Best Outdoor Deck Lighting Ideas For All Seasons

17 Best Outdoor Deck Lighting Ideas for All Seasons

Ian Mutuli
Updated on
Ian Mutuli

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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Deck lights is one of the classy and practical way on how to light the outdoor space of your house for extra security and elegance. Choose the best deck lighting ideas which fitted well with your outside setting to enhance the mood of your night.

Types of Fixtures for Deck Lighting

The following are the most common types of deck lighting and sections to illuminate:

  • Surface mounts, flush mounts, path lights, and weatherproof LED strip lights are the ideal fixtures for steps.
  • A case is spot or uplighting that might illuminate the pathways or add drama by intensifying structures on plants.
  • Downlights are suspended on walls, the eaves, the roof of the patios and under the trees.
  • These balusters can be installed to replace conventional balusters in a railing or balustrade system or at the time of construction of a new deck.
  • Cove lights, deck lights, railолights and post caps are the types of lights that may be installed on rails or posts.
  • Other types of artificial lighting, like string lights, candles or lamps, lanterns, solar lighting or any other kind of fixed installation can be either confirm the already established light or give it a subtler solution like mounted and installed lighting.
  • Spot or uplights, for example, may brighten walkways and provide drama by accentuating plant features.

Best Outdoor Deck Lighting Ideas

1. Pergola Lighting

Image Source: potterybarn.com

A pergola is a popular choice for providing a sitting area and some shade when resting outside. The poles and grid of beams and rafters in the construction may be used to hang lights and bring light at night.

Solutions for outdoor lighting include placing standard bulbs like the Indoor/Outdoor LED deck light or using paper lamps that can be put on the beams of the pergola. Lights can be sulphured round the pillars or hung from above by ropes from the rafters.

2. String Lights

Image Source: wintergreencorp.com

String lights are a popular outdoor décor item right now. They are very easy to install . They may be installed practically anyplace if an outlet is available. Perfect for any DIY project such as basic deck lighting.

They have a tendency not to last a long as other possibilities is a disadvantage. Hence they require frequent updates Compare to other solution hence they need to be upgraded more frequently.

3. Deck Floor Lamps

Image Source: wayfair.com

A floor lamp could be handy if you cannot install hanging or another type of hanging light. Tango Outdoor Floor Lamp from Smart & Green is fun and colorful when turned on during the night.

This garment may be used as a planter and it also has glow for ambient illumination that can be controlled using an app on smartphone. This lamp can be also adjusted to many various styles, if the goal is to have only white light or if you want to combine colors.

4. Cage Wall Lights

Image Source: stylebyemilyhenderson.com

Depending with the deck size, you may not need a lot of light and you should adjust accordingly. Think about a set of wall lights for instance this Emily Henderson collection. The cage wall lights are beautiful and fairly integrate with the environment; as they perfectly give the right amount of lighting when need at any particular time.

5. In-Floor Lighting

Image Source: decoist.com

If there aren’t any good overhead areas to hang a pendant or sconce in your deck, your lighting could be from beneath. Indirect lights are installed within the floor of the deck and are most useful in the stairwells, and at the edges of the space.

But be that as it may, nobody can deny the desire to quietly enjoy an after dinner drink in the protection of the soft, calming glow from the LED lights.

6. Under Shades Lights

Image Source: bobvilla.com

Don't undervalue the role that carefully placed lights can play. This outside space has adequate lighting since torches surround the edges of the decking. The main real source of the light comes from several rows of the string lights placed right below the sail shade.

In the day, the sail cover shades the sun while at night it forms a back drop on which the little lights can reflect giving a well lit environment for everyone.

7. Spa Deck

Image Source: instagram.com/herzenstimme

Herzen Stimme built a wooden floor with an opening for an inflatable hot tub with water splash. The latter results in a sort of a spa-like ending to it. The feel of multiple string lights hanging on the walls and few more hanging portable lights lighting up the hot tub goes a long way in creating the mood.

8. Star Lights

Image Source: gmcanantnag.net

Star light is a type of string or pendant light and is star-shaped, making dinners, parties or any other special event intriguing. Some star lights are fun, unique, magical and can turn your evening in the outside space into a fairy tale. If there aren’t actual stars in the sky, then drape these over the table, ceiling or over an umbrella to make it seem like night with shining stars.

9. Pendant Lights

Image Source: homedit.com

Many homeowners prefer ceiling-mounted light fixtures for indoor spaces that require powerful lighting. A similar fixture can also be placed outside right? An outside grade light fixture may be what the doctor ordered for drab decks and porches where there is above space for mounting.

Battery operated pendant lights or solar powered ones, most of them come in a raw and organic look of a traditional lantern to some of the esoteric and minimalist designed pendants. In fact, some of the outdoor pendant lights come with remote controls and that means no need to stand up when the food is being served during an outdoor dinner.

10. In-Stair Lights

Image Source: decksdirect.com

Installing deck lighting on your stair treads or riser whereby there is stairs’ lighting enhance not only the esthetics but the safety feature as well. With an LED stair light giving a warm glow to your stair treads, you demonstrate your friendship, your family’s safety, and how all visitors feel when they step on your deck, steady and safe. The sharp staircase lines also lend themselves to look good when they are lit up.

11. Linear Lighting

Image Source: barrielandscapedesign.ca

Lady Landscape’s Melanie Rekola came up with a beautiful outdoor design; her deck and lounger areas connected seamlessly to the pool area.

From here downlights into the pool walls and while it gives adequate light it’s not too glaring while it’s also certain no one has to feel around or bump into things in the dark.

12. Deck Ceiling Fan with Light

Image Source: homedepot.com

In addition to becoming hot, a deck may get gloomy at night. Lighting can be achieved from the above structure and the ceiling fans and other attachments can also help in accommodating this factor.

This is ideal for use indoors and outside and comes with a light kit lantern-style with weathered blades. It also has a WhisperWind motor for personalized and efficient cooling.

13. Overhead Deck Light

Living decks for lounging and entertaining could be illuminated just like indoor rooms with one large architectural floor lamp to provide any outdoor scene an elegantly modern appeal. Select deck lighting ideas like these so as to give your outdoor living area a beautiful sectional point of focus as well as provide light.

Some of the recent models that can be easily folded have ability to control light intensity, have heaters incorporated on the base and come with Bluetooth speakers The last mentioned models can be used outdoor all year round and are not only functional but also ornamental.

14. Solar Railing Lights

Image Source: gmcanantnag.net

Lighting fixtures that mount on the deck railing themselves are the subtle solution towards the fitting’s integration to a deck and its architectural framework. The Ideaworks’ solar deck lights are equipped with their own solar panels and come on at night and off in the morning. Three railing lights can fit the brown or white color, and all the products contain mounting hardware.

15. Shades and Pair Lighting

Image Source: instagram.com/ann.living

Some people tend to underestimate the role of lighting but it is critically important when it is wisely placed. This outdoor area by Ann Living is well lit for it has illuminating torches placed all around the decking edge. The real source of light is several rows of string lights placed right under sail shade.

During the day it helps prevent the sun from shining too brightly and at night it serves as our backdrop in which we place the little lights to make sure everybody gets to enjoy good lighting.

16. Wicker Park

Image Source: calimiahome.com

Despite lamp shades and covers giving a new look to an interior place, they have benefits outside too. For instance, there is this beautiful set from Camilia Home— hanging bulbs are gorgeous as it is but the wicker shades look even more amazing. The good thing is that with such hues they can be easily switched if and as the décor is changed.

17. Recessed Deck Lights

Image Source: decksdirect.com

Recessed lighting lights are perfect for deck lighting that does not need maintenance. Stair lights are usually provided by recessed deck lights but the same fixtures can be used on facia boards, posts, rails, deck boards and ceiling.

Concealed lighting is so called because the lighting fixture is sunk into the surface of the surrounding material. That is the key to two great advantages. First, it is almost invisible during the daytime and only at night, it will impress your guests with bright light.

Second, recessed lighting within your boards is fairly safeguarded, and thus, more often than not does not require as much cleaning and therefore, the cleaning process is quicker and easier.

Conclusion

Deck lighting is a fantastic way to enhance the beauty and put safety and security into the deck. Besides, you might extend the amount of time spent having fun with one of your favored outdoor zones.

Besides, a good environment is also provided through sufficient and apt deck lighting. It is light when it’s bright – from safety for cooking and play and dim for those who want to have their moments of rest and calmness.

Ian Mutuli

About the author

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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