Some of the best memories that can be created involve celebrations and gatherings in your backyard. More often than not, these will be during the evening and into the night. None of those memories could be possible without some excellent outdoor lighting that will enable a safe and welcoming environment. Some creative lighting strategies can even elevate even the most simple of backyard designs. Here are five outdoor lighting ideas for celebrations and gatherings in Briarcliff Manor and Croton, NY.
Overhead String Lights
Not all lighting strategies need to be complicated. In fact, some of the simplest lighting strategies can have some of the greatest success in creating a festive and welcoming environment. String lights are frequently used around the world to enable a magnetic draw to the fun parts of the outdoors. Simply hanging a series of string lights across your patio will produce ambient light, but with a festive twist.
Marquee Lights
Evoking the stunning show business lights out of Hollywood or New York’s Theater District, marquee lights are a wonderful throwback of a lighting strategy. Not only do these lights immediately draw the eye to whatever they surround, but they have an exciting presence as well. Use marquee lights to encircle signs around your outdoor bar or let them be the primary light source in your outdoor pavilion.
Embracing Fire Light
There are few more successful light sources in a landscape than a fire feature. A fire pit, a fire table, or an outdoor fireplace in your gathering spaces will generate a warm, welcoming light. You can use one or more of these features either in the center of your patio or far off in a secluded corner of your backyard. Depending on the fuel used, a fire feature can either produce the more dramatic flames of a wood-fueled fire, or the more consistent and soothing ambience of a gas-fueled fire. Both will create immersion and you can also rely on the heat that emanates from the fire to build a great gathering space.
Integrated Masonry Lighting
By using the masonry features of your landscape, you’ll take an already essential structure and make it even more useful. Masonry features such as retaining walls, waterfalls, outdoor kitchens, fire features, fountains, pillars, and even the paved surfaces themselves can all make wonderful homes for light fixtures. This will keep the light fixtures safe and subtle while producing an essential ambience for safety reasons. These lights should illuminate the ground while also calling attention to the beautiful masonry in your landscape.
Utilizing Water Features
Water features are enjoyable during daytime, creating a sonic ambience that amplifies any kind of gathering. At night, they take outdoor gatherings to a new level. The refractive properties of water can make an incredible presence in lighting at night. Use any water feature in your backyard, including waterfalls, fountains, reflecting pools, natural bodies of water, and your pool to reflect and refract light in beautiful ways. Place underwater lights within these landscape features. Or, use spotlights to direct light onto the water. The resulting flickering of whites and blues will wash over the landscape and create a rich, visual tapestry that mimics the movements of the outdoor world.
Color-changing Bulbs
Install a few light fixtures that feature color-changing bulbs. These can be hard-wired or solar, and will provide exactly the right kind of lighting to set the mood for any gathering. Some will feature consistent colors while others change constantly for a more dynamic feel.