Outdoor lighting options a bright spot

Many Americans have embraced outdoor decorating, filling their yards with fluffy sofas, gleaming end tables and even outdoor rugs. But what happens when the sun goes down?

Chris Lambton, landscape designer and host of HGTVs Going Yard, advises his clients to give as much thought to the lighting of their outdoor space as they do to the furnishings.

Forget yesterdays glaring porch light, he says. You can now choose from a wide range of much subtler lighting options. Many are inexpensive and stylish enough to quickly turn a basic patio into a chic entertaining space.

Here Lambton and two other outdoor decorating experts Los Angeles-based designers Jeff Andrews and Brian Patrick Flynn offer advice on the newest, most attractive and safest options for outdoor lighting.

Many indoor furniture designs and fabrics are now available as outdoor items, Lambton says, and the same goes for lighting. Companies are creating outdoor versions of their most popular indoor lamps and fixtures.

Flynn is a fan of outdoor chandeliers on patios or decks that are covered: Theyre an excellent way to make any humdrum outdoor space feel like an actual room.

But, he says, choose wisely: To get them right, youve got to take scale and proportion into consideration. Install one thats too small, and it will look like an afterthought. Install one thats too big or hangs too low, and it will completely overwhelm the space.

Flynn also recommends using floor lamps and table lamps designed for outdoor use. Prices vary widely (from more than $1,000 to less than $100), so he suggests hunting online for deals and the perfect style.

Another option: Create your own outdoor fixture. Many electricians can rewire your favorite indoor lighting to be safely used outside, Lambton says. Search for whatever fixture you like, he says, then put an outdoor conduit in and attach it to a switch.

Vintage is always a key to good lighting, Andrews says, indoors and outdoors.

See the article here:
Outdoor lighting options a bright spot