Key takeaways
- Hide the light source to avoid glare
- Build soft layers of light
- Use warm color and dimmers
- Light steps and edges for safety
Why patios get glare
Glare comes from a bright source in your line of sight, such as a bare bulb on the wall or a floodlight under the eaves. It makes your eyes squint and washes out the rest of the scene.
The cure is to hide the source and spread the light: shielded fixtures, indirect light and low brightness.
Build in layers
Use soft general light from string lights or downlights in a pergola, task light over the grill, low light on steps and walls and accent light on nearby trees. Each layer is dim on its own, and together they are plenty.
Warm color and dimmers keep the mood relaxed.
Common mistakes
Using one bright light for everything, putting lights where guests face them, mixing very different colors and forgetting the steps are all common. So is skipping dimmers.
A designer can fix most of these by moving or shielding fixtures and adding controls.
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Quick answers
How bright should patio lights be?
Much dimmer than indoor lights. Soft, warm light with dimmers feels best outdoors.
Are string lights enough for a patio?
They are a great start, but they work best with a little light on steps and a task light where you cook.
Ready to talk it through? Get a free estimate or call 615-431-3789.