Whether you’re hosting guests or relaxing after a long day, lighting can make all the difference in your patio’s comfort. With soft outdoor string lights, landscape moon lighting, or elegant lanterns, you can create a welcoming environment that will delight visitors and family alike.
The way your lighting illuminates the space will largely depend on the width of your light beams, which are often called “beam angles”. Typically, these are narrower at the source and widen out as they travel further from it. To get the best results when using patio lights, consider the light cone widths of different types of fixtures before making your final purchase.
One of the most popular ways to light a patio is with simple string lights. When used effectively, these can create a relaxed mood and highlight features of the landscape, but it’s important to keep in mind how far your light beams will reach. Lights that are too close will cast harsh shadows while those that spread farther than necessary can cause the area to appear unbalanced and overcrowded.
Another great patio light idea is to use a zig-zag pattern to define your space. This technique can help create an atmosphere of openness and works well if your space can accommodate five 20-foot-long string light strands. When attempting this, it’s also helpful to use lighting that is angled at two of the points instead of all three, as doing so will reduce disproportionate line tension.