Creative Outdoor Lighting Solutions for an Active Patio in Hinsdale, IL

When you plan out your landscape renovation, there are many things that can make a landscape comfortable and memorable. There’s one type of feature, however, that can make a landscape unlivable if it’s missing or poorly designed: landscape lighting. The lack of adequate outdoor lighting can turn a landscape into a potentially dangerous place that sours the moods of your guests before they even get outside. To make your landscape reach its full nighttime potential, here are some creative outdoor lighting solutions for an active patio in Hinsdale, IL.

Hardwiring the Perimeter

An unsafe outdoor living space is going to be one that everyone wants to avoid. Safety starts with the walking surfaces, which means thoughtfully illuminating the entire patio as well as all walkways. The harsh contrasts created by the shadows of flood lights, for example, can make obstacles invisible. For safety reasons, focusing light energy on the ground is the right way to start with your outdoor lighting design.

Choose a series of light fixtures that are close to the ground and focus light onto the walking surface. The proximity to the ground will greatly reduce the chance of shadows that obscure hidden obstacles.

For the most consistent safety, walkway lighting should be hardwired around the perimeter of the patio and walkways, as well as the driveway for parking safety. Hardwired light fixtures are much better than off-the-grid solar-powered lanterns that will lose brightness whenever the solar arrays are covered in snow or after a series of cloudy days.

Creating Focal Points

A patio doesn’t need to have full power of lighting on every square inch after night falls. However, no patio hosts just one activity, and therefore a variety of lighting techniques will ensure the most livable and aesthetically pleasing space.

Determine what the focal points are in your outdoor living space. This may be an outdoor dining table, a fire pit, a waterfall, or a piece of outdoor art to be admired.

Artistic illumination of one or several prominent features will also add some ambient light to the patio without resorting to one lighting strategy (such as perimeter pathway lights).

Enhancing Ambience

After the safety priorities in lighting design have been addressed, it’s important to put some thought into the lesser-used spaces that surround the patio. Eliminating the harsh definition between illuminated and dark areas in your outdoor living space will not only make a space feel much more safe and secure, but will add to the depth perception that enables enjoyment of the space.

Seek out the darkest corners that surround your outdoor living space and place a small light or two in that area to add dimension and lessen the contrast that makes people feel they’re living in a snow globe surrounded by darkness.

Overhead Delight

While overhead lighting isn’t very effective at enhancing walking safety, there are some types of lights that can make a space feel truly magical. A few rows of string lights over the patio can add an incredible amount of light that’s easy on the eyes.

Moonlighting is another fun technique to add light from above. This technique requires a mature deciduous tree. Place a whitish-bluish light high in the canopy, so the light can filter down through the foliage to create wonderful dancing shadows on the ground below.