Light up your outdoor living space

Spring is finally here and the warm weather provides the perfect excuse to entertain outdoors. Why not take full advantage of this by upgrading your outdoor lighting?

Whether you have a small balcony or a sprawling backyard with a dining area, the right kind of light can enhance your space.

The tips below will help you create the right outdoor ambience and enjoy many evenings on your patio with family and friends.

“The key to creating a perfectly lit patio is to combine three different types of lighting,” says Chantal Finn consumer marketing manager for Philips Lighting South Africa.

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1. General Lighting

Use general lighting to illuminate your patio from above. If you have a covered patio then ceiling-mounted lights can highlight this architectural feature.

If not, then exterior wall-mounted lights with motion-sensors will give you the added convenience of instant light, whenever you step outside.

2. Task lighting

Choose the right task lighting to support everything you like to do on your patio. A hanging lamp above your garden table will give you the perfect functional light for eating outside, playing games or even reading. “Don’t be left in the dark when there is no electricity, solar lanterns are a great, safe and easier way to brighten up your patio during load shedding,” says Finn.

3. Mood lighting

Finally, create a more intimate atmosphere on your terrace with LED CandleLights. These portable, outdoor-safe lights perfectly mimic the flickering glow of real candlelight, but won’t blow out and have no open flames. Place them anywhere to set the perfect mood.

Other areas that may need lighting in your outdoor space include the garden, swimming pool and staircase.

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• If you are lucky to have staircases leading up to your patio, show them off. LED strip lights are a great way of creating some night scaping features. The advantage of these lights is that they fit anywhere and are easy to mount.
• Bring your garden back to life by illuminating trees and plants. Consider highlighting other interesting aspects of your garden like water or ornamental features. Enhancing these with light will create new focal points and give you a fresh perspective on your garden at night.
• Pool lighting increases the safety of those who swim in your pool at night, but it can also add colour to your outdoor space once the sun has gone down. Consider LED globes, aside from being environmentally friendly, LED lights last longer. Since the pool area and its surrounds are wet areas, it is best to get a professional electrician to install them, as electricity and water can be a harmful combination.

Remember, when it comes to the outdoor area, always choose lights that are suitable for outdoor use.