10 Unique Ideas for Outdoor Lighting!

When you are dreaming about decorating your outdoor living space, one of the most important things to consider is lighting. Lighting can change the atmosphere of your outdoor space. It can create a tropical, romantic, or even a magical feel. You can truly create a beautiful lighting environment with a few simple steps. You can use theme lighting, or use a hand selected menagerie of lighting textures. Some lighting can function year round, while others are more appropriate for bringing out on special occasions.

1) For a tropical feel, think Christmas lights. You can string them around real or artificial palm trees. This will feel as if you are on a beach getaway. You can also use string lights. These come in a variety of patterns and motifs. These are an excellent idea for outdoor night parties. There is a wide variety of colored lights that can be added to enhance this effect even more.

2) For a romantic feel, hanging lanterns are a great choice they can be the traditional hanging type, or you can use the type that hold candles. These can cast a romantic glow on the whole area. You can also light ponds to create very beautiful effects. A small LED light can make a whole pond glow. If your living space is covered, recessed lights are also an option to consider. This provides a lovely and professional look.

3) For functional lighting for an outdoor event, Citronella candles and Tiki torches look lovely and keep bugs at bay. A party just isn't as much fun if you are swatting bugs all night. Bug zappers also do the job, but the lighting is unattractive and should be kept in places not visible by the majority of people.

4) If you are wanting to light up a whole pathway, track lighting and small 'street lamps' are a nice touch. There are many modern and chic looking lights to guide your path. Light can also be used as part of your outdoor security. Install motion sensors so that if there is any movement in the back yard or other vulnerable areas, the space will be instantly illuminated. Floodlights are also highly versatile. They can be mounted in the ground, on walls, or even in trees. They can give a broad stream of light if there is an area of you yard that you would like to protect.

5) If you want to create a spotlight effect of a specific tree, up and down lights are an excellent idea. Trees can look very nice bathed in light that shines upwards. If you have statues in your yard, you do want to be careful to not focus all of the lighting from below. This will create unattractive shadows.

6) Paper lanterns are another very inexpensive way to make your patio or deck look fabulous! You can make them easily by getting a string of giant Christmas tree lights and placing two white paper bags ( lunch sack style) over every other light overlapping one other. You can dangle ribbons from the bottom of these for a fancier effect. You can accomplish a similar look using hanging lanterns.

7) Wall Sconces are another popular way of lighting up an area. They can provide quite a bit of light and visibility if you place them in a grouping.

8) If your are looking for an Eco friendly way to save on your utility bills, solar powered lighting is your answer. These are a fabulous way of using natural resources to add beauty to your outdoor area. You can even find solar powered garden statues that can pull double duty.

9) If you are simply looking for a way to use lighting to enhance outdoor entertaining, stick to candles. You can place a group of candles on top of a round flat mirror to cast a beautiful glow on your table decor. You can also place long candles into a flower pot and use sand to hold them in place. A fire pit can provide a toasty evening focal point on a cool night.

10) Traditional lighting can still make a nice impact on your outdoor living space. You can hang a lovely vintage chandelier from the top focal point of your deck area. You can also install and outdoor fan with a light included. This will also help you beat the heat during the summer months. Lighting up wall areas is another traditional approach. You can bring out the detail of you walls with this approach.

Good lighting design can help you create a space to enjoy for years to come with your friends and family. You can also provide inexpensive lighting that is eco friendly with a little research. Much luck with your lighting endeavors! Soon, all of the hard work will be well worth while and you will be sitting back, soaking up the outdoor living!