One of the easiest areas of your landscape to add great lighting to is your deck. Installing outdoor deck lighting is snap because the areas will all be in the same general area, making wiring easier if you plan on installing a low voltage lighting system. Decks are also usually situated in a way that they will receive a great amount of direct sunlight throughout the day, making it much easier to place solar lights. There also tends to be well defined areas on your deck for different tasks or activities making figuring out how different areas should be lit much easier. There are many different popular light fixtures that you can use on your deck available online, but here are four of the most popular fixtures for many homeowners.

#1: Wall Mounted Lights

Wall mounted lights are a deck lighting staple. Many homeowners install wall mounted halogen outdoor flood lights that light up huge portions of their deck. There are plenty of available places to install them and they usually don’t require much extra wiring because they can be powered from your home if need be. If you do choose to use the current from your home for these lights, you can avoid having to buy an expensive transformer. Unfortunately, they aren’t the most attractive or subtle lighting option.

There are several other options available for wall mounted lights. If you want to use outdoor solar lighting, you can find many different decorative solar powered wall lights. You can also other decorative lamps that run on low voltage power.

#2: Recessed LED Lights

Recessed LED lights are another very popular deck lighting option. These lights require a lot more effort in installation than most other types of light, but it is worth it. Recessed lights are actually uplights that are drilled into your deck, usually around railings and on steps, that shine ambient light up onto your deck. They usually make use of LED technology, meaning that they use relatively little power and the lights will only need replaced once every few years. All of the wires will also be run under the deck, removing a shocking and tripping hazard.

The biggest downside to installing these lights is the installation that is involved. You must first drill holes in your deck to provide a place for the lights to go and then run wiring under your deck, usually after installing a low voltage transformer as well.

#3: Railing Mounted Lanterns

Railing mounted lanterns are another great option for outdoor deck lights. Solar powered lights are a great option for these lanterns if you have a deck with great access to the sun. They’re very easy to install, you don’t even need a ladder to install them, and no extra wiring needs to be run if you go solar. They also make a great visual effect in the night, outlining the edge of your deck and providing light to whoever is sitting on it.

#4: Post Lights

If your deck is large enough, outdoor pole lights are a final popular option for providing deck lighting. These will provide a large circle of functional light that will greatly light up any area. They tend to be most useful around stairs, in task specific areas, like where you grill is located, or any other area of your deck that may need a lot of light.

All of these lights are great options for providing the right amount of light on your deck. By using one or a combination several different light fixtures you can create any number of different lighting effects and moods on your deck that you and your family are sure to enjoy.

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Filed under: Outdoor Light Fixtures

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