Use Outdoor Patio Lights To Extend Your Living Space
By Chloe
Well chosen and situated patio lights can make all the difference to your enjoyment of your outdoor space. You can increase the function of your home by illuminating your patio area and using it as an elegant outdoor living room, for dining, entertaining or just relaxing in the evening.
Having a patio that you can use at night time expands your living space when the weather permits. Patio lighting will make this area safer to use at night as well as transforming it into a beautiful, functional and inviting space. Just think by spending a small amount on a few patio lanterns, you effectively add another large living space to your home. This is way cheaper than building an extension or even a conservatory and will increase the value of your house should you ever choose to sell it.
Decorative outdoor patio lighting can transform your property at night time and there are many different shapes and sizes of lights that can help you light your property to its best advantage. You can find lanterns and lamps, tiki torches, patio string lights, or deck, security and solar lighting to put to good use in your garden or patio. If you choose eye catching lights you can accent your patio for maximum appeal.
Each type of patio light will have a different use – perhaps you want paper lanterns, patio string lights or garden torches for an evening party, perhaps you want to create an ambience with patio lamps or lanterns for relaxing meals or drinks outdoors in the evening or perhaps you want security lighting to discourage unwanted visitors. Whatever your purpose when choosing your patio lights you want to ensure they generate a warm glow that neither overpowers nor disappoints.
Points to consider when choosing patio lights
To create a great atmosphere on your patio with the use of lights is not just as simple as choosing a lantern design that you like. You need to plan out where you need lighting and what sort of light would be most appropriate for each place. This will give you some idea of the quantity of patio lights you require but you also need to consider your favourite lanterns for how strong the light is that they give out as well as the color. Too weak a light and you won’t be able to see what you are doing. Too strong a light and the ambience you were trying to create will be ruined. Also make sure that your patio and surrounding areas are safe. Stairs, paths and dark corners should be well illuminated.
To guide you through the wide variety of patio lighting available here are some of the main options available.
Lanterns and lamps
Lanterns are a popular choice of outdoor lighting for patios and decks. They differ in terms of how they are mounted, what they are powered by, what they are made of as well as how they look. Designs include historical looking lamps, modern sleek styles and everything in between. Some can be hung from walls or overhead, some are placed on tables, some are stand alone floor lamps, whilst others are combined as planter lamps. They can be powered by oil, kerosene, electric, rechargeable batteries or candles. Electric versions are reliable and cheap to run, but the light source itself is not as attractive as a natural flame. Oil and kerosene are easy to get hold of but you have to remember to stock up before you plan to use it. Candles are a very cheap option and give out warmth in addition to light. They can be used to highlight water features such as bird baths or ponds by floating them if there is no wind or they can be placed in mason jars with a sand base for more windy conditions. Lanterns can be made from painted steel, chrome plated steel, aluminium and brass – the latter being the best for staying rust free. Make sure you choose lanterns that are designed for the outdoors, being made of high quality weather resistant and waterproof materials. Floor lamps should have a heavy weighted base for stability and electric lanterns should come with a grounded cord and plug long enough for your needs. Those that provide for two levels of light are the best options so you can change the lighting from being functional to ambient and back again.
Tiki Torches
There is something that much more tropical about a tiki torch when compared to other patio lights. They help to create a more relaxed atmosphere for you to while away an evening on your patio. They are simple to install around a deck or patio by just driving the stake into the ground. If the ground is not easily accessible, they can also be held in a bucket of sand or cement or attached to a railing. They are easy to fill with oil – you just unscrew the lid where the wick is held, pour in your oil and re-fix the lid. They have a long burn time of 6-16 hours depending on size and if you burn oils such as citronella you will have the added bonus of keeping away those pesky bugs from your patio. Paraffin oil is normally used if bugs are not your main concern and this burns smoke and odour free. The cheapest tiki torches are the bamboo styles that you can find everywhere from about $6 each but if you want to invest in a more stylish set, you can find those made from copper, stainless steel, aluminium or brass. They can be quite plain or very decorative complete with snuffer cap. You can find tabletop versions if you prefer and they even come as patio umbrella lights these days. Quality tiki torches can withstand light wind and rain, typically cost under $50 and are ideal for subtle lighting when entertaining.
Patio String Lights
Patio string lights are a series of decorative bulbs or LED lights spaced evenly on a string like cord. They give an attractive and clean, consistent look and can be linked to other strings to fit any size of patio. If you need to dress up your patio temporarily for a party or evening of entertainment, patio string lights are a must have. They can come with brightly colored bulbs or if you are less adventurous, different shaped but bright white bulbs. You can add height to your lighting efforts by using them to highlight garden structures such as trees or trellises. If you do not have an electrical supply to your patio, you can find battery operated LED string lights, which have long lasting bulbs that do not attract insects. Inexpensive and easy to find patio string lights will help make your patio look elegant and inviting or you can buy a more fun set to take away with you when camping.
Deck Lighting
If you have a wooden deck rather than a stone patio, you can install deck lights into the deck itself. These are normally used to illuminate the edge of the deck for safety reasons and can be walked on without damaging them.
Solar Patio Lights
Solar lights are very easy to install as they do not need an electric power source and all of the wiring that this entails. The older style of solar lights that were a bit dim, have now been replaced with bright LED bulbs. These are more efficient and can provide many hours of light. The light is not sufficient to read by, but provides ambient light or illumination ideal to highlight any steps or paths you may have on or around your patio. They come in many new shapes and colors so you are not stuck with the lollipop style – you can branch out with square lamps to fit atop fence posts, different colored lights in the shape of tulips or even red ladybug design lights.
With so many lights, lamps and torches on offer, you will have no trouble finding the right kind of lighting for your patio needs at the right price. You can then move onto smartening up this extra useable space you have created with garden clocks, outdoor rugs, furniture and other exciting things!
Patio Umbrella Lights 101
By Chloe
Strange as it may seem, patio umbrella lights are one of the most innovative, elegant markets in the US. A simple Internet search will provide any number of different models that are available. Significant amounts of time may be wasted without the quick background given below.
Outdoor patio umbrella lights come in three different types, according to their position relative to the umbrella.
Umbrella Chandeliers
Umbrella chandeliers are affixed to the pole, and spread an array of lights or candles along the inside-top of the umbrella. These can be surprisingly inexpensive for the degree of elegance they impose. If you want to impress your guests, this is the option to choose. Umbrella chandeliers can turn a patio festivity into an exquisite dinner party.
The most significant distinguishing factor between umbrella chandeliers is their power source. While battery-operated chandeliers are wireless, they may become a pain if frequently used. Some models prefer to use candles rather than artificial light, as they do not require as much maintenance, while providing a natural, romantic ambiance. $30 is not too much to spend.
Patio Umbrella String Lights
This category of patio umbrella lighting refers to the strings of lights that are affixed to either the ribs of the umbrella or hang from the tips. They are festive (more so for the hanging bulbs), classy (more so for the rib-attachments), and involve very little hassle. The preferred models use LED lights, which do not attract insects, and the bulbs do not need to be replaced very often. The downside is that most models require an outlet to plug into. Some models of patio umbrella light, however, use solar power to recharge battery power during the day, then a light detector turns them on as the sun sets. These are more expensive and typically require a small device to be attached to the top of the umbrella. Some patio umbrellas come with the light and solar panel already installed. (Prices range from $15 and up.)
Table Lights
If all of the above seems like a bit too much hassle without the payoff, then a mere, tried-and-true table light could be the right answer. Outdoor candles are a possibility, and there have been a number of breakthroughs, including the development of candles with chemicals that deter insects and pests from approaching the table. Alternately, there are LED candles, which are battery-powered, completely harmless, and which do not attract insects to begin with. These start at a lower price than the previous categories ($3).
An interesting alternative to the entire idea of umbrella patio lights is to use string lights, hung strategically around the back yard to provide enough ambient light to eat by. While it requires more planning and a bit of flair, these displays can be extremely impressive, and cheaper than one would initially think. Globe Party lights, called G40s and G50s, run for around $1 per bulb, and may be affixed in any number of ways to trees, pedestals, tables, and umbrellas. The great part about using globe lights is that they can branch out from the table/s approaching the power source overhead rather than underfoot.
Patio String Lights: A Comprehensive List Of The Different Types
By Chloe
When first deciding to buy lights for any occasion, Christmas, a wedding, or halloween, it can be difficult to find the lights you are looking for, just because there are so many different varieties of outdoor patio string lights. Browsing on the web can be difficult if you do not know what patio lights you are looking for, so please find below a list that describes all of the major tools in the patio/party decorators luminescent entourage.
Miniature Light Strings: Christmas, Icicle, and Net
Miniature lights are typically the size and shape of a candle flame and can be found on Christmas displays everywhere. Coming in multiple colors or plain white typically, these patio string lighting displays are historically the ‘bread and butter’ of Holiday decorations ($1 for 10 lights). The icicle and net varieties may be found, as well, though are not as common. Icicle lights, as the name implies, resemble icicles (a number of small strands are connected to the main line, hanging down under an awning or wainscot, like icicles; ($1 for 2-3). Net lights similarly are what they sound like – a number of lights splayed out in a net ($1 for 10).
Stock Holiday Lights: C7 and C9 LED Lights
These are the acorn-sized patio light strings that are most often seen around the holiday season. People drag spools from their closets and go about the task of testing each strand to see which bulbs need to be replaced. The bulbs retail for around $1 each, more for C9 bulbs, and the spools are sold for about $1 for each 3 sockets. The frequency of sockets is variable as are the coloration of the bulbs.
Globe Party Lights: G40 and G50 Lights
This category of patio string light is the next step up in size, with bulbs a little larger than walnuts. Clear bulbs or those of any color are available on a variety of differently colored cords. Sets retail for approximately $1 for each light and typically come in strings of 15 or 25. As shapes vary considerably, they may be used for various occasions, including weddings, parties, halloween, and so on.
Rope Lights
Also found quite often around the holiday season, rope lights are used to wrap around trees or to form outlines of figures, such as Santa’s sleigh and reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, etc. Most come with removable sections and will list the length of each of these sections – i.e. “Cuttable every 5 ft.” Prices vary, depending on voltage, dependability, cuttability (<$1 per foot), and whether it is chasing or not. Chasing rope lights are much more expensive ($2-$5, depending on programmability), and are designed to give the impression of movement along the rope.
Floralytes
The odd-light-out in this collection of string lights are floralytes – they are not strung, but rather involve independently battery-run lights which may are used most often for weddings in floral arrangements (as the name suggests). They are fairly expensive ($3 per light) and are often disposable, which is why they are most often used for once-in-a-lifetime events. Some of the higher-end models are even submersible, for use in pools, ponds or vases.
Refer to this resource whenever brainstorming for any patio string lights display, be it for personal use or a party/event.