Patio Lighting Ideas to Improve your Outdoor Entertainment Space

patio lighting
Outdoor patio lighting refers to artificial illumination in areas that are not roofed. Illuminating these areas improves visual performances for the persons working in them. Visual performance is the speed and accuracy in which a visual task is executed. Outdoor patio lighting ideas differ with preferences. The various outdoor patio lights are used for:
Generally, a small patio requires 600 to 700 lumens to look well illuminated, while a considerably large patio requires 1200 to 1600 lumens. Lighting is divided into three categories, i.e.:
  1. Overall; it illuminates the whole space
  2. Task; illuminating a specific place, e.g., a pathway
  3. Accent; illuminating to draw attention, e.g., by using spotlights or floodlights
Various types of bulbs are used in outdoor lighting. They include:
With the above considerations, you can now illuminate your outdoor much straightforwardly. Outdoor lighting is equally important, just like indoor lighting. It should functionally provide a safe, relaxing atmosphere while impacting the look of your patio. This article discusses the various patio lighting ideas you can use to improve your outdoor entertainment space.

Outdoor Patio Lighting Ideas for Improving Entertainment Spaces

Enhancing beauty is one of the most typical purposes of adding outdoor patio lights to your space. If your space has a dining table, then outdoor pendants will be an excellent choice for you. If you have a spacious outdoor seating area, you might also want to check out the table and floor lamps.

The key to using outdoor patio lights for beauty is adding just enough lighting without overdoing it. Generally, outdoor entertainment spaces require less energy than indoors. Too much light will detriment your outdoor space enjoyment. Typically, the eyes will dilate to allow more light in after you move to a darker space. Similarly, a bright glare will make seeing in a nighttime environment harder. When creating an outdoor patio lighting plan for enhancing beauty, glare should be your primary concern.

The best way to do outdoor patio lighting is to direct the light just where it is needed. Overhead lighting, e.g., outdoor pendants or string lights, is an excellent option for ambient lighting. A sturdy string light zig-zagged over an entertaining space brings about a tremendously soft, overall light and creating an ideal entertainment atmosphere.

If you need a fan, there are plenty of fans for outdoor activities, and they offer light. This lighting fixture is ideal for environments that have high temperatures, even at night. However, the fans may not provide attractive light options. If the entertainment space is covered, you can choose outdoor pendants, flush mount ceiling lighting fixtures, or recessed lighting.

Sometimes, the entertainment spaces are used for playing games or even reading. These activities require more direct and bright lighting. Ensure you use overhead lights that have enough output for these activities to be carried out. You may also use the portable table or floor lamps instead of overhead lighting. There is a wide range of rechargeable table lamps that will last longer before exhausting energy. Plug-in floor lamps are also becoming popular in outdoor lighting since they provide a polished high-end impression. If your entertainment space has activities like grilling, check out for targeted options like barbeque lights to give the ideal light needed.

Always remember accent lighting to complete the entertainment outdoor space lighting layer. Low-level accent lights can be used to define areas and highlight spots where missteps are likely to happen. Step and small deck lights can highlight stairs or defining a boundary. Spot and floodlights will create a visual entertainment space and also expand your patio to a landscape.
More lighting ideas include:

Up-lighting

Popularly known as spotlighting, it is a standard-voltage landscaping lighting used to illuminate high-intensity beams upward. They are installed ideally above the ground level, just below the trees, making them look more statuesque. Bullet-shaped lights are best for places with tall trees, while short vegetation like shrubs requires well-lights to give the entertainment space an impressive look.

Lanterns

Lanterns produce soft low-voltage accent lighting in small areas in outdoor walls or decors. Most lanterns are made of glass and metal and are installed atop windows or arches. They are ideal when playing board games or when having snacks and beverages. Unlike clear lanterns, translucent lanterns will create a diffused glare-free lighting without distracting other backyard lighting fixtures.

Path Lighting

Some entertainment spaces may have several paths. Paths should be well illuminated to avoid simple injuries. The illumination fixture used in the space might be inadequate to light up these paths, and path lighting will be necessary. Path lighting fixtures are usually installed on the ground on both sides of the pathway.

There exist many path lighting options, including solar LED options. However, solar-powered path lighting fixtures are not recommendable since they have low light output and low lifespans.

Kitchen Lighting

Kitchen lighting fixtures are used when you are preparing your dinner outside the house. With proper lighting, your family and guests will be able to see what they are eating. Barbecue lights are also an excellent option for grilling activities.

Fire Pits

Fire pits look great in entertainment spaces in cold environments. They tend to cast a decent light amount on everything around them. However, they are likely to cast a lot of shadows and darken some places. It would be better if you are cautious when sitting around the fire pits so that you do not trip over other people’s feet.

You can place under cap lights around the fire pit to illuminate the foot traffic area. This way, you will illuminate the over-shadowed places to avoid mere injuries.

Security Lighting

Apart from choosing a lighting fixture solely for enhancing beauty, the fixture should also provide security to you and your guests. Since the night is young and full of terror, your guests are likely to feel much safer when there is just enough light to assist the see around. Security lights will scare off intruders and destructive animals, thus providing you with safe entertainment.

Outdoor Wall Lighting

Outdoor wall lighting is a safe and accent lighting fixture used to illuminate small recessed areas on shadow-lurking yards. They can be mounted on vertical surfaces like above stairways or around sunken seating areas.

An excellent example of outdoor wall lighting fixtures is wall scones. Wall scones are great options for enhancing the ambiance of your entertainment space. The perfect wall scones for an entertainment space should puddle the light on the ground and not aim it out into space. However, wall scones are generally designed to be used in spaces with limited depths. You might want to incorporate other outdoor patio lighting fixtures to spread light evenly if your patio is deep despite using wall scones.

Beam Lighting

Designing impressive beams over the dining area will also add to the beauty of your entertainment space. This outdoor patio lighting idea is used to create a sophisticated vibe. It can be used alongside an intelligent table and chic chairs to add to the ambiance.

Conclusion

Utilizing the above outdoor patio lighting ideas guarantees an impressive look on your entertainment space. Most of these ideas are DIYs, but you might also hire an expert if you feel you cannot deliver what is required. If you are a Santa Cruz resident, check out The Home Lighter for outdoor landscape lighting in Santa Cruz CA.