Tag Archive - patio lights

How To Get The Most From Your Patio Lights Selections Be It Drama Or Practicality

August 9, 2010 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

When you are looking into what sort of patio lights to install in your backyard you need to consider the following criteria.

First you need to assess exactly what you will be doing on your patio when the lights are on.  For instance will you be sitting around a table and eating?  Will you be relaxing with a drink perhaps and enjoying the evening and the lighting effects created by your patio lights?  Or will you be working, say in the area around the barbeque.

The answer to these questions results in different types of patio light being used.  In the case for instance of lighting the barbeque area you should be thinking of task lighting; lighting bright enough to illuminate the task at which you are working but no so bright as to spill into neighboring areas and spoil the light there.

If you believe your main use will be to sit and enjoy the garden, lighting effects and all then you should concentrate on installing accent lighting.  This sort of lighting is used to throw light onto certain objects in a dramatic and pleasing way.  For instance you may have a water feature on your patio and it may be a good idea to light that, say from below thus creating lots of light and contrasting shadows.  Or you may have an interesting wall which can be thrown into stark relief with the right sort of wall patio lighting.  You really can have a lot of fun with accent lights and they can make your overall patio lights really effective.

So in summary, when trying to decide what the best options are for you patio lights it is important to consider the use you intend to put the patio to at night.  If you overlook this simple step you may well be disappointed and not get the enjoyment you deserve from your outdoor space at night.

What Should I Power My Patio Lighting With?

July 23, 2010 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

The first major decision that you will make when you’re trying to decide what type of patio lighting fixtures you want to buy is what you want to power those light fixtures with.  You have three major options, standard voltage lighting, low voltage lighting, and solar powered lighting.  Each has their pros and cons and depending on how much time and effort you’re willing to put into your patio, you might be better off with one or the other, but in general you will do the best if you choose to install a combination of two of them or all three.

Standard voltage lighting is lighting that runs off of your typical household current.  These lights are a little bit harder to install and depending on where you install them you might need to help of an electrician to do it correctly.  The main benefit to these lights is that they are the brightest of the three and will be the best for security lighting and lighting areas that are highly trafficked or used.  Unfortunately, they can also ruin any mood lighting that you have so you want them attached to a motion sensor or a switch that’s easy to reach.

Low voltage lighting, on the other hand, usually doesn’t have the power to light up large areas, but is more flexible because the wires are shock proof.  This means you can install them nearly anywhere without the help of an electrician.  Not only that, the fact these lights are softer makes them a great option for ambient lights.

Your final option is to go with solar powered patio lights.  These lights operate at about the same light level as low voltage lights, but they are slightly more unreliable because they need  a full day in the sun to completely charge.  Despite this, they are still very popular with many homeowners because they are so easy to install, maintain, and manipulate.

The patio lighting you choose will depend on how much money you want to spend and what you can install, but if you really want to install the best patio lighting possible for nearly every situation, installing a combination of these lights is your best bet.