10 Outdoor Lighting Ideas to Create the Perfect Summer Entertaining Area

With longer days and warmer evenings on the horizon, now is the time to start thinking about creating the perfect outdoor summer entertaining area. When the sun goes down, it’s time to create a dramatic backdrop in the alfresco area, and outdoor lighting is the best way to do that. With the right lighting, it’s easy to create a sense of allure, to highlight the vivid greens of the garden, and to illuminate seating and entertaining areas. Here’s 10 top outdoor lighting ideas to create the perfect summer entertaining space in your home. 

1. String lighting and outdoor lanterns

String lights offer one of the easiest and fastest ways to create ambience in the backyard. With many solar string light options available, including LED lights, all that’s needed is to find the perfect place to string them, and they’re ready to go. Often hung overhead, string lights create a sense of definition in the darkness and add a festive feeling to any area. 

Lanterns are another easy way to create a festive yet cosy feel in an outdoor area. Popular because they’re easy to move around and versatile, they’re available in a plethora of styles, with everything from LED lights to candles to create the desired atmosphere. 

2. Outdoor solar LED lighting 

Solar lights are one of the fastest growing areas of outdoor lighting for the home, with LEDs one of the most popular due to their high output and the variety of colours available. Solar LED lights obviously require some thought around placement to ensure they receive ample amounts of sunlight during the daytime, but aside from that they are an incredibly versatile option for the ideal outdoor illumination. Solar LED lights can be used in lanterns, as spotlights, as downlighting, and as accent lighting. 

3. LED stair and step strip lights 

Illuminating steps or stairs can help to highlight the architectural features of a home as well as offering a beautiful wayfinding tool. LED stair and step strip lights create a contemporary flair to transform an alfresco area. 

 4. Bollards and garden edging lights

Bollards and garden edge lighting often go hand in hand, working simultaneously to illuminate garden beds, trees and pathways. With the right mix of level and bollard lighting, a garden can appear much more dramatic once the sun goes down as the lights capture vivid greens not visible during the daylight hours. Lights also enhance the sense of depth and texture in a garden, illuminating leaves or blades of grass as they move in the breeze, and offering a new perspective only visible at night. 

5. Uplighting to highlight statues and trees

Positioning lights under trees, pots or plants to illuminate from below will not only create a sense of drama, it incites a cosiness in the garden area. Using uplights against walls or structures can highlight architectural features, introduce shadows and generally brighten the area. 

Uplighting is also one of the most stunning ways to illuminate a water feature, offering a unique angle and perspective. 

6. Orbs, spheres and hanging lights

Unique shapes and forms allow for an added point of interest in an outdoor lighting scheme, and with the right choice can create a synergy between indoors and out. Overhead lights are a great way to create ambient lighting outdoors.

7. Pendant lights

Pendant lights are generally thought of more for indoor use, but in the right outdoor area, a pendant light can create a dynamic elegance, as well as being used for task lighting. Popular in semi-covered areas or those with an outdoor roof or roof frame, a pendant light can be hung above an outdoor dining table or cooking area, or above the seating area. 

8. Downlighting and ambient lighting

Just as downlights generally provide ambient lighting in interior settings, so too are downlights an effective way of creating ambient lighting outdoors. However, they’re generally only suitable for areas with a partial or full roof - such as a covered but open seating or dining area, or a pool room or cabana. 

9. Outdoor floor lights

Recessed or flush floor lights are popular outdoors, especially in patio and deck areas, as well as around pools. As part of an integrated outdoor lighting plan, floor lighting can be very effective and offer a contemporary appeal.

10. Exterior wall and sensor lights

Incorporating wall and sensor lights in an outdoor lighting scheme is a great idea for both wayfinding and security. Sensor lights also conserve energy, only turning on when required. Exterior wall lights and driveway lights are a great opportunity to incorporate sensors, as are pathways and those areas that are used only for travel between areas. 

11. How to use lighting to highlight your doorway

Illuminating an entranceway is a great way to create a sense of style and drama before a guest even steps foot in the home. Whether it’s a pendant light hanging overhead in an entranceway, hidden LED strip lights that light the area, or dramatic uplighting that highlights a unique element, colour or texture in the door, it’s worth considering entranceway lighting if you want to make that first impression last. Consider tying in the doorway lighting with garden, pathway, driveway or entertainment area lighting to retain a sense of style throughout all outdoor areas.

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