Summer days are lengthy. Yet, you don’t have to go indoors as the sun dips below the horizon! Various exterior illumination solutions can allow you to enjoy your porch, patio, and garden well into those warm summer evenings.

Exterior lights are out there to brighten any outdoor area around your house. They also work with a myriad of styles: There’s no necessity to stick with just one design.

Unleash your decorating spirit and let the light shine on all your summer celebrations, from birthday parties on the patio to backyard barbecues, from drinks on the deck to elegant outdoor dining.

When designing with illumination, it’s essential to consider all your existing exterior structures and spaces, including your:

• Porch

• Patio

• Deck

• Pergola

• Trees

• Fencing

• Pathways

• Pool

• Lawn

Layer your lights for maximum impact. This involves using several types of lighting in various areas – above, at ground level, and throughout the yard.

Get out your Christmas lights! Outdoor string lights provide a flexible approach to illuminate your yard stylishly. Decorative outdoor patio lights are available to match every style and mood.

Transform your yard’s ambiance from playful to sophisticated by changing a few strings of patio lights. Opt for outdoor LED lights for energy efficiency, incandescent string lights for a cozy glow, or colorful novelty shapes for some fun!

Suspended above a dining area, draped along a pergola or awning, or strung between trees, Edison lights offer a relaxed atmosphere, while classic globe lights present a more traditional appearance. 

Novelty string lights allow you to showcase your style, enhance a theme, and add some delight! Hang seashell lights or flip flop lights for a beach party, flower lights for a summer gathering, or novelty light strings with tractors for grandad’s birthday.

Other outdoor lighting ideas:

• Wrap them around deck rails, columns, and posts, or around trellises and arches

• Drape them along fences

• Criss-cross them over an open patio

When the season changes, move your lights from the backyard to your front yard holiday display or store them neatly with our lighting storage solutions.

In the darkness, missing a step is not desirable. Luckily, practical and stylish lighting options are available.

Install rope lighting along the edges or below the lip of stair treads for a subtle glow. Solar garden stake lights are effective for pathways and entryways, providing hours of illumination and easy repositioning.

Enhancing dining tables, side tables, and coffee tables with extra light at night adds a touch of charm. Consider choices like flameless pillar candles, jar candles, tea lights, votives, and traditional tapers. Arrange them in beautiful candle holders, either individually or in groups, to create a warm glow and enhance conversations.

If you prefer, opt for a patio umbrella with integrated lights. These solar-powered umbrellas use the same sunlight they block during the day to light up at night. Alternatively, try battery-powered umbrella lights.

Lanterns function as elegant decor pieces during the day and become even more striking at night. These versatile items can be positioned on tables, deck rails, along paths, around pools or patios, on elevated tree stumps, or hung from low shepherd’s hooks.

Another popular DIY lighting trend, seen in many home design shows and on social media, involves filling mason jars with battery-operated mini lights or fairy lights to line paths or patio steps.

You can apply the same idea by placing micro lights inside vases or lanterns on dining or side tables for a soft, sophisticated glow.

Don’t neglect to light up your water features! Ponds, fountains, and swimming pools all benefit from night lighting. The magical effect of light reflecting on water at night is quite enchanting.

Online resources abound with ideas for enhancing your water features with light. Floating tea lights on your pool can be done using anything that floats, including purpose-made candle holders. Opt for LED candles to minimize fire risks and avoid any mess in the pool.

Floating pool lights are another option, with many being battery-operated and featuring LED lights that can change color to suit your mood or style.

Whether for fun or relaxation, outdoor illumination can introduce an additional layer of charm to your swimming pool, garden, lawn, and patio. With a handful of lighting solutions and a spark of creativity, lighting can be utilized to accentuate garden and structural elements, crafting an inviting atmosphere for loved ones.

To boost ambiance and versatility, consider expanding illumination in your exterior areas. Explore the wide range of outdoor lighting at Christmas Central to discover the perfect style for your revamped backyard lighting scheme.

You might also find interesting:

How to Prevent Your Patio Furniture from Getting Blown Away

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