Adding Lighting Features to Outdoor Decking
Like a screened-in porch, exterior lighting features for an outdoor living area are a relatively inexpensive addition that returns a lot of value to homeowners. They add pleasing ambiance to outdoor decking, and they make a space usable into the evening hours. Homeowners who enjoy hosting events and summer evenings outdoors find them especially valuable.
Remember that while outdoor decking may be what customers show the most initial interest in, they are often looking for a whole outdoor living space. Recommend additional touches such as lighting, water features, and more to help them complete their vision. Here are some common lighting features you can use to heighten the appeal of a space and make it more versatile for your customers.
Step Lighting
Step lighting is important for outdoor decking safety and aesthetics because it illuminates staircases, risers, and deck edges. You may incorporate step lighting in many ways to accentuate the aesthetic appeal of the deck and meet the style concerns of your customers.
Tape Lighting
Tape lighting is a versatile lighting solution for outdoor decking. They are often used as accents to highlight the lines on deck rails, stair rails, steps, and more. Tape lights come in long strips and can be connected to run along significant lengths of railing. They are affordable and attractive when used tastefully.
Wall Washers
Wall washers provide excellent ambient light and add a sense of height and space to an outdoor living space. They should be installed a few feet from the wall you wish to draw attention to.
Ambient Lights
Unlike step lighting, tape lighting, and wall washers, ambient lights are meant to draw attention. You should select fixtures that match the aesthetic of the home and the outdoor living space. Work closely with your customers to find ambient lighting fixtures that meet their outdoor decking and design vision.
Use Lighting to Your Advantage
Often seen as an add-on to an outdoor decking project, lighting features can actually be used as powerful selling points. Whether you are comfortable behind a camera yourself or you hire a photographer for your portfolio, snap some nighttime shots of a few lighting jobs you are proud of. A well-designed outdoor decking area with tasteful lighting lets homeowners imagine the possibilities for their space after dark.
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