Patio Lighting Ideas: Choosing The Best Lighting For Your Patio?
Picking the right patio lighting ideas can transform your outdoor aesthetic. Not only is outdoor lighting paramount for alfresco cooking, but it is also a fun way to personalise your patio, especially if you’re planning after-dark dinner parties or family barbecues.
Instagram hashtags for popular garden patio lighting ideas quickly reveal what is popular right now:
|
Instagram Hashtag |
Number of Posts |
|
#ledlights |
3,346,294 |
|
#lantern |
2,123,970 |
|
#firepit |
2,333,085 |
|
#sconce |
117,517 |
|
#solarlight |
103,723 |
Hashtags on Instagram: 26/03/2024
Whether you’re looking for patio lighting ideas or lighting for pergolas, this article will walk you through different types of outdoor lighting and practical considerations such as cost, design aesthetic and installation.
Plus, we provide outdoor patio lighting idea pictures so you can really get a look and feel for what would work best in your home.
Benefits of patio lighting
Enhance ambience
Playing with outdoor patio lighting ideas is your gateway to an ambient patio. For example, colour-changing LED lights create a fun, dynamic space, whereas fire pits and outdoor patio solar lighting ideas set a warm, comforting tone.
PergoSTET 3m x 4m Rectangular Pergola with 3 Drop Sides and LED Lighting in Grey - £3,999
Improve safety
A well-lit space is a deterrent to thieves. Bright, dependable lighting also helps avoid outdoor cooking mishaps and any trips or accidents at night.
Luxor Small Table Outdoor and Indoor Solar Lantern In Charcoal - £79.00
Use your patio after dark
With sufficient patio lighting, you can continue to plan winter garden ideas and after-dark activities such as board game nights or mulled wine around the fire pit.
Höfats SPIN 90 Table Top Fire in Gold - £139.00
Enhance patio design with modern patio lighting ideas
Looking for modern patio lighting ideas? Decking lights and wall lights are reliable options. Spotlights can also be manoeuvred to illuminate your most modern pieces of garden furniture.
PergoSTET 4m x 4m Square Pergola with 3 Drop Sides and LED Lighting with Wood Effect - £5,399
Create a rustic aesthetic by choosing lighting with a traditional style
If you’re fond of traditional patio ideas, you could incorporate wooden furniture or timeless pieces such as a teak pillar lantern or a handheld lantern.
Cosiscoop Pillar Lantern in Teak - £749.99
Patio lighting ideas
Patio string light ideas
Patio string lights are one of the cheapest, easiest garden patio lighting ideas. They can also be relocated to highlight different areas of the patio.
Lanterns
High-quality lanterns cost between £80 and £120. As long as there’s a table or floor space, there is room for a timeless lantern piece — and you’re not tied into keeping it in one location.
Patio wall lighting ideas
Wall lights free up space and provide dependable, bright lighting. While LED wall lights cost under £50, a professional may be required to fix them to the wall. Electric wall lights require an electrician.
Myosotis Metal Chimney Wall Light in Brushed Steel - £39.99
Sconces
Sconces are wall lights which hold a candle or flame. They are dimmer than an LED bulb, but they offer extra ambience for around the same price.
Patio door lighting ideas
Patio door lighting ideas guide guests indoors and outdoors. Most people use wall lights for door lighting, although LED strips are a cheaper and easier garden patio lighting idea.
Patio floor lighting ideas
If the thought of installing wall lighting is too much, patio floor lighting ideas offer a solution. An LED floor lamp is inexpensive and the battery-powered bulb can be charged indoors between use.
Luxor Large Floor Outdoor and Indoor Solar Lantern in Charcoal - £99.00
LEDs
Why is LED lighting so popular? LED lights are cheap, waterproof and battery-powered. They aren’t dependent on sunny weather, like solar lights. They also come in different varieties, such as lamps, wall lights, strips and integrated pergola lighting.
Candles
Candles are not very dependable nor bright, but they are incredibly ambient and cost very little, even when purchased alongside a protective candle pole.
Höfats GRAVITY CANDLE Lantern - £37.95
Pathway lighting
Pathway lights guide family and guests around the patio. Decking lights are an obvious choice, but LED strips, lanterns and spotlights are also dependable options.
Fire pits
A standalone fire pit is your ticket to ambient dinners and drinks. Fire pit boxes are available from approximately £600 to £700.
Cosiflow 100 Square Anthracite Fire Pit Table - £999.99
Outdoor patio solar lighting ideas
If you’re looking for eco-friendly patio lighting solutions, consider outdoor patio solar lighting ideas. As solar lights recharge using UV, they are efficient summer garden ideas. You can even get parasols with integrated solar-powered lights, which provide fuller light coverage.
PergoSTET 3m x 4m Rectangular Pergola with 3 Drop Sides and LED Lighting in White - £3,999
Globe lights
Globe lights cost more than a standard floor lamp, but if you want a quirky, bold lighting feature, they are irreplaceable.
Integrated pergola lighting
One of the most popular patio cover ideas, modern pergolas often feature integrated LED lighting. This can save you money on purchasing additional lighting.
Decking lights
If you want to add lighting to an existing decking, the easiest way is to stick LED strips to the steps and edges. Alternatively, opt for decking lights; you can drill holes and install your own or bring in a professional. Decking with integrated LED lighting is also available.
Light strips
Adding LED light strips to a patio is a cheap DIY job. They cost as little as £5 to £15 and last for up to five or ten years with regular use.
Pendant lighting
Outdoor pendant lights are a stable overhead lighting option suited to reading and cooking. However, they are dependent upon an outdoor structure such as a pergola.
Table lamps
A portable table lamp is handy for everyday activities like eating or reading the newspaper. They’re inexpensive, but of course, you’ll need to buy a table too.
Bob Large Table Light in Charcoal - £69.99
Fire lanterns
Portable and pretty, fire lanterns are slightly pricier than a standard LED table lamp. However, they look significantly more impressive and cast gloriously warm ambient lighting.
Cosiscoop Fire Lantern in Green - £79.99
Party lights
If garden parties are your favourite back garden idea, party lights will add a dash of colour.
Battery-powered lights
Battery-powered lights don’t depend upon solar or electricity. However, if you forget to recharge the batteries, you’ll be left cooking, partying or eating in the dark.
Garden spotlights
For under £50, garden spotlights can be used to illuminate a particular feature, such as a step, door or table. They are a type of wall lighting, so they free up extra space too.
Lantana Adjustable Directional Spot Light in Dark Grey - £29.99
Fire pit dining sets
Planning to get a dining set and a fire pit? A fire pit dining set combines the two, providing an ambient space for eating, drinking or partying no matter the hour.
Monterrey 8 Seat Rope Rectangular Ceramic Firepit Dining Set in Grey - £3,799
Festoon lights
Festoon lights are fairy lights with larger bulbs. Cheap and easy to relocate, they are a bold, fun patio lights design idea.
Lantern accessories
A lantern can be accessorised with features such as a macrame case, a tripod or matching cylinders. If you want to add personality to your patio, this is a good option to explore.
How to light a patio area: what you need to consider
Design aesthetic
Lighting has a big impact on your design aesthetic, so begin by asking a couple of design questions. Do you want a contemporary or traditional look? Bold or natural? A contemporary patio may feature spotlights and underfloor lighting, whereas a traditional design is likely to incorporate floor lamps, sconces and lanterns.
A natural patio is complemented by solar lights, candles, fire pits and ambient LED lighting. Meanwhile, for something bolder or quirkier, you could introduce different shapes such as globe lights, festoon lights or party lights.
How you want to use the space
If you’re going to use your patio for outdoor cooking, bright and dependable outdoor lighting ideas are key. For this, patio wall lighting ideas work well. If you’re more likely to spend your time talking or relaxing, a couple of LED bulbs and a fire pit should suffice. Remember that the more people, the more lighting features you will need.
Waterproofing
Most outdoor lighting ideas for patios use waterproof LED bulbs. However, many fire features are not waterproof and may require the shelter of a parasol or covered pergola. Waterproof materials include polyester and polyethene.
Installation
Most outdoor lighting ideas for patios are fuss-free and easy to install yourself. However, if you are introducing an electric wall light, an electrician will be required.
Cost
Lighting doesn’t have to be over-expensive. For example, a basic lantern, spotlight or floor lamp costs under £30. The most expensive lighting options are fire pits, which can cost £500 as a standalone piece or up to £2,000 as part of a bar or dining set.
Conclusion: What lighting is best for patios?
As we’ve seen, there are a tonne of patio lighting ideas to choose from. Buying a pergola with integrated LED lights or a decking with lights can save you costs on additional lighting features.
However, adding additional lighting pieces is a fun and inexpensive way to personalise your patio, whether you choose an ambient fire pit and solar lantern or bright, dependable spotlights and decking lights. Buying a high-quality product is the most important aspect of designing your outdoor patio lighting. Harbour Lifestyle’s high-quality outdoor lighting for patios is designed to bring families and friends together for years to come.
Click here to browse the full outdoor lighting range.
Patio lighting ideas FAQs
How do you light an uncovered patio?
Waterproof lighting options such as LED lights are essential for an uncovered patio or pergola.
How do you choose patio lights?
When you are choosing patio lights, consider factors such as cost, installation and design aesthetic. Your patio lighting should suit how you will use the space. For example, outdoor cooking requires bright, dependable lighting.
What's the best way to hang outdoor patio lights?
Outdoor patio lights can be hung from the rafters of a pergola. You can also install a small hook on the side of a wall or pergola frame.
