Shine a little light on your outdoor space

Do you remember those colourful patio lanterns that everyone seemed to have in the 80's? They were bright red, green, yellow and blue and came in a variety of shapes, from simple rectangles to the more elaborate owl or tulip styles.

With the 90's came the popularity of NOMA moonrays, and it seemed that almost every other house had a glowing garden pathway that came alive at night.

Patio illumination has come a long way in the past few years and there is a host of exciting ways for homeowners to shine a little light on their outdoor entertaining spaces, adding awesome ambiance. Outdoor lighting is also effective at deterring intruders and can make navigating your walkways much safer for guests and homeowners alike. Choosing the right patio lights for your space is a simple matter of preference.

The one thing you want to avoid when adding outdoor lighting is making it a nuisance for neighbours. If you want to install high-voltage spotlights for safety or to illuminate a particular spot in your garden or on your home, be sure that they are not pointing into the windows of your neighbours.

When it comes to decorative lighting, go for functionality AND aesthetic appeal. Pathway lighting comes in a variety of styles with shades that cast a downward spread of light. This is ideal for lighting up an otherwise dark route in your backyard. To save on your electrical bills, consider solar-powered lights which come in a variety of styles.

Rope lights are fantastic for lighting up a dark stairway or edging around a deck. You can also wind them around a gazebo to brighten up a seating area.

There are some beautiful ways to add built-in lighting to your deck. Options include stair-riser lights, rail lighting or post cap lights.

A more economical solution is a lighting kit from your local hardware store containing a string of 10-12 lights that can be placed just about anywhere you require lighting. Most come with a programmable timer that you can set according to your own specifications.