Outdoor Lighting
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Modern Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor accent lighting is a must-have finishing touch for your pool patio, backyard deck, or paved terrace. Modern outdoor lighting fixtures seamlessly blend form and function. Dining al fresco in the evening? Wall sconces will illuminate your dining area. Planning for a night of stargazing? A lantern (or two!) will fit the bill. No matter the occasion or out of doors location, designer outdoor lighting fixtures will help create memorable experiences.
From mid-century modern outdoor lighting pieces — like a portable globe lamp — to contemporary fixtures, the options are nearly endless. With an abundance of outdoor patio lighting ideas, setting the mood has never been so easy. There’s a handful of different outdoor lighting types and styles. Take a deep dive into this roundup of some of the most covetable options.
Types of Modern Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor Ceiling & Wall Lights
An outdoor wall sconce is a hardwired outdoor light that mounts to an exterior wall. Usually, this type of fixture is rendered in durable weather-proof materials, including brushed copper, bronze, and powder-coated aluminum. Outdoor wall lights make excellent patio lights, and come in many forms, including outdoor sconces, outdoor bulkhead lights, outdoor spotlights, and more.
Perfect as porch lights for covered porches and decks, outdoor ceiling lights are hardwired outdoor light fixtures meant to mount to or hang from a ceiling. Like with indoor ceiling lights, outdoor ceiling lights come in many forms, including outdoor hanging lights and pendants and flush-mount outdoor lights.
Outdoor Lantern Lights
Outdoor lantern lights are inviting outdoor lights with lantern-like silhouettes and warm, candle-like glows. Outdoor lantern lights at Design Within Reach match high-performance materials with the natural, understated beauty of candlelight. Many outdoor lanterns have convenient built-in handles designed to help you move them from place to place with ease. This type of light looks equally chic positioned on an outdoor dining table or lining a pathway.
Battery-Operated Outdoor Lights
Portable lamps are an increasingly popular choice for deck lights. Think of a portable lamp as a modern take on a lantern. It boasts a beautifully sculptural silhouette and is easy to transport from one outdoor area to the next. At Design Within Reach, shop battery-powered outdoor lights with impressive longevity and durability – many of the portable outdoor lamps available at DWR are weatherproof, and some are even solar-powered outdoor lights, with batteries that charge under the sun. Others double as outdoor speakers!
Outdoor Floor Lamps
An unconventional outdoor lighting solution if you’d rather not hardwire your patio light fixtures, outdoor floor lamps look and act just like indoor floor lamps, except they’re made to work outdoors. These outdoor lamps simply plug into a standard outlet and have been professionally treated to withstand outdoor conditions. Available in several different styles and finishes, outdoor floor lamps at DWR will distinguish your space like no other outdoor light fixture.
How to Choose Outdoor Lighting Fixtures
It’s best to narrow down your lighting needs before choosing outdoor fixtures. Ask yourself, “What am I trying to accomplish?” If you want to provide ample light for a dining area, opt for outdoor LED lighting. Many modern wall sconces employ long-lasting, energy efficient LEDs that ensure ample light for several years.
Portable outdoor lights (like a lantern or lamp) are an easy choice for outdoor areas without an outlet or nearby electricity. To illuminate a pool or an uncovered pathway, select outdoor waterproof lamps. This weather-resistant type will provide light, rain or shine.
As a rule, it’s important to choose weatherproof outdoor lights. Think about a fixture’s construction and material — and ensure that it can stand up to the elements. Powder-coated aluminum outdoor wall lights, high-density polyethylene lamps, and teak lanterns are among the best durable outdoor lights.
If you design your space with pragmatic yet stylish outdoor furniture and lighting, it’s destined to be a haven for seasons to come.
At Design Within Reach, we’re here to answer questions and more, with complementary design services to support you at every step of your interior design journey. Our staff of in-store design professionals can give advice and recommendations via chat, photos, and live video. They can also do 3-D renderings of your rooms so you can see how an arrangement might work. Look for the black chat icon at the lower right of webpages.