How to Choose the Right Lighting for Your Outdoor Paths and Steps
Switch on to these illuminating ideas to enhance the safety and style of your outdoor steps and stairs
Janet Dunn
21 June 2017
Houzz Australia Contributor. Former NZ House&Garden writer and stylist, and avid interior design enthusiast. Ex-restaurateur and caterer, with a Professional Certificate in Gastronomy, University of Adelaide.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Former NZ House&Garden writer and stylist, and avid... More
“Nothing like a night-time stroll to give you ideas,” remarked Mad-Eye Moody, the paranoid wizard in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Unfortunately, a night-time stroll can also deliver an unexpected trip or tumble. An illuminated garden is a magic place, a theatre of sculptural shapes and shadows. But lighting in areas where levels change – steps, stairways, ramps and slopes – needs more than magic. Here we shed light on the subject of stepping safely in your garden.
Splendour after dark
Garden lighting has come a long way from a single glaring spotlight and a few solar spikes. More than ever we are seeing our gardens as extensions of our homes, painting them with light so we can enjoy them day or night. Outdoor lighting design has become a specialist field – an adjunct to landscaping that’s all about creating ambience and beauty in our gardens after dark.
When it comes to outdoor steps, however, ambience takes a back seat to safety. Modern lighting can still deliver good looks, but its primary function on steps is visual comfort and protection from mishaps.
Garden lighting has come a long way from a single glaring spotlight and a few solar spikes. More than ever we are seeing our gardens as extensions of our homes, painting them with light so we can enjoy them day or night. Outdoor lighting design has become a specialist field – an adjunct to landscaping that’s all about creating ambience and beauty in our gardens after dark.
When it comes to outdoor steps, however, ambience takes a back seat to safety. Modern lighting can still deliver good looks, but its primary function on steps is visual comfort and protection from mishaps.
Take a walk on the safe side
Step lighting doesn’t have to be overly done. More is not necessarily better, says Aaron Worth from Utopia Landscape Design. “The main purpose is to provide just enough light so walkers know where a step begins and ends,” he says. Marking edges with light so they are clearly visible but with a slight shadow enhances depth perception and prevents miscalculation of step dimensions, especially where step heights vary or they deviate at curves or landings.
Pick the perfect paving and decking
Step lighting doesn’t have to be overly done. More is not necessarily better, says Aaron Worth from Utopia Landscape Design. “The main purpose is to provide just enough light so walkers know where a step begins and ends,” he says. Marking edges with light so they are clearly visible but with a slight shadow enhances depth perception and prevents miscalculation of step dimensions, especially where step heights vary or they deviate at curves or landings.
Pick the perfect paving and decking
Get your glow on
Another reason to soft-pedal is that high light levels produce glare, more so if positioned in direct line of sight when walking up or down. Temporary blindness when progressing into a less well-lit area is a fall risk, especially for the elderly and vision-impaired. “Some step lighting, such as under-step strips, put out a lot of light. I like to install a dimmer switch to control output to a comfortable level,” Worth says. “Many modern step lights are hooded or louvred to shield the eyes.”
Another reason to soft-pedal is that high light levels produce glare, more so if positioned in direct line of sight when walking up or down. Temporary blindness when progressing into a less well-lit area is a fall risk, especially for the elderly and vision-impaired. “Some step lighting, such as under-step strips, put out a lot of light. I like to install a dimmer switch to control output to a comfortable level,” Worth says. “Many modern step lights are hooded or louvred to shield the eyes.”
Make an entrance
The journey up steps from the street sets the tone of your home, and no matter how lovely it is inside, first impressions will disappoint if you keep visitors in the dark. Create a warm and safe welcome with a well-lit introduction that identifies each level change in a set of steps.
The journey up steps from the street sets the tone of your home, and no matter how lovely it is inside, first impressions will disappoint if you keep visitors in the dark. Create a warm and safe welcome with a well-lit introduction that identifies each level change in a set of steps.
Do the light fantastic
The wide range of outdoor step lights on offer falls into four basic groups, says Worth:
1. Domed surface-mounted: These fittings are installed on the step riser. They’re often louvred or hooded to direct light downwards onto the next step away from eye level (above).
The wide range of outdoor step lights on offer falls into four basic groups, says Worth:
1. Domed surface-mounted: These fittings are installed on the step riser. They’re often louvred or hooded to direct light downwards onto the next step away from eye level (above).
2. Riser-recessed lights: These lights are cast into concrete (above). With no projection past the step riser, they create a clean, modern look.
3. LED strip lighting: Installed in a groove under a step overhang, it gives a continuous line of light around the whole step or across the front edge, enhancing the step architecture.
3. LED strip lighting: Installed in a groove under a step overhang, it gives a continuous line of light around the whole step or across the front edge, enhancing the step architecture.
4. Slimline domes: These lights are mounted on risers and have three slots that direct light down, left and right. They are a good quality, safe and effective form of lighting, says Worth. These stainless steel ones are from Havit Lighting.
Tip: The Ingress Protection (IP) rating of a light will tell you if it’s water- and dust-resistant. Quality outdoor lights with water and dust resistance will have an IP rating of 67.
Read more about garden lighting
Tip: The Ingress Protection (IP) rating of a light will tell you if it’s water- and dust-resistant. Quality outdoor lights with water and dust resistance will have an IP rating of 67.
Read more about garden lighting
This slimline dome light is recessed into large format paving and delivers a one- or two-directional warm white light radiating from under a low-rise dome. This style is suitable for paths and steps.
KEO Horizon 3W LED Inground/Deck light: LED Outdoor
KEO Horizon 3W LED Inground/Deck light: LED Outdoor
Dome-style or fully recessed lights can also be mounted on walls that flank sets of stairs, as in this Perth garden. Light is directed sideways onto the step surface and clearly indicates the dimension of the step.
Tip: When steps and stairs are bordered by vegetation, plant pale and silvery leafed varieties that reflect light and help to define step edges.
Tip: When steps and stairs are bordered by vegetation, plant pale and silvery leafed varieties that reflect light and help to define step edges.
Sidestep some options
There are certain lights Worth doesn’t recommend for step applications. One is the top-mounted, non-adjustable circular light. “They basically only light the air above and can produce unwanted glare when looking down on steps. But they can look great as decorative lighting.”
Worth is also wary about solar lighting. “To light each step, you need several solar panels – one panel runs a maximum of two lights, so you could end up with an unwieldy number. There also aren’t many good-looking solar-powered step lights around.”
See more delightful decks
There are certain lights Worth doesn’t recommend for step applications. One is the top-mounted, non-adjustable circular light. “They basically only light the air above and can produce unwanted glare when looking down on steps. But they can look great as decorative lighting.”
Worth is also wary about solar lighting. “To light each step, you need several solar panels – one panel runs a maximum of two lights, so you could end up with an unwieldy number. There also aren’t many good-looking solar-powered step lights around.”
See more delightful decks
Weather the weather
Australia’s climate is hard on outdoor lighting. Worth recommends materials that resist rapid water and salt degradation. “Anodised metals are a good option. I sometimes use high-grade stainless steel, and solid brass, bronze and copper develop an attractive patina. I avoid powder-coated materials, which oxidise quickly and have a short lifespan.”
Australia’s climate is hard on outdoor lighting. Worth recommends materials that resist rapid water and salt degradation. “Anodised metals are a good option. I sometimes use high-grade stainless steel, and solid brass, bronze and copper develop an attractive patina. I avoid powder-coated materials, which oxidise quickly and have a short lifespan.”
LED love
Worth sees LED lighting as the future in garden illumination. “We are moving away from halogen to LED lighting. LED technology is still developing and new styles and fittings are coming on the market.” Apart from energy efficiency and hardiness, LEDs don’t need a ‘warming up’ period to reach maximum brightness – a distinct advantage when turning on step lighting.
Solid copper 12V bollard LED: Seaside Lighting
Worth sees LED lighting as the future in garden illumination. “We are moving away from halogen to LED lighting. LED technology is still developing and new styles and fittings are coming on the market.” Apart from energy efficiency and hardiness, LEDs don’t need a ‘warming up’ period to reach maximum brightness – a distinct advantage when turning on step lighting.
Solid copper 12V bollard LED: Seaside Lighting
Avoid the long arm of the law
Landscape step design is less specifically governed by building codes than interior stairways, but as an owner, it’s your duty of care to maintain a safe environment for those who enter your property. Step lighting plays a vital part in this.
In most cases, household insurance includes public liability. Renters may also have an occupier’s liability and should alert landlords to inadequate step lighting.
Landscape step design is less specifically governed by building codes than interior stairways, but as an owner, it’s your duty of care to maintain a safe environment for those who enter your property. Step lighting plays a vital part in this.
In most cases, household insurance includes public liability. Renters may also have an occupier’s liability and should alert landlords to inadequate step lighting.
Step in style
Safety first – then comes style. Choose one that fits your house frontage. Slimline, rectangular lights recessed in risers echo the lines of the simple step design and vertical concrete wall at this entrance.
Tip: Consider step width. Many garden steps are super-wide. Don’t leave too much of the area to guesswork. You may need multiple fittings to achieve sufficient light.
Safety first – then comes style. Choose one that fits your house frontage. Slimline, rectangular lights recessed in risers echo the lines of the simple step design and vertical concrete wall at this entrance.
Tip: Consider step width. Many garden steps are super-wide. Don’t leave too much of the area to guesswork. You may need multiple fittings to achieve sufficient light.
The bold asymmetrical architecture of this modern home is enhanced by an off-centre row of riser-recessed lights that announce the open-plan, contemporary design of the interiors.
The sun also rises
Also consider how step light fixtures look in daylight. You may want them to fade completely into the background by matching them to the step materials. If not, accentuate them, like these black-framed recessed lights that mirror the shapes and colours of the concrete and stone steps and paving.
Also consider how step light fixtures look in daylight. You may want them to fade completely into the background by matching them to the step materials. If not, accentuate them, like these black-framed recessed lights that mirror the shapes and colours of the concrete and stone steps and paving.
Mix it up
Make functional step lighting part of an overall garden lighting plan by complementing it with decorative illumination. The entrance to this Adelaide home has LED spike lights to wash over a sculptural rock feature and uplight trees, up/down wall lights on pillars, and submerged lights in the pond, for a dramatic – and safe – welcome.
Firefly 3W LED spikes: Cubix; Up/Down wall light in silver: Astro; surface-mounted step lights: LED Outdoor
Make functional step lighting part of an overall garden lighting plan by complementing it with decorative illumination. The entrance to this Adelaide home has LED spike lights to wash over a sculptural rock feature and uplight trees, up/down wall lights on pillars, and submerged lights in the pond, for a dramatic – and safe – welcome.
Firefly 3W LED spikes: Cubix; Up/Down wall light in silver: Astro; surface-mounted step lights: LED Outdoor
Bollard lights, pillar lights and other styles of above-ground lights are traditionally used for lighting flat or sloping pathways and driveways. Combined with recessed, dome or strip lighting on steps, they define a walkway for a safe and confident passage to your home.
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Your say
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More
Browse more gorgeous gardens
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Quite agree maryan01, a handrail would be a good addition to many of these steps - a 'belt and braces' for complete safety. Getting the lighting right is a step in the right direction - maybe handrails could be the topic for another story.
Great pics here but I want an article based on floating stairs & the different types available.
Discovering that many light fittings will corrode very quickly placed in limestone block walls was very disappointing & forced the change of my plans from in wall to in ground bollards!