Lighting around your pergola can make all the difference but how do you get the lighting right? The good news is that there is an extensive range of lighting to choose from to help you make sure that your pergola is both beautiful and practical.
Choosing Lighting for Your Pergola
There are so many options to choose from when it comes to pergola lighting; some of the more common ones include:
- Fire pits
- Outdoor fireplaces
- Torches
- Lanterns
- String lights
- Candles
- Spot/flood lights
- Solar lights
- Sensor lights
The key to choosing the right lights is to know what you will mainly be using your pergola for. For example, if your goal is to have a pergola for entertaining guests, you may want a soft light so that your guests can still see by with some task lighting for making drinks or barbecuing. You can achieve this by using a spotlight directed to the task areas, some string lights draped around the pergola, and perhaps and outdoor fireplace that people can gather around. For a romantic evening with your partner, you can use candles, torches, or the light from a fire as your sole lighting. If your pergola is an alfresco dining area, you may want to use a combination of spotlights for general lighting and string lights and lanterns for ambience. To highlight the pergola itself, you can place spiked solar lights all around the perimeter.
Think About Your Budget
When choosing pergola lighting, you will have to keep your budget in mind. This doesn’t only apply to the cost of the lights or the form of lighting itself but also the running costs. Look for lights that meet your initial budget but which won’t cost a fortune to run later. For example, electric lights look great, but with the increasing cost of electricity, they can become quite expensive, primarily if they don’t use energy efficient bulbs. A wood fireplace looks fantastic and gives off gorgeous light, but it can be quite expensive to source replacement wood. Also, think about the cost of replacing the lights should they become damaged in weather. If you’re looking for an affordable, high-quality pergola check out pergola Sydney builders – Sunscreen.
Keep Safety and Security in Mind
It may seem like a bit of overkill, but you do have to keep safety and security in mind when you are lighting your pergola, especially if your pergola is located near your home if it is part of the pool area. Installing sensor lighting is a great idea as you’ll be able to see where you are going as you approach the patio and it will also serve as an early warning system.
