These are incidentally the same things you need to consider with all outdoor lighting questions and matters.  We will take a few moments to break all these components down.  First, consider the fact that depending on the site you are searching or the store you contact, they may be using terms that are synonymous or quite different.  What this means is that while one site may be discussing outdoor patio lighting, another store or online site will be talking about deck lights.  Geographically, these may be different items, however, they may also be talking about what you are interested in, so you’ll need to clarify this first.

Location
The reason why location can make a difference for your patio light choice is that it will help determine the style that will work best.  If you are looking for light to navigate your patio and backyard space with, then outdoor flood lights are what you will need.  True, these are not the most elegant looking types of lighting, but they will do what you need – illuminate a path or entire area.

If, on the other hand, you are looking for a more intimate type of area, then patio lighting that is more like an indoor can will perform better for you in this scenario.  In fact, depending upon how your patio cover is built, you may be able to hide your lighting fixtures between beams or posts, making it appear more visually clean.  If you would like to create an intimate environment, but also be able to notice your elegant fixtures, then rustic lighting may be what you need to consider.  Within this category are styles of lights that could include metal with a patina or antler style chandeliers.  Outdoor chandeliers, incidentally, can make a big statement in any outdoor room or deck space.

Type of Light
Here, we are talking mostly about whether you go with a more standard wired light or a solar style of light.  It is more common to be able to find solar garden lights, but flood lighting and other deck lights are available with solar features now.  Because your patio is exposed to so much sunlight potentially, being outdoors, it is in a prime location to get enough energy from the sun to power your lights.  Similarly, the openness of your garden landscape allows for those solar lights to get enough sun to provide light through most of the evening and night hours.  If you are looking for more pronounced or bright lighting, then you will likely need to consider a wired and possibly low-voltage system.

Light Usage
This category of patio lighting relates with the type of light issues and location themes as well.  It has to do more with how you use your patio or deck space.  People that have more entertaining and parties will have different needs than someone who occasionally spends some time outdoors in the early morning or evening reading a book or drinking some tea.

Your patio activities will also dictate the type of lighting you need.  If you have designed an outdoor kitchen, then you will require some task lights or other lights that are bright enough to allow you to prepare your food.  Similarly, those intimate spaces you wish to create will require spot lighting.  In fact, these types of places can be created almost exclusively with the right use of specific patio lights.

Photo credit

This is certainly the case.  Outdoor lighting options have created a wide variety of possible solutions for your design ideas outdoors.  There are the typical wired variety, some involving spot lighting or more traditional flood lighting combinations.  You can also find solar options that require no need for wiring, though may be available as a back up power source.  There are just times when solar energy will not be available because of cloudy weather or when you might need to store the power generated for a later time.  This is the perfect situation for a solar lighting with wires option.  Then, there are the more exotic or eccentric looking styles we are discussing in this article.

These chandeliers can also come in a variety of styles.  More common chandelier styles with the crystals and pendants are often reserved for indoor uses.  In fact, these styles of chandelier are also available outdoors.  However, more common are rustic lighting options, like the rusty metal or antler looking styles.  These appear more often because of their rugged looking appearance and ability to blend in with your outdoor space more easily.  More contemporary deck and patio spaces often incorporate warm ambient deck lights and other patio lighting that can make your space more inviting.

An outdoor chandelier is much more of a focal point for the eye and the ambiance it brings than for any amount of light it throws.  In other words, you don’t get a chandelier for your patio because you need to be able to see more clearly.  You get a chandelier to hang from your patio cover to provide a more elegant environment to relax and rejuvenate in.  It takes a certain type of patio enthusiast to make the extra investment to go with a chandelier.  You can get light from a ceiling fan or simple pendant style fixture.  If you want to up the classy and exotic factor, you need an outdoor chandelier to do that.

When it comes to outdoor lighting, you have many options.  For some, the choice is clearly dictated by function.  Some lights will provide the means to navigate your backyard or outdoor space, like flood lighting.  Then, there are more intimate types of lighting like patio lights and outdoor lamps.  While an outdoor lamp could be considered for general lighting as well, it is the design and placement that puts it into one category or another.

It all depends upon what type of outdoor deck lights you are looking for.  There are a variety that range from rope or string lights to more spot lighting that is placed on the end caps of your deck’s railing posts.  These can cast a glow all their own.  When combined with a nice set of string or rope lights, the look creates a nice ambiance.  The warm glow of the rope lighting is welcoming and inviting.

A nice comination of wall mount deck lights and a patio string set of lights.

Deck lighting has advantages over a more traditional flood light scene because of its ability to be more flexible.  You can light only specific areas and create distinct spaces or outdoor rooms using this type of lighting.  A flood light is much more robust and doesn’t afford you any charm or ambiance.  If what you are after is a more subdued type of light for entertaining and lounging in the evenings, then deck lights are your answer.

Let’s talk about what you may be trying to accomplish with your lighting needs for a moment.  For some, the evening is a great time to enjoy a patio.  It is after work and you just want a place to go to unwind.  Maybe you enjoy entertaining and your deck or patio is a great place for that as well.  With the boom in outdoor room design, you can create most any type of space you’d like.  If you have a more country or mountain type of theme, rustic lighting options exist to help you create that feeling.  If you have a more contemporary type of patio room, finding solar deck lighting will be on your list of priorities.

Since your patio space is for your own enjoyment, you should feel comfortable with whatever type of lighting you find.  There isn’t so much a wrong way or a right way to light your patio, just find a way to make the space you enjoy using even more comfortable and functional for you and your guests.  In the end, deck lights have no extrinsic value so much as the intrinsic value that they will provide you and your leisure.

Photo credit

The term describes what these are.  These are simply a string of anywhere between 8-10’ of lights.  They are usually are smaller bulb and wattage than a standard light bulb.  The string allows you to decorate an area or hang them to create a type of edging.  If you want to spice up an area or make it more festive looking, string lights are the way to go.  You can find string lights in a whole variety of themes.  Having a 4th of July party and want some red, white and blue lights?  No problem.  Feeling a little Asian inspired?  Go for the delicate flower shaped or paper balls.  There are also hand-blown glass and LED illuminated solar string lights.

A colorful style of patio string lights along a railing.

In most cases, these string of lights are made to go outdoors, so you don’t need to worry about problems with the UL listing or complications with water.  What you might have an issue with is rain with the lights that have the wire frame paper wrapped decorations.  While they do have some protection on them for a light rain, leaving them outdoors for prolonged periods will cause them to simply fall apart.  The good thing is that they are relatively inexpensive.  The prices of these various quality light strings vary from the low end at  $15 USD to a more specialty style of $80 or more USD.

photo credit

A pretty unique style are the umbrella lights.  Your patio umbrella might not have its own lighting disc, like some do, so getting some of these string lights to hang from the umbrella frame can be a great look.  It can make your umbrella look a lot more ‘dressed up’ and even add that hotel style feel to your patio space.

Even if you are just thinking about adding some basic lighting to make your patio have more ambiance, these string lights can fit the bill perfectly for you.  With a few strands hanging along the edges of a pergola or cross-wise over a courtyard area, you can achieve a really nice look.  If you combine these lights with your landscape elements, you can take it a step further.  When you get into this though, you are starting to talk about other outdoor lighting options as well.  Remember, for simple but sweet patio lighting, go with a set or two of patio string lights.

With the trend in outdoor room designs and plans, there will be an even greater availability of lighting options.  Currently, you can still find a wide range of patio lighting options that include rustic lighting and specific pieces to highlight a particular space.  Just like in an indoor room, you may have a centerpiece or spot lighting to bring more attention to certain areas.

This is an example of how outdoor flood lights can be mounted.

Similarly, you can have an outdoor chandelier that can provide a great focal point of lighting while adding ambiance to your space.  Then, with some hidden spot lights tucked up into your patio cover’s rafters, you can give lighting to specific points of interest in your outdoor room.  Because these rooms often have no formal walls, lighting can even create different seating areas beneath your covered patio space.  Imagine how this works.  Out of the darkness of the outside sky comes this beam of light to highlight the perfect patio chair or chaise lounge to rest on and enjoy your favorite drink or engage in a great conversation with company.

Outdoor Flood Lights: Styles and Features

Now, if we are talking about an outdoor flood light, these are less for show and more for function.  While you can get a stylish looking flood light, most are simple by design and function.  Usually, they are mounted to a wall or other structure on or near your home and illuminate a path or other large area at once.  If you do have an area that requires a fair amount of light, installing a motion sensor to your lighting will be a good idea.  This will not only be more convenient both in terms of function, but it will also save you electricity.

A motion sensor is more convenient because you don’t have to switch on the light from a location that may or may not be near where you are.  Then, after you don’t need the light, you’ll have to remember to shut it off.  Not rocket science here, but having it done automatically is just simpler.  In addition to this, a motion sensor flood light will go on if you have any intruders or animals in your space, thereby providing you a degree of safety as well.

Just like with other types of lighting in the home and auto industry, light emitting diodes (LED) lights are making strides here as well.  The key benefits of using LED lights are in efficiency.  These bulbs last many thousands of hours longer than traditional bulbs and the light they cast can seem brighter as well.  They also are cooler, not that this is an issue in your outdoor space necessarily.  You will not have to climb ladders to replace these bulbs for a long time – if ever!  They cost a bit more than traditional lighting, but for the convenience and long-lasting benefits, LED outdoor flood lights make are a great investment.

Photo credit

Here you can see a combination of deck lights and string lights.

Now, we do realize that we are talking about a deck here, so using words like ‘performance’ might sound a bit over the top, but it is true.  Think about how your deck is working now.  If you don’t have caps on your posts, then the performance of your wood is suffering.  Sure, that cedar or redwood can last for many seasons.  In fact, it will weather quite beautifully, even with the proper staining and sealing.

Think about how much better it will look and last with a deck light on the end of each post.  Combine this look with the right patio lights and your deck just became the envy of the neighborhood.  Outdoor lighting is so varied and such a valuable addition to any patio or deck.  Some types of lights provide just lighting for safety more or less.  Other types are for accent or ambient lighting.

A decorative patio light can make a great statement.  Put together various styles and you can create rooms or separate seating areas that the deck lighting delineates for you.  You can even use them on a ground level deck or patio space to create a type of ‘fence’ between your deck and the surrounding landscape or garden area.

The main thing to remember with lighting is that you want it to make your space more usable.  You don’t want it just to add brightness or harshness.  So, having control over these levels is an important factor to consider.  And, since lighting is such a special feature to any deck, you’ll have to add it into your budget to make sure that it isn’t a surprise at the end.

Deck Lighting – Costs and Considerations

Because the styles of deck lighting vary so much depending upon the type you choose, let’s discuss just one of the styles seen on many decks as an example.  These are the ones that cap the end of your posts.  At your local home improvement warehouses, similar lights will sell for anywhere between $40-60 USD each.  You can see how this will quickly add up if you have a large deck.  Also, if you are considering lighting, the best time to do the installation is when building.  Some styles can be added after the deck is completed, but others will look much more blended into your design if they can be planned for and ‘channeled’ into the deck structure itself.

There are also solar deck lighting options that should not be overlooked.  If you’ve read any of our other articles related to your garden or patio lighting needs, then you know we are big fans of solar here at Patio Covers Place.  Solar is not only a great choice for the environment, but it will cost you less over time to enjoy your deck and patio spaces.  Just some good ideas and food for thought in your quest for the perfect deck lights.

Photo credit