you may skip lighting the candles altogether, as they’ll likely just extinguish.
If you want a similar ambient effect, without the fire risk, consider battery-powered candles. While they don’t provide quite the same atmospheric glow, you can sit back and relax, or leave the patio unattended, without having to worry about fire risks.
Privacy fence lights
Another creative way to add lighting to your patio is by installing lights along a privacy fence. If you have a privacy fence lining one side of your patio, you can deck this out with string lights. These can really lift a bland backdrop and turn it into a vibrant feature.
Build your dream patio with SEQ Patio Group
SEQ Patio Group specialises in building beautiful patios in a range of creative design styles. We are the experts when it comes to helping our customers choose a patio that will fit in with their lifestyle, and that they’ll be using for years to come. Whether you’re after a flyover patio, non-insulated or insulated patio, or fascia fixed patio, SEQ Patio Group will work with you to build your dream outdoor entertaining area. Be sure to contact our friendly team to learn more about our services.
