Illuminating our outdoor spaces is key to making the most of them — and there are many ways to do it, Patrick Langston writes.
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Sprawling outdoor kitchens, razzle-dazzle decks and gazebos, soothing water features — these days, we put big money into our yards. But to enjoy the space to the max, we need good outdoor lighting, which doesn’t have to mean ultraexpensive.
The market has blossomed since the days when a backyard spotlight and a few patio lanterns filled the bill. Now the choice ranges from stylish, solar-powered lanterns to breathtaking wall sconces, ceiling fixtures and even floor lamps. And it doesn’t matter whether you want a craftsman themed, art deco-accented or ultra-modern fixture — someone somewhere is selling it.
In fact, lighting is integral to your outdoor space, the experts say.
“To extend your (outdoor) living space into the evening, you have to make it comfortable and safe,” says Ottawa landscape architect John K. Szczepaniak ( jszla.com).
Comfort includes cosy, so ensure you and your guests aren’t staring at the light source and that you abide by the adage of less is more, he suggests.
When it comes to safety, he says, “the priority is the steps: think of lighting in terms of safe traffic flow.”
For lighting steps, he’s particularly taken with Kichler’s line of LED stair and deck products.
If you’re planning your own outdoor lighting scheme, In-Lite’s guide is a good starting point (in-lite.com/ca/). It includes tips on product selection and placement. For more information on installation and maintenance, see Central Turf and Irrigation Supply’s guidelines at centralirrigationsupply.com/lighting/how-tos/.
Whether indoors or out, you also need to calculate the lumens required for an area or task (lumens are basically a measure of visible light). With the increasing availability of LEDs, the guideline prepared by The Lighting Research Centre is especially useful: www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/solidstate/assist/pdf/ledlighting-apps-guide-2002.pdf.
Here’s a taste of some nifty outdoor lighting products.
ROY GROGAN
Step lights increase safety and backlit screens create a lampshade effect in this project by John K. Szczepaniak and Ottawa Landscape Lighting.
FUNKY ON THE FLOOR Art deco-inspired floor lamp by Austria’s Eglo lighting company. Just over a metre tall, it’s made of antique-brown aluminum with a satin glass shade for a soft glow. Its vase-like shape would mix happily with outdoor planters. Works...
MODERN CANDLELIGHT A solar lamp that’s both pleasingly designed and functional (full disclosure: I bought two earlier this year), the Everett Solar Light Lamp is made of stainless steel and glass and has two settings: a flickering amber candle or an...
IN FLUX True to its name, this handsomely articulated Flux wall sconce by Hubbardton Forge suggests movement and change. At the same time, its sinuous design is surprisingly restful (maybe that’s because the fixture’s elegance suggests the homeowner is...
RAILWAY RETRO
This oil-rubbed bronze Manhattan wall lamp by Hinkley Lighting is a contemporary spin on the old-fashioned train-station lantern. Repeated design elements create a sense of stability and continuity, much as railways once did. The hard...
ROY GROGAN
Downward lighting of a front entry arbour ensures a welcoming sense into the evening in this project by landscape architect John K. Szczepaniak and Ottawa Landscape Lighting.
STRINGING ALONG Lend a retro feel to your patio, deck or garden with these old-timey Canvas string lights. The incandescent, Edison-style bulbs are seven watts each, so a three-metre (10-foot) string of 10 bulbs provides a pleasant but unobtrusive...
ON GUARD
The Thistledown is a warm, uncomplicated post lamp that manufacturer Hinkley Lighting says was made to resemble the armour of ancient Scottish soldiers. Military history buff or not, you’d likely find the lamp a standup shedder of diffuse...
FOLLOW THE PATH Cleanly designed and functional, this 24-watt Textured Architectural Bronze Path Light draws attention to what it’s illuminating rather than to itself. It’s part of Kichler’s Six Groove Collection, and the transitional style means it...
SLEEK AND SLY A slim outdoor pendant with elegance and a sly sense of humour: just try looking at this grouping of the Havana Suspension Pendant by Foscarini without smiling. They’d do well in both spacious and smaller settings, including as path or...
MODERN TOUCH A superbly proportioned contemporary fixture, the Sun Dagger Large Cylinder by Justice Design Group has fluid lines, soft curves and fine detailing. The ceramic shade is available in up to 30 handpainted finishes as well as unfinished,...
ALL BOXED IN The transitional style of this Colfax hanging lantern by Hinkley Lighting suits a variety of decor. Especially pleasing: the forthright, linear frame balanced with the softer, round glass enclosure. The frame is aluminum with a bronze...