Outdoor lighting options abound

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 HGTV's "Going Yard," advises his clients to give as much thought to the lighting of their outdoor space as they do to the furnishings.

Forget yesterday's 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: "They're an excellent way to make any humdrum outdoor space feel like an

actual room."

But, he says, choose wisely: "To get them right, you've got to take scale and proportion into consideration. Install one that's too small, and it will look like an afterthought. Install one that's 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.

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Outdoor lighting options abound