Outdoor deck lighting is something that is not only more popular with the increase of homeowners adding decks to their homes, but it is also a necessity to illuminate landscape areas near the deck and on the deck itself. This is a measure taken to increase safety as well as adding beauty to your home after dark.
The key to making your outdoor deck lighting system work is to first determine exactly what your needs are. Go over your deck at dusk to see what areas would benefit most from illumination. You also want your lights to blend in with the deck, and the types that look built in are perfect here.
One of the most popular products is the post cap light. These both illuminate the area around the post as well as marking the boundaries of your deck when seen from further away. There are numerous decorative options here as well as power sources. I recommend outdoor solar lights as they have greatly improved recently, and the selection is just as good as with traditional power sources and low voltage options.
Others that are very functional and aesthetically pleasing are the built-in deck “rounds” and those that are cut into the risers of your steps. The locations of these need to be well thought out, so their light thrown is useful and the lights themselves are not in the way. While these types of outdoor deck lighting do require a little more work to install, especially into an existing deck, their built-in look definitely improves the overall quality of your deck. Of course there are available solar lighting options in this category that can make things a little easier.
Finally there are some other options for outdoor deck lighting that can be put nearly anywhere and are not attached more or less permanently as the previous types discussed. Light strings and small spotlights are popular choices here that are very versatile and allow the homeowner to place them where they do the most good as well as looking the best. And, of course, there are solar lights available here that increase the options you have when selecting the perfect lights for your deck.
Hopefully this article has given you some good ideas for choosing your outdoor deck lighting, and I do encourage you to take a moment to explore the various solar lighting options that are available to you.
Jeffrey M. Neal is experienced in landscaping projects and lighting selections, and is encouraged by the current push for green products and energy-saving solar deck lights [http://www.solarlandscapelight.net/solar-deck-lights/solar-deck-lights/] available for the modern homeowner. You should certainly check out his site for more information today.
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