Unique Outdoor Lighting Ideas

Despite the recent snow in Richmond, if this week is any indication, winter is in fact coming to a close. It’s finally time to come out of hibernation and get outdoors again. If properly lit, an outdoor patio, deck, swimming pool, or dock can easily become the focal point and highlight of your home during warm weather months.

Upgrading outdoor lighting is a great way to improve an outdoor environment. Here are a few strategic ways an outdoor space can be improved with lighting fixtures.

How to Light an Outdoor Environment

The human eye adjusts to low light scenarios quite well, so the trick to outdoor lighting is gently creating a softly-lit atmosphere. You’ll still want to be able to look up and see the stars or watch the moon. One way to do this is with lots of small, thoughtfully placed lights that create subtle, ambient light, instead of a few big, bright lights. It’s also a  good idea to keep light from shining directly into people’s face.

Light up Pathways and Patios with Indirect Light

Do you have a little walkway to a fire pit or a path down to the dock? We suggest using lights placed below eyelevel that shine down on the ground. Coastal Source has created some of the most beautiful outdoor light fixtures in the industry, many of which are specifically designed for docks. If you have a stone lip around a patio, you might think of stringing lights all the way around the patio under that lip. Lights can be attached to planters or under the lip of a table. The possibilities are endless.

Shine Lights up at Trees or Structures

Again, the goal is to create indirect light that isn’t being shined directly in people’s eyes. Lighting up trees will shed indirect light on an outdoor space and can help create a fun atmosphere. Similarly, shining lights up on the house allows indirect light to bounce off the structure and help light up the entire area without shining directly in a person’s face.

Hanging Lights Are a Must

Nothing says it’s time for festivities and celebrating more than hanging lights. Subtle lights hanging from the trees, above a pool or patio, strategically placed in garden style fixtures, or even custom attached to a repurposed antique like a wooden wagon wheel, could be exactly what you need to put an outdoor space over the top. There is something about hanging lights that sets the mood for fun.

Other Ideas to Liven up an Outdoor Environment

If you’re looking for other ways to enhance a patio or pool area, we recommend bringing music to the scene. Outdoor speakers can be hidden in rocks, planters, or strategically mounted out of sight. If music isn’t enough, you might be surprised to find out that outdoor televisions are becoming more affordable and popular than ever. Outdoor televisions are weather-tight and feature anti-reflective properties that allow you to see the screen in a variety of conditions. Enjoy a movie while relaxing in the pool or watch the big game while enjoying a cookout.

Light up a House for Safety

Aside from creating a fun atmosphere, outdoor lights are a big aspect of home safety. Imagine coming home and clicking a button in your car that lights up the front of the house, walkways to the door, and even turns on interior lights. A simple remote will allow you to do exactly that. It’s actually easier than you might think to have a professional create unique lighting scenarios that can be controlled easily from a remote or a custom app on your phone.

Whatever your goal is for lighting up an outdoor space, keep in mind that a lot of smaller lights provide a much more enjoyable atmosphere than big flood lights. Contact us to learn more about custom outdoor lighting, televisions, or speaker systems.

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