Do you have a spacious backyard left untouched since you haven’t really paid attention to setting up a proper lighting system? Haven’t you ever thought of spending a pleasant afternoon chilling and having a barbecue in that area during the warmer months? With the clever incorporation of decking lights, you’ll be able to utilise and enjoy your outdoor space for as long as you want!
When designing your home, you should pay as much attention to your deck as you would to your interior. If you have a patio, consider this space like another room in your home where you can relax, dine or entertain guests.
Depending on the layout of your garden, your deck should be against the back of your home, down at the end (have its own enclosed area), or halfway up your lawn. Wherever you have it, there’s an ideal way to illuminate your deck!
Ideas for Decking Light Designs
If you don’t have an existing deck and are planning to construct one, now is the best time to think about your ideas for decking lights. You can get creative since you don’t need to consider any structures that may limit your vision (unless there’s something in your garden that is unmovable).
Before you begin the build, draft a plan and decide where you need illumination and what activities certain areas will cater to. Maybe you’ll install steps that pair well with soft spotlights or build a barbecue area where pillar lamps would be handy!
Alternatively, don’t be too discouraged if you have an existing decking area. There are still many ways to elevate its visuals with lighting. To give you more inspiration, here are the best ways to add luminance to your deck area. These vary from decorative fixtures and hanging festoon lamps to professionally mounted spotlights.
Design #1: Hang Overhead Festoon Lights
One of the simplest ways to add illumination and invite cosiness into your decking area is by hanging outdoor festoon lamps. Drape them between your fencing panels or from trees near the space. If you have an outdoor socket, you can get the plug-in version, but solar-powered or battery-operated festoon lamps are more convenient.
Suppose your deck is detached from your home and situated at the bottom of your garden. In that case, you can add poles to hook your festoon lights and incorporate portable candles, lanterns, and self-powered decorative fixtures to make the space more inviting.
In addition, adding festoon lights around your rails is an excellent way to brighten and disguise it!
Design #2: Make Sure You Have Portable Lanterns
Hanging a portable lantern can bring an outdoor camping feel into your deck. Although genuine gas versions are rare, you can still get solar-powered or candle varieties that are readily available. You can add a group of three at the coroner or your deck or put it atop a table for an al fresco dining vibe.
You can also hang it in an overhead pergola at different heights!
Design #3: Illuminate Under a Garden Umbrella
Nowhere to hang lights in your deck area? That’s not a problem! If you don’t want to install poles or there’s no tree or fence near your deck, why not consider adding a garden umbrella? It’s functional and decorative, and you can use it as a lighting source by wrapping fairy lights around its shaft, ribs and stretchers of its canopy!
Like other outdoor garden fixtures, fairy lights are also available in a solar-powered or battery-operated version. It’s pretty affordable and a simple way to introduce some glow into your space!
Design #4: Add Permanent Wall Lights
If you have a brick wall, either at the back of your home or as a boundary wall, adding permanent wall lights will make it ten times better! Hire a professional to get this done since it’s more technical than adding battery-operated, solar-powered or plug-in fixtures. They work well above seating areas as they can double as reading light or relaxing ambient lighting when night falls.
Need more flexibility with your outdoor lighting? Why not add directional spotlights instead? With this, you can do more than just reading or ambient lighting since you can change the trajectory whenever possible. Perhaps you want to highlight a unique feature in your garden? You can use this directional spotlight to get it done!
Design #5: Introduce Strip Lights to Your Deck’s Edge
Adding strip lights along the edges of your deck can give it more personality and make it a focal point in particular areas. Strip lights can add zones to your composite deck and showcase garden pathways for your guest to fawn over! Plus, you can install strip lights at floor level around a sitting area to create the perfect atmosphere to entertain your guests!
Design #6: Add Lights into Your Flower Pots
You can add a bit of colour and glow to your deck by using flower pots with garden spike lights. Solar-powered stake lights are super easy to install! Just push it into the ground (in this case, the flower pot), and it’ll self-power.
You can get these garden stake lights in different shapes and sizes, but those that look like street lamps work spectacularly alongside your pathway!
Design #7: Zone Areas with Different Lighting Fixtures
To make your decking area look more put together, zone it using lighting. It’s particularly helpful if you’re working with a small deck, as adding lights creates some delineation.
If possible, it’s better to have different switches for each zone so you can use them independently. You can switch off the other areas and focus on the sitting space to make it cosier. Just make sure that you seek the advice and help of seasoned professionals since you may need a more complex system. That way, you’re confident that your outdoor space is safe.
Outdoor lighting is as exciting as indoor lighting. You just need to be more cautious because you’re dealing with more foreign elements that can potentially ruin your lights. However, with the right fixtures, you can transform your outdoors into a magical extension of your home! If you are looking for high-quality outdoor lighting, visit our website, Simple Lighting! We have an extensive collection that will make your dream garden come true.
How to wire a dimmable LED driver?
- 15w Smart Home Dimmable LED Driver
- Dimmable 50W LED Driver, 12v or 24v DC
- 100w Dimmable LED Driver, Leading or Trailing Edge – 12v or 24v
When wiring a dimmable LED driver, the DC (output) part, which is made up of the positive and negative wires, should be connected to the low-voltage decking lights. As for the AC (input) side, link the neutral and ground wires to the power source directly.
If you don’t have any knowledge of lighting installation, it’s best to have an electrician do this for you. That way, you’re free from any risks, and you’re confident that your lights are installed correctly!
