Do you love to host parties outside during the summer, but are faced with the problem that once it gets dark you don’t have enough lighting for your guests?
Let’s look at 5 ways to create outdoor lighting that won’t cost you a fortune and will create amazing ambiance for your guests. Consider using a combination of these options in different parts of your yard to illuminate your party.
Tiki Torches to Lead the Way
It is always fun to have people enter an outdoor party without having to send them through your home. But for many homes this presents a problem. Our side yards and pathways are often unlit with no outdoor lighting or they are lit with a bright halogen spotlight on the side of the house that is uninviting and doesn’t properly set the mood.
Tiki torches are a simple inexpensive solution for lighting the way to the party. They create enough light to lead your guests down a safest path to your back yard haven. Space them about 5-10 feet apart for optimal lighting.
Candles to Create Ambiance
We all think of candles as a table top accent, and they certainly can be used that way. If you live in a buggy area a citronella candle or two on your table top can help keep pesky bugs away while your guests eat.
In recent years companies like Pottery Barn have brought back the lantern as an elegant outdoor party accent. Placing Lanterns on the corner of your porch or patio creates beautiful up-lighting and also help guests see where to step down in the dark. You can also use Cast Iron Outdoor Candle Stands in your garden to create light where it isn’t safe to have a lantern at ground level. Just be sure to place your stands on a slab or flat ground so they don’t tip over if bumped.
Paper Lanterns in Your Old Oak Tree
Have you always wanted to host a dinner party under the old Oak tree in your back yard but there’s not light there? Try stringing up some paper lanterns in your tree to create a summer spectacle.
The lighting will highlight the character of the tree and provide enough light for your guests to see what they are eating at the same time. The lights don’t burn hot and can strung 7-9 feet above the ground so bugs are drawn away from the tables.
Christmas Lights on Your Topiary
Christmas lights aren’t just for the holidays. White Christmas lights can be re-used throughout the year to help illuminate your outdoor parties. One tasteful method way to show off your green thumb and highlight your topiary is to wrap them with light strands for a party.
This will throw light on your blooming annuals and perennials and allow your guests to admire your passion for gardening.
Fire Pit for After Hours
When the temperature starts to drop and your early guests have headed home, treat your remaining guests to some warmth by lighting a fire pit or Chimenea on your patio. Just remember to keep a stack of wood handy or an extra propane tank on hand to keep the fire burning and your guests warm and toasty.
Hopefully these tips will inspire you to turn off those unattractive flood lights for your next outdoor party. You can have ample yet subtle lighting using inexpensive techniques that will create a safe and much more memorable evening for your guests.
Doug Hopeman is the owner of an outdoor living website specializing in outdoor patio furniture for your home.
Related articles
- Three Basic Types of Outdoor Lighting (wsbs.typepad.com)
