The Best Deck Lighting Trends for Butler, PA Area Homeowners
A well designed outdoor living space can often be the perfect spot for homeowners to relax with a book, enjoy dinner with the family, or entertain guests in style. These outdoor spaces are becoming a must-have for homeowners in the Butler County, PA region. Bringing the indoors out is the perfect way to enjoy your backyard while still enjoying all the comforts and conveniences of the indoors.
For any landscape design, outdoor lighting is very important. The right landscape lighting can add to the atmosphere, as well as enhance the security and safety of your outdoor space. While adding lighting fixtures to pathways and garden beds may seem straightforward, lighting a deck can often be very tricky.
Consider hiring an outdoor lighting professional to safely install your deck lighting system. Not all landscape contractors in the Butler County, PA area have years of experience in outdoor lighting design, so be sure to ask. It is best to hire a professional landscaping contractor that specializes in outdoor lighting, so that you can get the most out of your outside lighting investment.
Let’s have a look at a few of the trends in deck lighting.
1. Deck Rail and Post Cap Lighting
The standard foundation for all other lighting options, fixtures on deck posts signal the railing locations, adding safety along with ambient lighting. Consider these fixtures part of the basic system from which you can layer on more elements.
2. Stair Riser Lighting
Adding lighting fixtures to the staircases of your deck is a huge safety benefit. These types of fixtures are small and unobtrusive, able to handle foot traffic.
3. Fiber Optic Lighting
Fiber optic lighting uses only a single light source, typically a LED light housed in a small fan-cooled box that keeps it sheltered from the elements. Light travels on slender, flexible cables that end in points of light. Because there’s no heat or electricity conducted, these lights are safe for any type of weather. This type of lighting can provide a dramatic look to deck floors.
4. String Lights
String lights offer style and versatility. They can be used in any location, since there is no need to hide the wiring. String lights also come in a variety of sizes and styles. Outdoor solar-powered string lights don’t use household power, making them the perfect choice for maximum energy-efficiency.
5. Overhead Lighting
Consider adding motion-activated lighting which adds safety to exterior stairways, decks and patios. You can add motion-activated light fixtures mounted above stairway steps to help illuminate the way. This is a great way to ensure that your outdoor living space can be used safely after dusk.
6. Recessed Lighting
Quite possible the hottest trend in deck lighting fixtures, recessed lighting sits flush with the deck boards. Usually tiny round fixtures, about 1” in diameter, recessed deck lighting creates a truly beautiful look to any composite deck.
