Outdoor Patio Lighting Ideas to Transform Your Outdoor Space

Adding outdoor lighting to your patio or deck is the perfect way to produce ambiance throughout your space. Cool or warm, strung or bulbed, modern or vintage, the kinds of lighting you can use to transform your outdoor area never end. Keep reading for some of our top recommendations for outdoor patio lighting ideas.

DIY Ambiance Creators

Despite popular belief, designers are not required to create an inviting environment on your patio through outdoor lighting. Instead, you can tune into your DIY skills and light your deck all on your own (with our helpful tips, of course!)

String Lights for a Charming Dining Area

Cost-effective and cozy, string lights are the perfect place to start lighting your deck. They create a warm and inviting ambiance and are extremely easy to hang and manage. You can drape them across your railing or patio covering however you desire; messy or organized, they'll look beautiful no matter what. Because string lights are so peaceful and soft, they automatically add charm during outdoor dinners.

To hang string lights in your outdoor dining area, you'll want to ensure the area you hang them is near an outlet, or you may need an extension cord and hooks. It is important to focus on spacing the lights out evenly to create balanced lighting with visual appeal.

Battery-Powered Elegance

Battery-powered lights allow you to place your light just about anywhere–and move it around as needed. You also will eliminate the need to have cords hanging around, contributing even more to a nice aesthetic.

Bluetooth Controlled lighting

With Bluetooth-controlled lighting, you can customize and modify your lighting while sitting on the couch using your phone. Being able to alter your lighting style comes in handy during themed parties, time of year, or even just based on your mood.

Lantern Lighting

Lanterns are classic lighting options with tons of updated, modern options. They're easy to move, incredibly functional, and possess aesthetic appeal. The Neighbor Acorn Lantern puts a modern twist on a classic lighting option. This lantern can be placed just about anywhere, or you can convert it to an outdoor floor lamp using the lantern stand.

Creating Atmosphere with Outdoor Features

Outdoor lighting is more than just a practical necessity. The right outdoor lighting also has the potential to transform the look and feel of your patio. In the following section, we provide our best tips to add charm and style to your patio.

Fire Pit and Chiminea Illumination

Fire pits and chimineas create significant lighting and a relaxing and laid-back ambiance. A fire pit serves several functions, providing warmth, lighting, and a place for people to gather—plus, nothing beats sitting around a fire with a group of your closest friends.

Modern chimineas have a casual vibe and they enhance the ambiance of your patio. There are several different styles of chimineas including clay chimineas, terra cotta chimineas, and metal varieties. Choose the style that best fits your home to ensure a warm, easy-to-use outdoor lighting solution. Keep in mind, in order to keep the lighting distributed properly, you may want to have additional lighting features surrounding your fire pit or chiminea (such as a lantern).

Pergola and Covered Patio Elegance

Covered patios can benefit from having the right lighting, making them feel like an extension or an extra room of your home. Lighting a covered patio or pergola can be as simple as hanging string lights or as intricate as selecting outdoor lighting fixtures, such as sconces or pendant lights. It all depends on the space you are working with and your level of design expertise (or your desire to consult an expert).

Pathway Lights for Safety and Style

Pathway lighting can safely illuminate your outdoor walkways and steps. Not only are lights along pathways practical, but they also create a nice aesthetic. You can light up outdoor walkways using solar-powered ambient lights that can be easily stuck into the ground.

You can also use outdoor pathway lights to light up stairways and steps for extra safety and security. Pathway lights can be creatively placed depending on your home’s layout. You can integrate them into landscaping designs, and there are many different styles to choose from. Solar power pathway lights are a convenient and easy-to-install option.

Creative Lighting in Different Outdoor Spaces

Every outdoor space is a little different in its purpose and design, meaning you can choose unique lighting options based on the function and look of your space. In this section, we’ll discuss how lighting needs vary depending on the placement, including areas like the dining area, seating area, and fire pit.

Outdoor Dining Brilliance

Having an outdoor dining area that is also well-lit at night opens up plenty of opportunities for utilizing your outdoor space. Hanging pendant lights directly above the dining tables helps to create a focal point and illuminate the dining area so that people can see what they’re doing. String lights also work well to illuminate a dining area, and they easily create a magical and fun ambiance for mealtimes.

Versatile Outdoor Living Spaces

Outdoor seating areas are typically used for sitting back and relaxing. Having well-lit seating areas helps you utilize these spaces even after the sun goes down. There are two important features of outdoor seating areas: furniture and lighting. You want comfortable and durable outdoor furniture that you can sit back and relax in.

Once you’ve decided on the best outdoor furniture, it is important to figure out what type of lighting will best serve your space. Having an outdoor floor lamp or other lighting source located near the seating areas is a great way to illuminate these spaces.

Pathway Lights for Safety and Style

If you have a fire pit on your porch, it will act as its own lighting source. However, if you don’t have additional lighting surrounding the firepit it can make the lighting imbalanced. Not to mention, you don’t want to rely on the firepit as the sole light source since you may not always have it lit when you’re spending time outside. Integrate lantern or string lighting into your fire pit areas as an easy way to balance out the lighting.

Types of Outdoor Lighting Fixtures

Lighting fixtures are not just for the inside of your home. When considering what lighting fixtures are best for your outdoor space, you can consider simpler options like paper lanterns and string lights or more intricate ones like pendant lights and sconces. Selecting an outdoor lighting fixture relies largely on the amount of installation work you are willing to do. Outdoor lighting fixtures come in many varieties, allowing you to select ones that best fit your home’s design and personal style.

Landscaping Lighting

Landscaping lighting makes outdoor spaces look great at night. It helps highlight plants, trees, and pathways, making your garden or yard look more attractive and safer to walk around in. With different types of lights available, like solar-powered or LED, you can choose what works best for your space while saving energy. Adding lighting can turn your outdoor area into a cozy and inviting spot to hang out even after dark.

Ambient Lighting with Sconces

Wall-mounted sconces can be used near entryways and doors to create ambient lighting. Sconces help to create balanced lighting and they provide a practical amount of lighting without being overwhelming. Outdoor wall sconces pair well with other lighting options like fire pits and string lights.

Pendant Lights

Pendant lights are focal points for covered outdoor dining areas. Integrate pendant lights into your covered patio or pergola for a classy and practical touch. It is important to make sure that any pendant lights you select for your outdoor living space are designed to be used outside and to withstand exposure to varying weather conditions.

Ceiling Fans and Floor Lamps

Ceiling fans help keep outdoor spaces cool, and they can also provide lighting if you have one that also has a light on it. This is a great way to integrate lighting into an outdoor space that also needs to be kept cool, such as those that are exposed to sunlight and heat.

Floor lamps also work well in some outdoor spaces. Place floor lamps around seating areas to provide light for reading and socializing. Make sure to select a floor lamp that is specifically designed for outdoor usage so that it can safely withstand weather conditions. The Acorn Lantern combines with the Lantern Stand to create a DIY floor lamp that is versatile, modern, and aesthetically pleasing.

Wall Sconces and Paper Lanterns

Paper lanterns offer a whimsical feeling, and they’re fairly easy to hang up and use. Paper lanterns work well in covered areas such as pergolas, and they can even be hung from trees. You can combine a paper lantern with a lightbulb attached to a cord to illuminate it that way or if you want an easy wireless option, find a battery-powered light to place inside of the lantern.

Final Thoughts

Outdoor lighting can transform the look and feel of your home. With the right outdoor lighting fixtures, you can better utilize your patio, porch, or backyard. There are so many different types of outdoor lights that can fit the style and function of your space. From safety to aesthetics, lighting is vital for every outdoor area.

Lighting is only one essential element of an outdoor space that you never want to leave. Having the right outdoor furniture also helps you to best utilize your backyard or deck area. Shop our high-quality, beautiful outdoor furniture that will stand the test of time.