Posted on: October 16, 2008

Light it Right, Outside

Whether you're hosting a casual barbeque on the deck or a catered outdoor dinner party, lighting is key. Here's how to let the right light shine on every event

By Patricia Rivera
CTW Features

When it comes to emitting a special glow through an outdoor space, the sky is the limit. Lighten up your next gathering with an assortment of ideas that range from whimsical groupings of candles to strategically located moonlighting fixtures placed in a tree canopy.

"Lights add so much to the mood, especially at night," says Phoenix writer and designer Kathy Cano-Murillo.

Known as Crafty Chica, she's an expert at finding low-cost ways to illuminate patios and decks with strings of lights that she transforms into Boudoir box lights and baby food jars that become hanging "candeliers." A few minutes of investment may leave your guests praising you for hours.

Even non-crafty types can find ready-to-light tiki torches or electric luminarias that transform the look of any outdoor setting. Consider creating an inviting setting with a few permanent lighting additions.

Long-lasting projects

John Pletcher, owner of the architectural and low-voltage landscape lighting company Natural Accents LLC, in Kansas City, Mo., says strategically placed lights can turn yards into magical spaces. Many owners of older homes still use bright floodlights, which do more than scare away the critters.

"You want to create a warm environment that is artistic as well. There is a lot that you can do with lights," he says.

Well-lit patios and decks also keep guests and family members from tripping. Decks, for instance, could benefit from recessed fixtures that mount on the walls of the steps or larger fixtures that attach to deck railings or posts and illuminate either outward or downward.

Pletcher suggests down-lighting to replicate the soft glow of natural moonlight. Fixtures are discreetly placed on eaves or in tall leafy trees. He sometimes uses lightly tinted lenses to produce an even softer light or enhance skin tones in gathering areas. For a cross-lighting effect, use two or three fixtures that are aimed so their beams intersect. Down-lighting works well in patio areas or tree-lined drives.

Up-lighting with spotlight fixtures recessed into the ground creates a focal point. Backlighting creates a silhouette effect by illuminating a wall or structure.

Outdoor lighting kits exist for many projects at specialized shops or large hardware stores. Also, look for lighting specialists who can share some new techniques.

Pletcher says he uses low-voltage lighting for all his projects to avoid excess light. This approach minimizes glare, light trespass and light pollution.

Electrician Ian Miles, owner of Orlando, Fla.-based Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, says his clients are increasingly aware of how their choice of lighting intrudes on their neighbors.

"We've come a long way from when people would put flood lights at the four corners of the property,�"he says.

Companies such as his also provide elaborate temporary lighting options for gatherings. For instance, he has created temporary path lighting from a home to a nearby water's edge for a wedding.

Quick fixes

Sometimes owners become enamored with what they initially labeled as seasonal lighting. Miles used LED string lights to illuminate a covered porch area around his pool.

"We liked it so much that we ended up keeping it up all year. It adds a lot of charm to the area," he says.

For those looking for some quick fixes, try these ideas:

–Romantic dinners: Use candles of all sizes to light the area around a small table for two. Consider clustering near the table several ceramic pots lined with pebbles or sand and candles. On the table, use a floating centerpiece or glasses made for floating candles.

–Family gatherings: Outdoor patio light strings, which use small bulbs that emit a warm light, can lend themselves to any theme imaginable. Cano-Murillo uses soda cans to make stars. By punching several holes in the center of the star, she�s able to fit it through the light bulbs. Another idea is to fit tiny terra cotta pots, about 2-inches in diameter, over the lights. You can dress them up with any color fabric or ribbon. She likes the look of fabric scraps from a Mexican serape. Small plastic or silk flowers can also fit over the light bulbs.

–Cocktails: Line the perimeter of your yard with luminarias, traditionally candle-lighted, sand-filled paper lanterns. You�ll find reusable, non-flammable kits that feature various images, such as butterflies and flowers, as well as electrical luminarias.

–Formal celebrations: Tiki torches can make a regular garden look elegant and exotic. In addition to the more traditional bamboo tiki lights, you'll find metal torches made of copper, bronze or steel. Electric tiki torches are also in the market. The AGI Group, Inc., in Sarasota, Fla., suggests placing a few large torches around a central gathering. Then, to create the look of a Polynesian fire dance, cast a sizzling glow around a pond, fountain or waterfall with six torches.

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