Extend Your Wheaton, IL, Patio Time With These 6 Outdoor Lighting Ideas
Your patio is an extension of your home and bringing a feeling of outdoor living isn’t possible without proper nighttime lighting. Using certain lighting techniques, you’ll be able to evoke different moods for you and your loved ones to have the best experiences in your backyard. You can include strategies such as spotlighting, moonlighting, backsplashing, submersible lighting, and string lighting to create these moods. The best idea for lighting your patio, however, is by using a combination of these tricks. Here’s how to extend your Wheaton, IL patio time with these six outdoor lighting ideas.
Spotlighting
Surely one of the more dramatic lighting strategies, spotlighting creates sharp and striking visuals by placing a light directly at one of your patio features. If you have a statue or a gorgeous gnarled old tree, this is a great tactic to create visual texture at night. Since the direct light of spotlighting can be very intense, it’s best to ensure that the feature isn’t in the center of the patio so those walking on the receiving end might receive some harsh flashes at night.
Moonlighting
This wonderful lighting tacting is perfect for creating soft shadows on the ground as if it were filtered moonlight. By placing a single bluish light within a tall tree and pointing it towards the ground, you can mimic the tranquil blue light of the moon. The light will shimmer down through the branches and leaves to create dancing shadows in the slightest breeze. This also makes the tree seem larger than life, creating a truly dramatic atmosphere for your patio and outdoor living area.
Backsplashing
This lighting technique is perfect for creating an ambient light. Pointing a bright light source at a blank wall or solid, flat object and allowing the light to bounce off will wash the patio and surrounding area with soft light. Depending on the color of the wall and the light source, this will let the area glow in warm or cool light. It is possible to combine this technique with spotlighting to achieve a similar effect of showing off a striking feature that’s attached to the wall.
Submersible Lighting
Every water feature should utilize lighting to come alive at night. This type of lighting is especially useful in pools where any illumination improves safety. The underwater lights create a soft, ethereal blue glow that washes over any nearby patio surfaces. Any ripples on the surface create dancing shadows that provide a dramatic visual texture to enhance a calming environment or bolster a fun gathering.
String Lighting
This technique is relatively simple to install but makes a huge difference in the ambiance of your patio. Typically they’re for a more fun atmosphere, as everyone cheers the moment they come on at night. String lights are unobtrusive and can be easily concealed when they’re not in use as they typically consist of LED lights. Install them along the border of the patio and possibly crossing through the center at a height of about 12 feet and you’ll quickly create a festive environment.
Combining Techniques
Again, your best option for enhancing your patio experience is combining several of these techniques. This will give you a varied atmosphere with a lot of visual depth. You’ll avoid the harsh contrasts that come from the shadows of a single bright light source and the safety concerns that come with these contrasts. You’ll have a carefully calibrated lighting strategy that ensures your patio will be the center of all the fun.
