Patio lighting has become as versatile and beautiful as lighting inside your home. Gone are the old-fashioned tiki lamps of the ‘50s. Today’s light is both functional and decorative. There are many different types and styles of lights available today. Solar lights are very popular now as are wall-mounted lights and string lights. It’s all in what you want, the effect you want to achieve, and how you will be using the lighted area.
Solar Lighting
Solar lighting is an excellent choice for patios. They are easy to install, maintenance free, and will cost you nothing to run. The only drawback can come if they aren’t exposed to an adequate amount of sunlight during the day. If you do need solar light for a shaded patio, it can be done by installing a solar panel on your roof. This option will be a lot more expensive then just the individual lights, though.
Solar lights come in many different styles. You can buy spotlights, tier lights, motion sensor lights, permanently-installed patio lights, and decorative lights which come in shapes like frogs or statues. They are also made of a number of different materials, including copper, stainless steel, verdigris, and plastic. A good choice is selecting fixtures which will sort of blend into your landscape.
Wall-Mounted Patio Lights
As with solar lighting, you’ll find many styles of wall-mounted lighting that was designed for use on a patio. In fact, there are as many styles for outside your home as there are for inside. You can find flush-mounted designs, outdoor sconces, Asian and contemporary designs, and even exotic, tropical lights.
Many of the outdoor designs are similar to the lights you have always called “porch lights”. These wall-mounted lights come in many different finishes including brass, chrome, antique brass, oil-rubbed bronze, pewter, copper, and brushed nickel. Some of the models are round, rectangular, oval, and square depending on the look you are trying to achieve.
Patio String Lights
You know what string lights are. They’re the same type of thing that you put on your Christmas tree every year where all the lights are hooked together on a single wire. By looking online you will find beautiful light strings designed for patios, such as prismatic globe lights and very affordable rope lights. You will also find many novelty light strings including chili peppers, fiber optic butterflies, and retro flowers.
Whatever type of lights you choose for your patio, they’re sure to add a lot of character and warmth to the area. Select your fixtures wisely, and they’ll last a long time. For instance, you wouldn’t want delicate fiber optic lights in an area where children will be playing. Otherwise, the sky’s the limit in your choice of lights, and you’re sure to be able to find just exactly what you’re looking for.
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