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In this article, we'll teach you how to choose the right lighting for your outdoor living space in order to create the perfect atmosphere.
Lighting can significantly influence the atmosphere of your outdoor living space, just as it can in any other room of your house. Therefore, it's vital to add design-savvy outdoor lighting to create ambiance throughout the evening. Ambient lighting creates a sense of coziness while also boosting the atmosphere for pre-dinner cocktails, dinner, or just laying low with your family. So how exactly does one create a chic and relaxing atmosphere using lighting for your outdoor living space? Continue reading, and that's precisely what you'll find out!
How to choose the proper lighting for your outdoor living space?
Whether you're redesigning your outdated patio or you're getting a clean sleight in your brand new home, it's important to pay special attention to lighting. It has the power to make or break the entire space. After all, the last thing you want is your game night with friends ruined due to your poor choice of lighting. Or, if you are planning on selling your home and you want to make it more appealing, lighting is a powerful tool in home staging.
Now that you know how important proper lighting is, let's find out how to choose the right one for the outdoor living area in your home.
#1 Take measurements
The first step in achieving the best possible effect with outdoor lighting is to ensure that everything fits together correctly. So stay away from filling up your online carts with everything you like without taking measurements and calculating everything first. You can cut yourself some slack when shopping for stunning outdoor decor.
#2 Calculate how much lighting you'll need for your outdoor living space
You will also need to determine exactly how much lighting you will require. Here's a simple calculation to help you figure out how much illumination a given area needs: To get a ballpark figure for the total amount of wattage that will be needed, multiply the total square footage of the area that needs to be illuminated by 1.5. For example, if you want to brighten a space that is 100 square feet, you would ideally need 150 watts of power.
#3 Add all three types of lighting
When designing your outdoor living area, use the following three basic types of lighting: ambient, task, and accent lighting. All three types have different advantages, so mixing them in your design is the best way to go.
For example, you can use different wall lights, such as lovely outdoor wall scones, to produce ambient lighting. Regarding task lighting, pathway lights or deck lights are perfect examples, while for accent outdoor lighting, you can choose spotlights. Combining them will help create an ideal outdoor living space atmosphere. The best part is that there are many great options to choose from, so you'll easily find ones that fit.
#4 Layer your lighting
Layering the lighting in your outdoor living space is very important. To understand its benefits, consider your outdoor area as containing three different planes. The lowest plane could consist of those lanterns that you adore that are placed along the edge of the patio, or it could be the tiny lights that light your lovely outdoor rugs. Following that would be lights that are positioned at body height. For example, those on posts or tables. Lastly, up-lighting into trees creates a gorgeous beam that comes from above. You will create an effect that will leave everyone in awe!
String lights are always a great choice for any type of outdoor living space.
#5 Choose appropriate lighting fixtures
It goes without saying that you need to purchase lighting fixtures certified to be used outdoors in wet environments. Regarding bulbs, there are two types available for outdoor use - LED and incandescent. While LED bulbs are energy efficient and perfect for covering long distances of space, incandescent bulbs are ideal if you want to add a soft glow to larger and shorter distances.
If you live in an area with harsher weather during winter and autumn, you probably already know how important it is to keep your outdoor furniture and decor safe during these months. However, we would also add lighting fixtures to that list. Make sure to store lighting fixtures that aren't necessary and integral for your property's safety until you can enjoy your outdoor living space again. If you don't have enough room in your home, you can always listen to the advice from the team from 247logisticservices.com and rent a storage unit.
#6 Mix styles and sizes
Because there is so much potential for designing your outdoor living space, we highly recommend using it as a testing ground for various sizes and types of outdoor lighting. For example, if your home has tall ceilings and doors, you can use larger exterior lights to balance the grandeur or incorporate contrasting silhouettes to let architectural elements shine. Or, patio lights with attractive finishes can be a visual extension of the design elements present throughout the rest of your house.
#7 Don't forget to add dimmers
Just like interior lights, outdoor lights should be bright and then put on a dimmer so you can change the mood at different times of the evening. The last thing your dinner guests will want is to have a bright spotlight on them while they're enjoying their meal outside. Outdoor rooms, especially dining areas, benefit from subtle and indirect lighting that helps create a restful mood. For that reason, more and more people are turning to the use of pendants, ceiling fans, and outdoor lanterns with light kits.
The type of lighting for your outdoor living space will help you set the mood and create a more enjoyable atmosphere.
Good luck choosing the perfect lighting for your outdoor living space!
We hope our tips help you choose lighting for your outdoor living space to create a perfect atmosphere. But remember - all of your efforts might be in vain if you don't choose high-quality home products, especially lighting. Your outdoor living area will not only look fantastic but can withstand different weather conditions for a long, long time.
Photos used:
https://unsplash.com/photos/tDJjOvFi4BU
https://unsplash.com/photos/csK5XPO87lI
https://unsplash.com/photos/ZIsb_7NOc3k
https://www.pexels.com/photo/family-playing-charades-at-bonfire-in-garden-5638830/
