You step outside on a warm summer evening. Twinkling lights drape over your patio. The garden paths are softly lit. And lanterns set the mood for a relaxing night. You feel like your outdoor space is reminiscent of the page you bookmarked in your magazine. And the greatest weapon here is the lighting. Well-thought-out outdoor lighting does a lot for setting the ambiance of your patio. It creates a nice party atmosphere. Plus, it keeps you from tripping over the garden hose 😉 Beyond that, the right lighting illuminates your property to make it more secure. Keep reading to learn all about backyard lighting. Part 1. Types of Outdoor Lighting Let’s break down the four main categories of outdoor lighting. 1.1 Ambient Lighting This provides general illumination for your outdoor space. It sets the mood and makes sure there’s enough visibility. We recommend going for warm white (2700K-3000K) LED lights that can create a relaxing feeling. Best sources of ambient lighting: String lights Outdoor chandeliers Lanterns and post lights 1.2 Task Lighting This is designed to provide bright and concentrated light. It makes sure your space is convenient as well as safe. For example, pathway lights can illuminate the space around your walkway. Wall-mounted sconces in the entryway can highlight parking areas. Best sources of task lighting: Pathway lights Wall sconces Deck and stair lighting 1.3 Accent Lighting Accent lighting draws attention to specific features. For example, the landscaping and architecture. Best sources of accent lighting: Uplights or downlights to highlight trees Wall-washing lights to focus on architectural details Underwater LED lights 1.4 Smart and Solar-Powered Outdoor Lighting While this isn’t actually a type of lighting, we had to include it because it’s a part of outdoor lighting that’s becoming increasingly famous. It makes lighting solutions more convenient as well as sustainable. Best sources of smart lighting: Motion-sensor floodlights Solar path lights Smart app-controlled LED lights Part 2. Top 13 Outdoor Lighting Ideas 1. Outdoor Deck Lights If you have a fence surrounding your space for privacy, consider adding lighting to it. You can hang individual string lights or install deck lights to brighten your outdoor space. If you want to make your fence stand out, Govee Outdoor Deck Lights are a great choice. They feature a creative DIY mode with 16 million colors to illuminate your outdoor area for every occasion. Additionally, when you turn on Music Mode, the lighting effects sync with the beat and rhythm of your music. 2. Rattan Lanterns If you're looking for farmhouse outdoor lighting ideas, consider adding natural elements. Rattan is a trending choice for outdoor decor, so it makes its way into lighting, too. Globe-shaped lanterns in rattan not only provide light but also add visual interest. You want to double-check the durability of the materials you choose. Genuine rattan may not offer the best performance in wet conditions (so consider this if you live in a rainy area). Options made from resin will be more durable in that regard. 3. Solar Mason Jar Lanterns If you have mason jars lying around your home, a quick DIY can help make for some cool outdoor lighting. Add solar-powered LED lights in the mason jars. These will charge during the day and then emit a beautiful glow at night. There’s no wiring required here. You can place them wherever they’ll receive good sunlight. 4. Plant Lights For potted trees, use a stake light for spotlight illumination. This provides a focal point (especially at night) while also highlighting the foliage. You can use a single light source to backlight a large plant. Or you can use several small solar lights to create a halo of light around the plant. 5. Underwater LED Lights If you have a water feature in your backyard, take the opportunity to make it the focal point of the space. Install LED pool lights (directly into the pool walls). These evenly illuminate the underwater area of your pool, drawing attention to it. And, don’t worry, they’re fully waterproof. Here’s a quick guide about pool lights. 6. Outdoor Wall Sconces Wall sconces are a good choice for outdoor lighting because they provide light plus decor in one attractive package. If you have a feature wall outdoors (for example, one with textures or a plant wall), add wall sconces to bring attention to it. Many options give you soft background light, but if you want more illumination, consider cylinder lights that cast beams of light in vertical directions. 7. Hidden Recessed Lighting in Hardscaping Stone walls, benches, pots—all these features can be highlighted with integrated lighting. Using recessed lighting seamlessly does the job without standing out. The textures and materials of these features are focused upon, adding a decorative touch to your space. 8. Pergola Lighting Pergolas provide shade during the day, but adding outdoor lighting can kick up the ambiance at night, too. String lights and hanging pendants are both great selections for pergola lighting. If you choose hanging lights, it’s best to center them over your seating area. This distributes lights evenly and keeps the design balanced. 9. Front Door Lighting A well-lit front door is good for safety reasons, but also creates a welcoming ambiance for your home. Flank your front door with a pair of identical lighting fixtures. This doubles the illumination which is helpful as you look for your keys or greet your guests. You want to pay attention to the size and scale of the fixtures you choose. They shouldn’t be too big to overwhelm the space, or too small to provide way too less light. 10. Doors and Windows Lighting The doors and windows of your home are actually architectural features. And you can accentuate them by using lighting. If you want to set your home aglow, use string lights to outline these spaces. Plus, outlining the door on a dark night helps you make your way back inside from the firepit, all while jazzing up your home’s exterior. 11. Light Canopy Even without a pergola, you can create a designated seating area with a canopy of string lights. The easiest way to do this is with a net of string lights (but you may also go for individual string lights and assemble them in a similar manner). This gives the effect of a covered seating area with the help of illumination. The plus point is that you don’t need to install a permanent structure to achieve the purpose. 12. Glow-in-the-Dark Pebbles Glow-in-the-dark pebbles work by absorbing light during the day. They then emit that stored light during the night. Embed these pebbles into concrete stones on your pathway. This creates a whimsical effect while guiding visitors the path up to your doorway during the darker hours. Plus, they work with solar power, so they’re sustainable. 13. Moonlighting This is downlighting from trees, which mimics natural moonlight. So, if you often have cloudy nights in your area, this can be an easy way to add a dreamy and natural effect. Install soft LED lights high in trees. The subtle and elegant glow enhances the ambiance. You’ll especially love the gentle shadows it casts on the ground! Part 3. Why Does Outdoor Lighting Matter? 3.1 Enhances Curb Appeal A well-lit outdoor space can improve how your home looks from the outside and appeal to potential buyers. It can highlight architectural features, like a textured wall while showcasing your landscaping. 3.2 Increases Property Value According to a survey by National Association of Home Builders, 87% of homebuyers rated exterior lighting as either “essential” or “desirable”. This shows how important outdoor lighting is for potential buyers. So, by choosing proper lighting, your home can land better rates on the market (and quicker sales, too). 3.3 Improves Safety Outdoor spaces can be risky at night. Uneven pathways, stairs, pools, and dark corners all pose potential hazards. Well-placed lights can illuminate these areas and let you walk safely around them. 3.4 Boosts Home Security A dark home invites unwanted visitors. Illuminating your outdoor space naturally deters trespassers. Today, tech-driven lighting can give you more than just a well-lit space in terms of security. For example… Motion-sensor floodlights detect movement and startle potential intruders Smart-controlled lighting gives the impression that someone is home (even if you’re away) Bright entryway lighting ensures visibility at doors and garages, so there are no hiding spots 3.5 Extends the Usability of Your Space Why should your outdoor space be enjoyed only during the daylight? In fact, we believe there’s nothing better than hosting parties outdoors during summer evenings. And for that, well-lit spaces are essential. Research has shown that over 70% of homeowners wanted to spend more time at home after they installed their outdoor lighting systems. With outdoor lighting, you can dine on your patio with patio lighting and enjoy an evening swim with underwater LED pool lights. Let There Be Light And, that’s a wrap! Outdoor lighting makes all the difference in setting the ambiance of your home. So, if you’re ready to enjoy those warm summer nights (and perhaps a hot cocoa on a chilly autumn evening), we hope we gave you just the inspiration you need.