Top 5 Summer Lighting Options for a Backyard

Summer is the perfect time to take full advantage of the backyard. As the weather warms up, homeowners spend more time outdoors relaxing, swimming, partying by the poolside, barbecuing, and hosting a get-together to spend quality time with friends and family. 

Lighting up a backyard is the perfect way to enjoy it even after the sunset. Well-placed backyard lighting creates a functional, stylish, safe, and secure outdoor space to let the party continue for a little longer. It offers a perfect ambiance for a romantic dinner and makes the backyard more inviting for evening gatherings. 

There are some great options to make the outdoor space summer-ready. Here are a few lighting solutions for the backyard to create a visually appealing and safe atmosphere:

String lights

String lights are an affordable and popular outdoor decorative lighting option. They are not too glaring and create a warm, soft, and cozy environment. String lights offer homeowners the desired ambiance and set the mood for that perfect dinner with the family or a loved one. String lights are perfect when strung inside a pergola, hung to create a canopy, wrapped around tree trunks and branches, used for illuminating the living spaces to enjoy a patio dinner or backyard barbecue. 

Recessed lights

Outdoor recessed lights offer an excellent way to create a visual effect and enhance home security. An electrician can figure out how to incorporate recessed lights into the existing home. Add small recessed lights on the deck, around stairs, or railings. Homeowners can also mount them on the exterior walls or into the pergola beams to light up a specific area.  

Lanterns

Countless lanterns styles are available to light up the backyard party, including colorful paper lanterns, mason jar lanterns, and candle lanterns. Lanterns are timeless and offer a rustic feel to the outdoor space. Use lanterns to illuminate front porches, stairs, walkways, seating areas, and hang them from the trees to increase the visibility or set the ambiance right for a romantic dinner or large gathering.

Fairy lights

Fairy lights can add a magical appeal to the backyard. They offer a quick and affordable way to spruce up the outdoor space and add a sense of festivity to any gathering. The sparkling effect they create provides a perfect atmosphere for summer celebrations. Use them as temporary or permanent decorative fixtures and wrap them around trees, light up a path, or into any lighting fixture for parties, romantic dinners, and barbecues. 

Uplighting 

Uplights or spotlights add a dramatic appeal to the backyard. They are mounted below or at ground level and shine the light upward. Use them to highlight different architectural and landscape features, create beautiful shadows, enhance security, establish backyard boundaries, and add depth to flat surfaces like fences and walls.

Other popular backyard light options include pool lights, security lighting, wash lights, in-grade lights, path lighting, pendants, floodlights, tread lights, step lights, bollard lights, scones, and post lights.

Explore the best lighting for the backyard

When considering backyard lighting, choose the lighting wisely and keep it minimal. Bulbs and lights can pose an electrical hazard, especially when installed outdoors. Contact a local electrician to ensure proper wiring of the fixtures and take correct safety measures to avoid any mishap.


The qualified electricians at ACT Electric perform quality lighting, wiring, home generators, landscape and security lighting, and new home wiring jobs. We are a 24-hour emergency electrician to cater to all your needs any time of the day or night. call at (480) 986-1722.

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