4 Tips for Lighting your Outdoor Kitchen and Dining Area in Lisle, IL
Incorporating a good lighting plan for your outdoor kitchen and dining area is crucial if you have plans to entertain in the evenings. This lighting plan will depend greatly on the intended mood and goal of the area. Here are six tips to help you decide on a lighting scheme for your outdoor kitchen or dining area in Lisle, IL:
Hidden and visible features
When planning to light up your outdoor kitchen area, it is important to think about the types of fixtures you would like to use. The first thing to consider is whether you would like the fixtures to be visible or not. When choosing a hidden fixture, a low profile fixture is normally used. Hidden light fixtures can be installed beneath the capstones of pillars, along the coping of seat walls, under the edge of countertops, etc. As for visible fixtures, these should be durable and waterproof. If the fixture is visible there is a good chance it is going to be exposed to the elements. These fixtures are decorative by nature and will form focal points of the area, so a Montano’s Landscaping contractor will be able to help you select fittings that match the style of your outdoor kitchen or dining area.
Check Your Lighting Arrangement From Inside Your Home
A great way to make sure that your outdoor lighting plan is effective is to observe it from a different perspective. Take a look at the lighting arrangement of your outdoor kitchen area from inside your home or from different areas of your landscape. This is important because hidden fixtures might not be so hidden from a different angle. And the last thing you want is glare from the outdoors coming into your home, especially when using flood lights. A zoomed-out perspective might reveal that a flood light is too overpowering and needs to be adjusted. A Montano’s Landscaping contractor will be able to help you iron out the kinks in your existing outdoor lighting system this way.
LEDs: A Versatile Option
LEDs have multiple benefits when it comes to outdoor lighting. LEDs last longer than your typical incandescent or halogen lightbulbs. They are also available in dozens of colors and plenty of sizes to make sure that you can achieve the mood you desire for your outdoor kitchen area. LEDs can be used to border a walkway or be placed to light up countertops.
Soft Lights for Entertaining
Entertaining at night calls for ambient lighting that isn’t too overpowering. This is why it is important to have gentle lighting in the areas of your outdoor kitchen where your guests will be gathering. If you have a bar or seating area, it is beneficial to use indirect lighting with hidden LED strips or other ambient lighting techniques. Lanterns are also a great option for ambient lighting. Place them above your dining area or on posts around the border of your dining area. Directed lighting fixtures, such as flood lights, can also be used to create ambient lighting by having them directed so as not to cause glare - under a tree facing upward, for example, or directed at shrubs to create interesting shadows on a back wall.
