How to Create Ambient Outdoor Patio Lighting

As the summer rolls around and more time is devoted to outdoor living it is important to make sure that your lighting is up to snuff. It is one thing to place numerous solar lights to highlight a garden bed or pathway, and quite another to create the ambiance needed to enjoy a lovely evening dining or relaxing outdoors on the patio.

If you are lucky enough to have an outdoor patio area, you can enhance the feel when dusk settles and light is sparse by lighting candles and turning on patio lamps or fixtures. However, keep the lighting warm and ambient. Natural bulbs tend to be a bluish hue and can be harsh, cold and bright. Using the same wattage bulb with a warmer tone is far more ambient and can provide sufficient lighting for dining with friends or family.

Using candles is a lot of fun, and with a surrounding glass enclosure the flame is protected from evening winds. Mason jars work well and you can use tea lights or larger candles. Experiment with grouping a number of candles together to create a focal point or provide gentle lighting to a desired area.

You can install (or your electrician) an outdoor hanging lantern to break up the line of a long covered patio. This fixture can provide visual interest even when not in use. In the right place, a rustic fixture with bronze finish and hammered glass, can only make one feel as if they are visiting a great castle. Attractive wall lights can also add to the dcor and mood.

Another lighting option, one that can bring the comfort of inside outdoors, is to place a table lamp on an end table: you will need an electrical GFI outlet, safe for outdoor use. Floor lamps can also create a cozy feel. Dimmer switches are a big plus and allow to you to control the light level and mood.

Of course, you probably dont need all the fixture-types mentioned. Instead, figure out which ones will work for you. To do so, turn on any existing patio lights when dark. From there take note of factors such as: mood, visibility and determine what adjustments or improvements can be made to your haven.

Nicole Martins, a senior editor at Chandeliers-and-home-lighting.com, recently added an outdoor living area to her new home. You can read more about ambient outdoor lighting at: http://www.chandeliers-and-home-lighting.com/outdoor-lighting.htm

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