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, aluminum 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!