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Move aside square deck, folding chairs and two wall mounted flood lights broadcasting the backyard light a Kmart packing lot. Today’s decks are creative, custom extensions of a home’s living area. They are more evolved, imaginative and they deserve deck lighting that is more than an afterthought.
In today’s lingo it’s called “Outdoor Living” or “Outdoor Living Spaces.” What is more natural than sitting on your deck overlooking the backyard? It can be a relaxing spot, and with a BBQ or outdoor kitchen, and it really becomes the place to hang out and entertain. For these reasons you want your deck lighting to create ambiance, mood yet provide safe egress by clearly marking stairs, railings and level changes. Don’t even consider the glare bomb 120 volt / 110 volt / line voltage outdoor light fixtures. Today’s decks are all about low voltage deck lights.
With 12 volt deck lights (often referred to as landscape deck lights or outdoor deck lights), you will have smaller fixtures, more designs and the ability to integrate the deck lighting into your outdoor living space. You can use more indirect, niche space accent lighting instead of flood lighting. This will illuminate the deck area with ambient light that does not produce any glare and set a more magical, inviting mood to your deck space.
For the most part, low voltage deck light fixtures are mounted on the vertical deck rail posts and aimed down. The downlighting will highlight the post and the ambient light will subtly illuminate that area. Deck Step Lights can be installed into the risers of any elevation changes or stairs to highlight potential trip hazards. Under rail deck lights or hardscape lights can be put under any overhang or counter top. Some people like rope lighting under the overhang of steps or seating area or counter tops as it adds a subtle glow to a larger area.
The options of lighting your deck are indeed varied. We, at Landscape Lighting World and VOLT, believe that a subtle, soft light is better than too much light. There are a variety of deck fixtures available to illuminate your outdoor living space with just the right amount of light. When designing your deck lighting, keep in mind that the entire lighting plan should be thought out, and lit in such a way to avoid any exceedingly bright ( ie ‘hot’) spots. Also sometimes by illuminating areas adjacent to a deck (such as some path or area lgths in a beds) will provide some ambient light to help illuminate the deck or patio. All of these concepts will add an artistic and interesting lighting to your deck, and be pleasing to your eye at the same time.
There are a variety of lighting options available form VOLT with which to choose. Deck lights, step lights, even path lights, strategically placed all can be used as deck lighting. In addition to halogen bulbs, more and more people are moving towards using LED bulbs such as a LED bi pin G4 bulb or LED bi Pin G5.3 lamp to power their deck light fixtures. LEDs bulbs will have a longer lamp life than halogen and consumer less energy.
Wall washes such as our Big Splash or Gentle Splashes can also be used to illuminate your deck or pergola. Down lights such as our Top Dog Down light is also an option, perhaps with a frosted lens, to soften the light.
These are just some examples of how to light your deck, but you are indeed limited only by your imagination.
