Outdoor Upgrade: Backyard Lighting Ideas & Updates
Outdoor lighting makes your home's exterior safer and more beautiful. Here are some helpful tips to fix up your outdoor patio.
Outdoor patios are often overlooked and forgotten when the sun goes down, but patios are spaces that can definitely be enjoyed not only during the daylight hours, but on warm summer nights too. Take a little time to update and upgrade your patio lighting to create a cozy atmosphere that is reminiscent of fireflies on a summer night and you’ll never want to leave! And don’t worry, it's not complicated or expensive
Here are four easy ideas to update and upgrade your patio lighting:
Upgrade or Update Existing Hard Wired Porch Lights
Just replacing an old, outdated porch light makes a world of difference and is an easy DIY task that most homeowners can tackle themselves. If your light is still in good condition and you don’t want to replace it, then you can opt to freshen it with a coat of spray paint instead.
String lights are so popular right now and come in all different styles, colors, and lengths. There are solar powered and regular plug-in options. Different bulb options lend variety as well, from tiny fairy lights to larger edison-style bulbs. Combine several different options for a glowing effect.
This sample homeowner’s patio incorporates edison-style string lights above the hot tub and tiny fairy lights wrapped around a tree. Both are solar-powered options.
There are so many solar lamps to choose from these days including globes, decorative shapes, fountain lights, hanging lights, as well as functional options such as those to light a pathway or define the perimeter of a space by attaching them to fences and walls.
Don’t forget candles and lanterns, they are not only decorative and feel very warm and cozy, but citronella options also ward off mosquitoes!
Outdoor spaces often combine different surfaces and textures such as tile, wood, and concrete and when you combine several different lighting layers, it creates beautiful shadows and highlights these landscaping features. Whimsical options serve as artwork for your outdoor spaces, and others lend function to define and light necessary areas. Spending a little time on the lighting for your outdoor patio will give it the final touch it needs!
Tania Pelletier has been the do-it-yourself blogger behind littlevintagecottage.com for over 10 years. She has a passion for sharing the journey she is on to fix up her small ranch house and also shares fun crafts and upcycling projects. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook to see more of her ideas.
