Deck lighting is an essential aspect of an outdoor deck that must not be overlooked. A deck or patio can be the highlight of a home during the summer months. Without adequate lighting however, a deck can appear uninviting or unappealing after dark. By installing outdoor deck lighting, you are extending the use potential of your outdoor space by hours, and you automatically create an additional recreational area in your home.
Whether you choose to host deck parties and outdoor dinner parties, or you just want to relax outside after a hard day’s work, choosing the right deck lights will significantly transform the nature of your deck. Lights have endless potential to provide combine functionality with the creation specific moods. They can create a warm and inviting atmosphere, they can set the mood for a romantic evening, or they can make bold statements, by highlighting special architectural or design features. Outdoors, they can be just as effective, due the vast array of quality outdoor lighting products that are currently available for purchase and installation.
Various types of outdoor deck lighting available for consideration include spot lights, table topping lamps, umbrella lights, wall fixtures, post and lamppost designs, and landscaping lights. Lighting options that serve other decorative or functional needs include tiki torches, which provide a festive atmosphere for parties, and heat lamps or patio heaters, which offer ambient light while offering warmth on cooler evenings. A very special design feature of a deck could include recessed deck lighting. These lights are built into the deck’s surface, lying flush with the ground. The effect is that of an illuminated floor. Recessed lighting is available in numerous styles, colors and sizes, and for high traffic areas, disks provide a smaller lighted surface that is sturdy enough to be walked on, without the risk of breaking or cracking.
Outdoor lighting can provide an additional drain on electricity outlets, while increasing an electric bill that might otherwise be lower during warm months, when daylight tends to extend into the evening, and homes do not need to be heated. To avoid potential high energy bills and still enjoy the atmosphere of a well-lighted outdoor space, consider energy-efficient lighting options such as solar deck lighting and/or low voltage deck lighting.
Solar powered lighting is quickly becoming a popular energy efficient solution for indoor as well as outdoor lighting. It involves the charging of batteries through light-collecting panels of varying sizes. This natural light collection provides enough energy to power multiple light bulbs for hours, while not draining other electric resources. To light porches and decks, it is an ideal option, the charging can occur in the daylight, and the lights need only be used once the sun has set.
The best low-voltage deck lighting that is not solar powered is the use of led (light emitting diode) light bulbs. A relatively new development that is becoming an increasingly popular means of lighting, led lights provide excellent lighting that is not compromised by their low voltage use.
During the summer months, deck lighting is a relatively simple way of extending the use of your deck, and improving the quality of your summer evenings.