Whether hosting friends or relaxing after a long day, patio light enhances the atmosphere of your backyard retreat and transforms it into an inviting entertainment space. The best outdoor lighting options are those that offer a wide range of beam angles to help you customize the ambiance. Narrow beams highlight architectural details while wider beams distribute light evenly over larger garden areas. The artful blending and angling of lighting sources transforms your backyard into a dramatic showcase after dark.
Popular Ideas for Hanging Patio Light
When choosing light strings, look for ones that allow you to remove the bulbs if you wish to change colors or themes over time. Also, look for a wire gauge rating between 16-18 and an insulation rating of SPT1, SPT2, or SJTW. A higher gauge rating means a thinner copper wire and a lower chance of voltage fluctuations which can lead to flickering.
To reduce power consumption and eliminate the need to constantly flick the switch, consider a motion or photo sensor (sometimes called a photocell) that can be added to any fixture in your landscape lighting system. This feature turns the fixture on and off with celestial changes so you don’t have to waste energy by running your lights all night.
While task lighting like string lights and recessed lights is ideal for cooking, dining, and entertaining, floor or table lamps are worthy additions to a seating area or reading nook, casting intimate pools of light over those seated. To complete the layering of lighting in an entertainment outdoor space, don’t forget low-level accent lighting to define spaces and highlight spots where missteps are likely to happen. Step and small deck lights are great for this, and spot or floodlights can create visual wow and expand the entertaining space into the yard as well.