Concrete lighting for patios

Plan on one light per area to be marked out: a low bollard on the slab, a wall light on the low wall, a table lamp near the dining corner. Concrete holds up outdoors because its mineral body withstands humidity and temperature swings, provided you choose the right ingress protection rating and a base suited to the light source.

• What is a concrete light
• Where to install it on the terrace
• Shape and height
• Light colour
• Care and wintering
• See and match
• Install and secure

What is a concrete outdoor light for a terrace and what light does it give?

A concrete outdoor light for a terrace is an outdoor fixture whose mineral body resists humidity and temperature swings. You choose it first on its ingress protection rating and its base, then on its finish. The light, warm and grazing, highlights the slabs and the planting.

Concrete outdoor lights for a terrace: why concrete holds up outdoors

Our collection brings together 7 concrete outdoor lights for terraces. The finish never replaces the ingress protection rating, which you can compare in our IP65 rating selection. A gentler option exists with IP44 protection, reserved for covered areas.

Concrete outdoor lights: which light to choose for the mood?

The base decides the flexibility: E27 for a bulb you replace, GU10 to aim a beam, integrated LED for a sealed unit you never open. For mood, a warm white around 2700 K gilds the surface and flatters the grain of the concrete, a neutral white around 3000 K lights a table more directly. Above 4000 K, the light hardens the stone and the foliage. Indoors, the same logic applies in our lighting collection.

Where to install a concrete outdoor light on the terrace?

We distinguish the slab or the patio, the low wall, the pool edge and the walkways. The pool edge requires a highly protected fixture, while a smooth slab takes a low bollard or a table lamp. Each area calls for a different format.

Concrete outdoor lights for a pool terrace

Around the pool, the light must stay low and glare-free: you light the ground, not the bathers' eyes. A bollard or a recessed spotlight set back from the edge is enough. The protection level goes up a notch, and a submerged fixture follows yet other rules, detailed in our pool lighting. For non-submerged surroundings, our selection of pool lights remains the right starting point.

Concrete outdoor lights for a smooth terrace: slabs, patio and coping

On a light, even slab, grey concrete creates a sharp contrast; on a wooden patio, it echoes the mineral quality of the garden. A low bollard 40 to 60 cm above the ground marks changes in level without cluttering the walkway. Allow about 2 to 3 m between two points for a continuous line.

How to choose the shape and height of a concrete outdoor light for a terrace?

The shape follows the area to be lit. A low bollard lights the ground and the steps, a wall light lights a wall, a pendant suits a covered terrace. A table lamp moves around as the evening goes on.

Large chandelier for a high ceiling: how to adapt it to a covered terrace?

A large chandelier for a high ceiling finds its place under a pergola or an awning, where the volume allows it. Allow about 2.10 m between the ground and the bottom of the fixture so as not to hinder movement. The weight of concrete requires a solid anchor point, and the fixture must remain designed for outdoor use. Under cover, a hanging piece with a strong silhouette does the job; our pendant lights selection gives proportion benchmarks.

Original lights: when concrete becomes a sculptural piece

A bollard with sharp edges, a raw wall light in generous dimensions or a table lamp shaped like a block change how you see a terrace. These original pieces are chosen for their silhouette, but they must light well: a beam directed downwards remains more useful than a uniform glowing volume. Tinted or waxed concrete opens other paths, notably in beige tones.

Which light colour for a concrete terrace?

A warm white brings out the grain of the concrete and stays pleasant in the evening. A neutral white is better for reading or cooking outdoors. We stay in the same family of tones as indoors to avoid a visible break from the living room.

Living room light colour: how to extend it onto the terrace?

The light colour of a living room is measured in colour temperature: a warm white relaxes, a neutral white energises. Extending that mood outdoors means staying in the same family, without dropping to cold tones that harden the concrete. If the living room is fitted with LED, our LED lighting for living rooms shows the common tones, and design lights for living rooms give an idea of the shapes to carry outdoors.

WC light and WC decoration: mistakes to avoid outdoors

A WC light calls for soft light and an easy-to-clean surface. The logic holds for a shower corner or an outdoor sanitary area: a discreet wall light, a warm white, protection suited to humidity. The mistake is to transpose a WC decoration made of fabric or untreated wood onto an exposed terrace. For indoor wet rooms, toilet lights covers the subject.

How to care for a concrete outdoor light and avoid bad recipes?

A concrete outdoor light is cleaned with a soft cloth and clear water. Old wives' recipes for stripping furniture target wood or metal, not concrete. A product that is too aggressive marks the surface and can damage the protection against humidity.

Old wives' recipe for stripping furniture: why it does not apply to concrete

White vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, household alcohol: these mixtures attack the varnishes and patinas of furniture. On concrete, they leave light marks and weaken the surface layer. An outdoor light has nothing to strip: it is dusted. For indoor furniture, suitable solutions can be found among luxury lights, whose finishes also call for gentle care.

Cleaning and wintering a concrete outdoor light

Switch off the power, dust dry, then wipe with a damp cloth without detergent. Check the seal of the cover and the condition of the cable. In areas highly exposed to frost, a mobile fixture is brought in or sheltered; a fixed fixture stays in place if it is designed for outdoor use. Recessed models require a check of the drainage around the housing, as with recessed lights.

Where to see these lights and how to match them to the home?

To judge a shade of concrete and the effect of a light, nothing beats seeing it in person. A visit to the Lyon store or browsing the online selection already gives good benchmarks. Indoors, we keep the same family of spirit.

Lyon lighting store and Lyon lights: how to prepare your visit?

Note the dimensions of the area, the height available under cover and the number of points you want. On site, compare the grains of concrete under daylight and ask to see the fixture switched on. The online lighting catalogue lets you shortlist before travelling, then review everything in our full range of lights.

Modern kitchen decor and Lyon lighting clearance: the same standard

A successful terrace extends the home: same materials, same tones, same installation heights. For a modern kitchen, you look for the same consistency as outdoors. Lyon lighting clearance lets you take home an ex-display model, provided you check the ingress protection rating and the fixing. Material-to-material pairings work well, such as wood and black.

How to install and secure a concrete outdoor light for a terrace?

Installation requires a fixture suited to humidity, a solid fixing and protected wiring. An indoor light installed outdoors deteriorates quickly. If in doubt, have the fixing point and the power supply checked.

Concrete outdoor lights for a terrace: which protection rating to choose?

The ingress protection rating is read on the label: the first digit concerns dust, the second water. For an exposed terrace, aim for a fixture resistant to water jets; under cover, protection against splashes may be enough. A submerged fixture follows yet another level. Stick to the model's technical data sheet, without extrapolating. The subject overlaps with freestanding outdoor lights.

Living room chandelier or kitchen chandelier: can they be installed outdoors?

A living room chandelier or a kitchen chandelier is designed for an indoor ceiling: humidity and temperature swings damage it, and its finishes do not hold up. On a covered terrace, an outdoor pendant with protection is preferred. Indoors, dining room pendants and floor lamps cover other needs. For a utility room, our garage lighting handles dusty environments.

Secure payment, tracked delivery, returns and Designix customer service: you order with no risk, and you can ask your questions before confirming a format.

Describe your terrace, the surface, the exposure and the height under cover: Designix customer service helps you decide between a low bollard, a wall light and a pendant.

Frequently asked questions about concrete outdoor lights for terraces