After Dark

With well-planned lighting, you can enhance the enjoyment of your outdoor living area and extend its use long after the sun has set

- Lauren Delargy

Outdoor areas like patios and decks play a huge role in relaxing and entertaining and are often the most used areas no matter the season. With the right lighting, you can extend the time you spend outdoors and enhance the features of entertaining areas, whether you have a small courtyard or large deck and swimming pool. “The right lighting will create a warm inviting atmosphere,” says Kelly Klopper, Brand Manager of Eurolux.

Plan the lighting as you would for interiors including general or ambient light, task and decorative lighting. “By layering the different types of lighting, you can adjust the illumination to suit the mood and the occasion,” explains lighting designer Guy Harris of Newport Lighting.

AMBIENT OR GENERAL LIGHTING

This enables you to see where you’re going and what you’re doing. If the area doesn’t have a ceiling then look at wall mounted fittings designed for outdoors. “Space these about 5 to 10m apart depending on the intensity of lighting you need,” says Kelly. “Use fittings that direct light onto the ground and not into your eyes. This gives a softer effect and reduces the glare.”