Lighting is one of those things that people think about in the abstract, as though it’s unaffected by the structures that both house it and sit around it. The fact is, if you’re at all interested in building a deck you should solidify your lighting plans before you start, not afterwards.
Everything depends upon the kind of lighting. Once you’ve got your deck in place, you’re not going to want to tear it apart if you’ve finally set out your patio furniture. But that’s exactly what you may have to do if you haven’t properly planned for the type of lighting you’re going to use.
Unsure of where to begin with deck lighting? Consider these four categories: Accent Lighting, Ambient Lighting, Task Lighting, and Path Lighting (sometimes referred to as “Step Lighting”)
There are definitely a number of ways to set up your deck lighting, from candles to fully integrated overhead incandescence requiring a permit and an electrician. How far into the weeds you’d like to go is completely up to you and your vision. If you’re unsure of how complicated the lighting you’re thinking about is to set up, we’ve found it helps to correctly categorize lighting so you can be sure you’re comparing apples to apples. The number one thing to keep in mind is that any lighting that requires integration with your deck build is best handled during the construction instead of afterwards. With that in mind, think about your dream lighting situation and sift through the four categories below to see what might actually be required to make your ideal deck a reality.
A lot of people refer to this as mood lighting. You might use this to draw attention to trees, plants, or overhead structures. This is your chance to give your deck an accent. The nice thing about accent lighting is you can get creative. The level of sophistication and necessary installation is completely dependent upon personal taste and budget.
This is general lighting. The goal of ambient lighting is to evenly light up your space. One thing to button down ahead of time with ambient lighting is the general level of luminosity you’re after. You likely won’t want your space to be too bright – but make it too dark and you won’t be able to effectively use it in the evening.
Do you have a grill area? Set up lighting so you’ll be able to grill no matter the time of day. That’s what task lighting is all about – it’s lighting with a function!
Sometimes grouped together with task lighting, path lighting is all about illuminating the paths we walk along for greater safety.
If you’re unsure of whether or not you’ll need an electrician for any of the above, please reach out to us now so we can help to answer all of your questions and plan ahead! Careful planning now will alleviate many headaches later. Get in contact by clicking the green button below OR calling 574-210-5951.
