Where To Place Your Patio Lights

Patio lights generally fall under the two categories of lighting known as accent lighting and task lighting

. The third type of lighting is called general lighting, which usually just refers to lights that brighten an entire room. Most overheads lights and flood lights are examples of general lighting. Patio lights are different because they aren't meant to brighten up an entire area. Instead their purpose is to offer enough lighting to make the space usable at night and also to help create the appropriate atmosphere. That's why they can be used as accent or task lighting. Patio lights can function similarly to candles, which are a common source of accent lighting, or a table or desk lamp, which are often used for task lighting.

For example, if you have an outdoor hammock on your patio and are fond of lying out there and reading at night, general lighting would not be your best choice. Too much light will distort the setting and make it almost as if you are reading indoors. That's why you should hang your patio lights so that they form task or accent lighting. Lights near the hammock will make it possible to read without distracting others with too much bright light. Or if you prefer using the hammock for sleeping or conversations, you can arrange the lights to give off accent lighting, which will offer enough visibility to see other people's faces and to walk around outdoors without the risk of running into things.

Accent lights are often placed on the ground and project light upward to help people find their way around a space. Task lights are generally placed overhead so that they project light down onto a person or surface. You may want to use lights at places people are likely to gather such an outdoor grill or steps leading down to the garden. For a table setting, a good idea is to use an umbrella cover and have lights underneath the umbrella. This directs the light down to the table where people need it and also keeps the light from distracting others.

by: Chloe Wilson

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