Cool Outdoor Lighting Options for Your Home

However, with the ever-increasing trend of indoor-outdoor living and interconnected spaces for home entertaining, outdoor lighting is just as important. The right choices in outdoor lighting can make the difference between a space that is functional at night and one that people want to spend time in. In this article, we will briefly describe some of the main types of external lighting and how to make the most of their possibilities. 

Feature Lighting

Humanity has come a long way from the days of candles and gas lamps. There are now so many options for external lighting that illuminating a space is child's play. Feature lighting is a great way to transform your outdoor space into the coolest spot in the house. One choice for feature lighting is spotlights angled up tree trunks into the canopy, another is artisinal chandeliers and a popular low-budget option is a network of fairy lights.

Using light to draw the eyes to architectural and natural features is a good way to make a space feel open and inviting, and these kinds of feature lighting choices can be used in combination or alone to create different moods. A low-light option is particularly effective in intimate scenarios.

To make the most of external entertaining spaces, a motorised retractable awning is the perfect way to keep the space functional and turn your outdoor space into an extension of your home.

Security Lighting

Security lighting doesn't need to be aesthetically pleasing. Its primary use and function is to deter criminals from attempting to break into your property. Common motifs in security lighting are sensor triggered floodlights. If your property is wired with security cameras, it is sensible to have these sensor lights rigged to illuminate the camera's field of view.

Poolside Lighting

If you have a swimming pool or spa, it is useful to have lights in the vicinity to make these amenities accessible at night-time. What's more, even if you aren't using these features, having them illuminated at night time is a good way to avoid unplanned wet adventures. Poolside lighting can be embedded in walls or pavers around the water or even underwater.

Floating Lighting

The simplest and cheapest example of floating lights are fairy lights but there are certainly more sophisticated options available utilising downlights and steel cable. When making choices regarding floating lights, a very useful idea is to make sure the bulbs installed produce warm rather than glaring white light.

Automatic Lighting

Future-proof your outdoor space and increase the convenience with an automated smart lighting system. By fitting your lights with an Outdoor Lighting Receiver, you can control your lights using a remote, smart phone app, or even your voice. Alternatively, our Connexoon Window RTS solution is compatible with Phillips HUE lighting for the complete smart home experience. Create the perfect atmosphere for different events with the ambiance replay feature and enjoy your outdoor area all year-round.

If you're interested in automated outdoor lighting for your home this summer, or would like to learn more about our home automation solutions, speak to a Somfy Expert today.