One of the most important areas that contribute to the maximum use of your deck while also adding to its ambient beauty is deck lighting. From entertaining guests at an evening affair to an intimate evening alone with a loved one relaxing in the hot tub, lighting must be versatile in
order to provide safety, serenity and stylized illumination to your outdoor oasis.
Deck builders that specialize in design will work with the homeowner to plan the deck based on its intended uses. This will help determine where and how lighting will be incorporated as well as a host of other characteristics and amenities. In order to begin visualizing the final design of the deck, it’s important for homeowners to have an understanding of the different lighting elements and what they can provide regarding specific and general lighting.
Types of Deck Lighting
For those planning to use their deck for entertaining, brightly lighting the deck without ruining the ambience can be accomplished with a number of different light fixture types that are attached to specific areas of the deck in quantities based on usage areas and traffic patterns. Deck lighting can fall into one of the following two categories either functional or decorative.
While functional lighting is to provide general illumination, it is still indirect lighting in many ways so as to maintain the ambience and keep direct light out of the eyes of anyone on the deck. This lighting can be in the form of:
- Wall sconces, or it can be concealed behind wall valances, roof eaves or rafters
- Perimeter lighting with lower power floods can be placed in adjacent trees or bushes to provide light to the deck indirectly
- Privacy screens can be illuminated from the top or bottom to provide general illumination as well.
Many types of lights like post cap lights, floor lights, and underside of railing lights, which are often LEDs, can provide both ambient decorative lighting while contributing to general illumination. Strings of miniature lights can be used to link deck items such as railings, pergolas, arbours, patio umbrellas in various areas and quantities depending on the desired effect. Larger Chinese lanterns or other decorative lanterns can be strung to provide transitional lighting for the deck as well as throughout the yard and an adjacent patio.
Source: https://anotheramazingdeck.com/blog/integrating-lighting-into-your-deck-design/
