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Outdoor Lighting Trends
Who doesn’t love spending a hot summer day in the outdoors? It’s the best place to be this time of year! And we don’t want to come inside when the sun goes down! So, how do we keep the party going until late in the evening? With some outdoor lighting!
There are many different ways to light up the outdoor areas of your home. From adorable string lights to recessed pot lights in your soffit and fascia. Whatever lighting trends you decide on will leave your yard looking fresh and inviting, even after dark! Check out these awesome outdoor lighting trends to see what suits your style best!
With lights come pests, so be sure to have something to keep the mosquitoes away. These pesky little nuisances have the ability to ruin any party, and if there is one thing they love, it’s outdoor lighting. Set up citronella candles or a screened-in gazebo to keep these insects at bay.
String Lights
No outdoor space is complete without the added ambiance of string lights! These beautiful tiny lights can add a magical aspect to any yard, big or small. When hanging string lights, it is a good idea to consider where they will go in your yard. Normally, string lights look nice when strung above seating areas to add a little bit of extra light. They can be strung from the side of your house over to umbrellas or trees, or you can even make your own DIY poles just for the lights. Be sure to measure out the distance where you want to put your string lights up so you know how long of a string you will need. You can purchase these lights from hardware stores or even the dollar store!
Wall Sconces
Wall sconces add a sense of luxury to any home. Normally, these outdoor lights are added to the front of your house to brighten it up and add a bit of inviting warmth to your home. Wall sconces come in many different shapes, sizes and styles, so there is something for everybody! The modern sconces are normally more of a rectangular shape if you want to be on-trend. The older, lantern styles are starting to look a little dated, but they can still work in some situations. Wall sconces look great when placed beside entry doors, above garage doors, along fences or walls, on columns, or wherever else you would like them! Though they are typically found on the front of your home, rear light sconces are also a great way to add some extra light to your backyard.
Path Lights
Path lighting is a great idea to ensure that you and your guests can see where they are going. If you don’t have a lot of outdoor lighting, these tiny lights can do wonders for visibility. Many path lights are solar-powered, so you don’t need to hook them into power. If you are looking for path lighting with a bit of bit more brightness, you may need to purchase some that are wired into your hydro. Path lighting can be in the shape of tiny lantern-style lights such as the ones in this photo, but they also come in many different styles as well. A modern, trendy way to light up your path is with recessed lighting built right into the perimeter of the pathway. This looks very luxurious and adds a ton of light to your walkways. Check out these awesome ideas for lighting up your pathways.
Recessed Lighting
Another way to add a sense of luxury to your home exterior is to add recessed lighting. Recessed lighting is installed right into your ceiling or walls giving your home a neat and tidy look. When installing outdoor recessed lighting, you will want to consider the placement. Normally, recessed lights are added to your soffit. These lights look great when highlighting specific aspects of your home’s architecture such as corners or peaks. Above windows and doors also adds a warm, inviting appearance. As well as adding recessed lighting to your soffit, it can also be added underneath your porch, in the ground, in your decking or mounted on your exterior walls like a wall sconce.
Rope Lights
Rope lighting is perfect for highlighting any lines or contours in your yard. Placing rope lighting along pathways, decks, stairs, pools or gardens really makes a statement in your backyard. If you want to try a more modern feel, try adding rope lighting underneath objects such as your deck railing or steps. This is not only visually appealing but also practical for helping to see in the dark! Rope lighting is flexible which makes it easy to install around corners or curves. Highlighting curves can bring out unique aspects of your yard and adds such a magical outdoor glow.
Candles & Torches
If you want to add a little bit of romance to your outdoor space, all you have to do is add a touch of fire! Torches are a really neat way to add outdoor lighting to your backyard. They can also be practical if you purchase the citronella ones to keep the mosquitoes away! Line up your torches along pathways or around swimming pools or seating areas. Candles can also instantly turn a boring space into a beautiful one with the gentle flicker of a flame. You can set up candles on outdoor tables, on your patio or deck floor, on benches, or even hang them from trees. Of course, you always want to be super safe when dealing with fire, so don’t put them anywhere that they could easily be knocked over. Flameless candles are always a safer option if you prefer.
Deck Lights
Deck lighting takes the lighting trends above and brings them all to life! You can light up your deck with recessed lighting into the wood or stairs, or it can be underneath railings with rope lights, or it can be string lights above your deck, or even small lights on the top of posts. There are many ways to illuminate your deck and every one of these lighting sources can add a delightful aspect to your deck. It can also help you to see when going down your deck stairs which can be dangerous in the dark. The most modern and trendy deck lights would most likely be recessed lighting. Adding this kind of lighting flush to your deck creates a contemporary look and a swanky focal point for any backyard!
Landscape Lighting
The last outdoor lighting trend on our list is landscape lighting. Strategically placing outdoor lighting around the natural aspects of your yard such as trees, bushes and gardens can really boost your curb appeal! Much of the time spotlights are used to light up your foliage by placing them on the ground and pointing upwards towards the top of your trees and bushes. You can also add garden lights or rope lighting around your gardens to add a light source to your landscaping. When choosing which plants and trees to light up, you will want to go with full, mature plants that will look great when illuminated. Try not to highlight sparse small trees without much vegetation. For a comprehensive guide to landscape lighting, check out this link!
In conclusion, we hope you loved these outdoor lighting trends! There are tons of easy ways to illuminate the exterior of your home and these lights will surely boost your curb appeal! As well as make it easier to see when you are outside in the dark.
If adding exterior lighting seems like to much work for you, perhaps you would like to purchase a new home that already has outdoor lighting installed! Feel free to contact us. We would love to help you find a perfectly illuminated home for you!
Want more outdoor inspiration and tips and tricks? Check out how to create the ultimate backyard hangout, outdoor inspiration tips and outdoor trends of 2020.
