Patio Umbrellas, Heaters, Shades | Patio Heat and Shade

Pathway lighting, spotlights, and an outdoor wall lantern lighting the outside of a traditional residential home at night

Just like you, one of our favorite things to do is to get together with family and friends and enjoy the great outdoors… gathering near the BBQ while waiting impatiently for that sauce-slathered rack of ribs to come off the grill, uncorking the second bottle of wine while watching the kids play with something that doesn’t have a screen, or huddled around a blazing fire pit sharing stories of our past that may or may not be true.
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As the good times roll on, it’s inevitable that that huge blazing ball of fire in the sky that gives us all life eventually disappears over the western horizon… and although some of our friends look significantly better in the dark (I’m looking at you, Steve) it’s generally good form to light up your surroundings for both ambiance and safety. Adding the right lighting, in the right places, can make all the difference in how your home is viewed by your guests.
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Lucky for you, your friends here at Patio Heat and Shade have been thinking about some of their favorite outdoor lighting ideas to raise your outdoor entertaining game. We gathered our outdoor patio specialists together to discuss their favorite outdoor lighting ideas, and thought we’d bring you in on the conversation.
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As you look over these 8 illuminating outdoor lighting ideas think of each one and how that idea would work in your home… They’re not all going to be right for you, but when you land on those few gems that would be perfect, we’ll be there for you to help make it happen. Let’s take a look...

1. Use pathway lights to add functional, but beautiful lighting to outdoor paths and trails

Outdoor residential home at night with stone walkway highlighted by seven pathway lights

Pathway lighting guides your guests to your door, but it’s not all about function. The bold, clean lines of the Hinkley Lighting Atlantis path lights (available in 6 finishes) are as at home in a contemporary residence as they are in the formal garden of a traditional home. LED lighting (using replaceable bulbs) insures even lighting at a ridiculously low cost (each 1.5-watt bulb, running 12 hours a day, would cost $1.08 per YEAR to operate).

PRO TIP: For optimal coverage, place landscape lighting every 6 to 8 feet. Alternating your lighting along your path (left then right) as shown in this illustration is the preferred method for even lighting and the best security.

2. Save energy with motion-activated outdoor security lights

Product shot on white background of a flood light with motion sensor in a bronze finish

Lurkers, potential intruders and general ne’er do wells around your home are repelled by fixtures literally shining a light on their presence. Step up your security game with the Generation Lighting flood light with motion sensor that uses a high-quality motion sensor (sensing up to 60 feet with 180-degree detection range) to activate the two flood lights… keeping your family safe.

3. Add compact accent or task lighting on porches and patios with outdoor wall sconces

Exterior front porch of a home with wood vertical siding that has a modern outdoor wall lantern mounted next to the window

Outdoor wall sconces are frequently used for security (like on either side of an entry door) or to herd your guests in the right direction (mounted on an exterior wall near a pathway to the front door). We love how the Kichler Lighting River Path outdoor wall lantern throws beams of LED light radiating off the small, seeded glass bubbles, creating the look of stars at night while fully illuminating your entryway.

4. Buy an outdoor umbrella with built-in lighting for eye-catching nighttime illumination

Backyard patio scene in residential neighborhood at dusk, with cantilever umbrella that has built in LED lighting

Cantilever umbrellas (you know, the ones that have the poles on the side rather than in the middle) are one of our favorite ways to shade your family, and when top-quality umbrellas like the SimplyShade Bali Pro starlight cantilever umbrella can pull double-duty it’s a true no-brainer. In the evening, the built-in LED rib lights keep the party going with a ridiculously long (50,000 hour) lifetime and comes with a 33’ cord and UL-approved 12v digital indoor/outdoor transformer.

5. Double up on lighting and cooling on porches and covered patios with ceiling fan lights

Outdoor pool scene with a pergola roof covered in greenery, and an outdoor patio fan hanging from the pergola

Adding a ceiling fan to our outdoor space is perfect for those days when Mother Nature isn’t giving you the breeze that you need. When you add one with an exceptional-looking LED light, like the Quorum Lighting Galveston patio fan, you get the bonus of low-cost lighting as your evening unfolds. Available in five colors, the Quorum Galveston includes both the LED lamp and full function wall control.

6. Add a touch of elegance with an outdoor chandelier or pendant light as an eye-catching statement piece

Outdoor kitchen in traditional home with hanging lantern installed into a covered patio

Just because you’re outdoors doesn’t mean your lighting has to be ho-hum. The clean and classic design of the Hinkley Lighting Alford Place hanging lantern sports a precision die-cast frame and loop paired with a sealed glass roof to provide excellent illumination from all sides. Available in either 120v or 12v models, both come with four LED bulbs ready to light up your night sky.

7. Mount small accent lights in key outdoor spaces to create general ambient lighting

Outdoor patio at night with three deck lights attached to the wood railing surrounding the deck

These little accent lights are super-versatile. We’ve seen these Kichler Lighting deck lights used on railings (like in this image), steps up to a deck, and even on pillars… wherever a little ambient lighting would be helpful. We particularly like that the light is focused downward, allowing that gorgeous night sky to shine on its own.

8. Add warmth, light and aesthetic flair with a fire pit or fire table

Outdoor patio with fire pit fully lit, with glasses of white wine and snacks on the surrounding table

There’s nothing like a raging fire to gather people together. Whether it’s the romance of the flickering flames, mesmerizing effect you get while staring deeply into the fire, or our inner pyromaniac shining through, adding a fire pit (fueled by propane, natural gas or plain ole’ wood) or fire table (same, sans wood) is one of our favorite ways to add light (and amazing warmth) to your outdoor space. We particularly like the Bailey Street Home Donovan fire pit with a nice large top ready to greet your guests at your next shindig.

Wrap-Up

Though there are plenty of ways to add gorgeous light to your outdoor space, we hope that some of the outdoor lighting ideas that we’ve compiled here have inspired you to make a few changes… to add some new illumination that you may not have considered before.﻿Here at Patio Heat and Shade our goal is to make you and your guests as comfortable as possible in your outdoor oasis. We’ve got you covered… whether you need a little heat, shade, cooling or lighting we’ve curated an amazing collection of the best products all at the absolute best prices on the Internet.﻿What makes us special? Knowledge and thought. Our patio experts know just about everything there is to know about keeping you comfortable and safe outdoors and are willing to share that wealth of knowledge with you. As you plan your next project or are considering making a few changes to brighten up your outdoor space, contact our experts and they’ll be happy to help. Give us a call… we’ll be right there with you every step of the way.

8 Illuminating Outdoor Lighting Ideas

1. Use pathway lights to add functional, but beautiful lighting to outdoor paths and trails

2. Save energy with motion-activated outdoor security lights

3. Add compact accent or task lighting on porches and patios with outdoor wall sconces

4. Buy an outdoor umbrella with built-in lighting for eye-catching nighttime illumination

5. Double up on lighting and cooling on porches and covered patios with ceiling fan lights

6. Add a touch of elegance with an outdoor chandelier or pendant light as an eye-catching statement piece

7. Mount small accent lights in key outdoor spaces to create general ambient lighting

8. Add warmth, light and aesthetic flair with a fire pit or fire table

Wrap-Up

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Ideas & Inspiration

Heating

Shading

Cooling

Outdoor Living

Commercial Applications