While outdoor leisure areas are relaxing, they’re also some of the hardest areas to design correctly. Factors including shade, sun exposure, daylight hours, and even house color can factor greatly into the success of an outdoor leisure area. When outdoor spaces like this don’t thrive, it’s usually due to the lighting in that area being less than great. Here are some tips that you can use to improve your lighting in outdoor leisure areas.
Make Sure You Have Shade Coverage
Shade coverage is one of the most important things to have in any outdoor leisure area. While these areas don’t have to be completely undercover, it helps to have an area mostly covered from sunlight. In a lot of environments, the sun’s harsh rays strain people’s eyes. When these bright sunbeams are combined with the darker atmosphere of an outdoor leisure area, the result is a place that’s not relaxing—it’s distracting.
Pay Attention To Your Artificial Lighting
When it comes to outdoor lighting, there are a lot of options to choose from. Each option gives a different type of mood you can use to develop the furnishings of your outdoor setting. However, you need to choose the type of artificial lighting carefully. Some types of outdoor lighting—such as LED canopy lighting—are controllable in tone, warmth, and brightness. If you compare this to traditional incandescent bulbs, you’ll understand why you should choose your light fixtures carefully.
Use Natural Lighting In a Smart Way
The natural light within your outdoor leisure area must make sense within the space. Consider this when you’re designing it. An excellent example is using a gap in the ceiling as a chimney hole for an outdoor fireplace. Not only will this complement the area nicely as a centerpiece area, but it will also serve a functional purpose.
We hope you’ve enjoyed these tips for improving lighting in outdoor leisure areas. Don’t be afraid to try something unconventional if you think it’ll work. Remember, this is an ongoing process. Find what works best for your outdoor space.
