Expert Eye: How to Nail Your Deck and Garden Lighting
Bring your deck and outdoor area to life – and boost safety and usability – with a smart lighting scheme
Josh Densten
21 December 2019
Houzz Australia contributor. I am a home renovations expert and HPM brand ambassador. I appeared on the 2011 season of Channel 9's The Block with my wife, Jenna.
Houzz Australia contributor. I am a home renovations expert and HPM brand ambassador.... More
A well-considered outdoor lighting scheme will show your garden off to its best and allow you (and your guests) to enjoy the space long after dark. But with so many lighting styles on offer – spike lights, uplights, downlights, flood lights and hanging lights – working out what you need and what you don’t can be a confusing business. Here’s how to create an outdoor lighting scheme that delivers on both style and functionality.
Why should I bother getting outdoor lighting right?
A good outdoor lighting scheme creates real ambience outdoors. It sets a warm and welcoming tone when you’re entertaining, and it can be used to highlight your favourite outdoor features, while making less-attractive elements recede into the background.
A good outdoor lighting scheme creates real ambience outdoors. It sets a warm and welcoming tone when you’re entertaining, and it can be used to highlight your favourite outdoor features, while making less-attractive elements recede into the background.
What’s the secret to success?
The key to a great garden and deck lighting scheme is to combine different light sources. You want a layered lighting set-up with lights that perform different roles. This will provide practical illumination so guests can move comfortably around your garden and deck, and it will also add depth and intrigue to the space.
Your lighting scheme might include a mix of uplights, downlights or up/down lights to highlight architectural features or your favourite plants; bollard lights to illuminate a path; recessed deck lights so guests can travel about the area safely; and spotlights to provide a gentle wash of light to your outdoor space and draw the eye to its best features.
Need an expert to get your outdoor lighting scheme right? Find a local lighting designer and supplier on Houzz
The key to a great garden and deck lighting scheme is to combine different light sources. You want a layered lighting set-up with lights that perform different roles. This will provide practical illumination so guests can move comfortably around your garden and deck, and it will also add depth and intrigue to the space.
Your lighting scheme might include a mix of uplights, downlights or up/down lights to highlight architectural features or your favourite plants; bollard lights to illuminate a path; recessed deck lights so guests can travel about the area safely; and spotlights to provide a gentle wash of light to your outdoor space and draw the eye to its best features.
Need an expert to get your outdoor lighting scheme right? Find a local lighting designer and supplier on Houzz
Which types of lights do I need?
- Path lights: These will help guests travel safely from your front gate to the front door or move around your garden at night. Bollard lights are my pick for path lighting – they’re great for illuminating walkways and uneven surfaces, and they give your pavers or tiles a lovely glow.
- Up/down lights: These luminaires produce a narrow beam of light and when installed on the exterior of your home, they’re a great way to showcase its architectural features, your house number, or a beautiful arrangement of pot plants.
- Ceiling lights: Outdoor ceiling lights help illuminate undercover alfresco areas at night.
- Front-door light: These help guests navigate their way to your front door and create a welcoming vibe. A front-door light will also make it easier to find your keys at night.
- Deck lights: Great for setting a warm, welcoming mood on your decked area for entertaining; they’ll also help guests move about the space comfortably. For a sleek contemporary look, seek out styles that sit flush with your deck, verandah or entrance.
- Step lights: If you have steps outdoors, these lights are a must for safety. I’d recommend wall-mounted step lights that cast a gentle downwards light onto the step.
- LED spotlights: Use these to illuminate water features, trees, plants and sculptures.
- Sensor floodlights: These are great for lighting large areas, such as driveways, when you or a guest approach.
How can I boost convenience? Timers and sensors are a great addition to your outdoor lighting set-up – they allow lights to turn on and off automatically at pre-set times or provide illumination when it’s needed, such as when a guest (or you) approaches your home. As they only come on when required, they also help cut your energy costs – not to mention boost security.
I recommend installing a sensor front-door light recessed into the ceiling that comes on when someone approaches (while providing a clean finish).
Also consider using a timer to control the on/off times of your garden lighting for spotlights and up/down lights, and connect bunker and bollard lights to sensors that turn on only when someone approaches.
I recommend installing a sensor front-door light recessed into the ceiling that comes on when someone approaches (while providing a clean finish).
Also consider using a timer to control the on/off times of your garden lighting for spotlights and up/down lights, and connect bunker and bollard lights to sensors that turn on only when someone approaches.
What’s so special about LED lights?
LED lights are much more energy efficient and last longer than other lighting types, such as halogens. They come in both warm and cool white, allowing you to create different looks.
How Do I… Choose Light Bulbs?
LED lights are much more energy efficient and last longer than other lighting types, such as halogens. They come in both warm and cool white, allowing you to create different looks.
How Do I… Choose Light Bulbs?
What are your golden nuggets of wisdom?
- Don’t overdo it. Many homeowners go for the biggest and brightest outdoor lights they can find, believing it might increase safety and security. But having a bright floodlight shine in your eyes is not a pleasant arrival for guests (nor for your neighbours) and can affect your night vision, making it harder to see.
- Avoid using floodlights in entrances or entertaining spaces as they are extremely bright.
- Keep lights such as garden spikes and pond lighting hidden as much as possible – you want them to highlight your garden gems, not be a visual feature themselves.
- Don’t put in too many path lights or the area will look cluttered and overly lit. Less is more; place lights periodically along a pathway.
Your turn
Did you find this story useful? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Want more practical outdoor advice? Don’t miss How Do I… Keep My Garden Alive in a Drought?
Did you find this story useful? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Want more practical outdoor advice? Don’t miss How Do I… Keep My Garden Alive in a Drought?
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I love all of it!
To many lights on the deck but Ye it’s still cool!