Outdoor lighting comes of age

Coloured lights, illuminated furniture and subtle fixtures designed to blend with nature will be popular this year, according to design professionals.

Workman expects to see the use of colour increase, and “I don’t mean Christmas lights,” she said. Landscapers are starting to incorporate subtle red, blue and pink lights into their work, she said.

Colour is particularly appropriate if you are planning a party, Rossbund added. It’s “a fun way to change things up,” she said.

Some homeowners are adding a bright pop of colour with light-up patio furniture, Robert said. The battery-powered chairs and tables are available in a variety of colours.

International designers like Modoluce and Neoz have created lines of plastic tables and chairs that are lit from within.

Avanzini has a line of wood furniture made with glowing light strips. It helps create a lounge look that Robert thinks will be popular this summer.

“With the rise of staycations, we will see a lot of designs adopting a real bar-type lounge attitude, with perhaps more extravagant and festive pieces,” she said.

Moonlight USA sells decorative outdoor illuminated globes, which can glow white like the moon or cast light in a rainbow of colours. The company also makes a tabletop for the globes. The clear acrylic disc has a cut-out centre that allows it to rest on top of the globe so it can function as a table.

“The colour is very robust,” said owner Anke Kondek. “It’s a wow effect.”

Homeowners wanting to light a more natural setting may go for a softer, more layered look, said Beth Webb, an interior designer in Atlanta. She favours the custom copper-and-wood pieces made by The Outdoor Lights in Cumming, Ga.

Company president Chris Wakefield has created lights that cast a warm glow around fire pits, dining areas or outdoor living rooms. Some of his more popular items include punctured copper cylinders that create a firefly effect, stamped copper lanterns and illuminated, artificial birdhouses. The lanterns can hang from a shepherd’s hook or a tree branch.

Before buying lights for reading, lounging or dining, the professionals recommend making sure that pathways and steps are properly lit for safety.

“You want light to help you navigate spaces near or around steps,” said Jeff Dross, director of education and industry trends for Kichler Lighting.

He and the other experts warned against making outdoor spaces too bright. They suggest using subtle light that is aimed toward the ground wherever possible.

“For most tasks you only need low light,” Dross said. “Avoid that glare. Glare forces you to think you need more light than you do.”