We all want a patio that looks and feels like an extension of your indoor space. Sometimes in order to do this perfectly, it can be tricky! The placing of the lighting and where to focus your attention can be overwhelming! Luckily, we are here to help you incorporate three lighting elements into your patio project:
1. Functional/Entertainment Lighting
Functional lighting provides you and your guests with a light source that can be used for entertaining guests or getting a late-night read done. However, terminology can be confusing. Not all exterior light sources are functional lighting.
Functional lights are the lights we use while the party is going on; auxiliary lights are the lights we use when it's time to call it a night and clean up. Functional lighting provides us with both useful lighting and ambiance. Our two favorite forms of functional lighting are bistro lighting and down lighting:
Bistro Lighting
In addition to providing functional lighting, bistro lights set the tone for the room. Setting the tone is a critical component of good functional lighting. After all, if we don't like the aesthetic, what is the point? A great tip is to have your bistro lights controlled by a dimmer switch to allow you to turn the lighting volume up or down to match the evening's tone.
Down Lighting
Down lighting is accomplished by installing a special kind of light fixture up high in a tree or mounting it off the architecture of your home. They are not to be confused with a big flood light! Down lighting offers a softer and more subtle effect.
Down lighting creates a wonderful effect as the shadows from the leaves and branches cast down onto the ground. It provides impressive lighting that is for both enjoyment and functionality.
2. Task Lighting
Task lighting are also known as safety lighting. They help people who are coming and going and are more utilitarian in their use.
Path Lighting
Often used as a task light, path lights are used to illuminate pathways and guide people from the front yard to the back. They are also useful for helping people see elevation changes like steps, which prevents tripping or falls.
Path lights traditionally consist of a post sticking out of the ground with a light source mounted at its top. This light source is reflected or cast downward using a top hat, for example.
Using path lights to illuminate flower beds or other plantings rarely yields the desired results. When in doubt, remember to use fixtures in alignment with their intended purpose.
Tread Lights
Tread lights are fixtures that either are recessed into, or are surface mounted to, a stair tread. They are designed to cast light down onto the step below. It is critical that you consider safety when using steps at night. Tread lights are perfect for safely walking on steps at night.
3. Ambient Lighting
We've discussed so far lighting areas for entertaining as well as for safety. Lastly, we are going to discuss atmosphere lighting or ambient lighting. Ambient lighting is the light that reflects off of different surfaces to fill the space light.
By providing lighting that captures your surrounding, you can set the scene and show case the landscape.
Up Lighting
Uplighting is when we install a fixture in the ground at the base of the desired target, allowing the light to project upward to capture the target.
In order to make a world of difference, up lighting a few of the trees around your patio space will do the trick! Doing this adds a subtle touch, elevating a space and making it feel comforting.
Things that should be captured to lend a more pleasant visual experience to you and your guests are trees, statuary, and water features.
All three together
As you can see, when you combine functional, task, and ambient lighting, you come up with a fantastic patio lighting design! All three together really make a spectacular backyard. Patio lighting isn't just about throwing lights up. It is about setting the stage with a careful eye. This often requires time and different kinds of lighting that can work together to make a masterpiece.
Want help from a professional lighting designer?
If you are looking for a high-quality lighting system for your home but don't know where to start, take the first step and request a free consultation at (703) 662 1371. Let our designers create not only a functional property, but one that highlights the beauty of your home even at night.
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