Outdoor Lighting - Deck Lighting - Wall Lighting - Patio Lighting

Outdoor lighting fixtures are becoming more commonplace than they were many years ago.  There are now multiple choices of outdoor lighting to choose from whether you simply want to add some illumination to your front or back yard for security reasons or whether you want to illuminate an outdoor seating area or patio.

When outdoor wooden decking became popular, outdoor lighting became an essential part of garden design and with many homeowners now choosing to expand their living area by making use of their outdoor space as either a patio or deck, lighting has become a necessity for many homes.

There are two main reasons why people choose to use lighting outdoors, the first is as a security measure with lights such as automatic flood lights and the second is to allow the garden area to become a more purposeful part of the home.  Outdoor dining in fine weather meant a need to not only illuminate the garden but perhaps provide heat too in the way of heated patio lights.

Below are some of the most popular types of outdoor lighting, wall lighting, deck and patio lighting.

There are quite a few options to choose from when it comes to outdoor lighting. Some of the most economical of outdoor light fixtures are simple outdoor ceiling lights which are designed for installation in a porch or covered patio. They are waterproof, provide standard light and are designed to aid visability at night.

Outdoor wall lights are similar to ceiling lights in that they provide an adequate amount of light and are not necessarily for decorative purposes although they can be purchased for this reason also. They are traditionally used to illuminate the entrance to the home. They are also commonly used where a footpath may follow the entrance to a garage opening etc.

Post Lighting provides a light to areas further from the main house, for example these can be quite useful for pathways and driveways, swimming pool areas and large patios that extend further than the lighting from the house can reach.

Outdoor hanging lights are usually a more decorative choice of outdoor lighting and are usually used for a covered porch area or sloped roof. Because they can distribute light from various angles the light from hanging lights tends to cover a larger area of garden.

There are many more choices of outdoor lighting available but there is one more thing you should consider before you buy any outdoor lights for your home and that is the power source.  The traditional power source for outdoor lights is the 120 volt system, more recently solar lighting has increased in popularity and the newest choice is now low voltage lighting.  Low voltage lighting has become more popular lately because it offers a safer way to light your outdoor area than the traditional 120 volt and is more cost effective.

Below are some of my favorite low voltage and solar outdoor light fittings available online.