Outdoor lighting for patio

Plan for three light sources rather than one: a low light to draw the outline, a point above the table, a wall light near the door. The choice then depends on what the terrace needs to light and how exposed it is to rain, two criteria that decide the type of outdoor patio lights and their IP rating before any thought of style.

Which outdoor light should you choose for a terrace?

The choice depends first on what the terrace needs to light: a wall light or a bollard for moving around, a recessed spotlight to mark a step, a pendant or a floor lamp for the table. Then check the IP rating according to exposure to rain, and the colour of light, warmer for atmosphere, more neutral for eating.

Outdoor terrace lights: the three uses to distinguish

Move around, eat, look. Three uses, three qualities of light. For moving around, a grazing light that marks the ground without rising into the eyes: recessed spotlights set into the slab or a bollard at the edge of the terrace do this work. For eating, a source above the tabletop, high enough not to light faces from below. For atmosphere, low and few sources, placed along a low wall or a railing.

Outdoor patio lights: covered terrace or open terrace

A covered terrace receives little direct water: a sheltered wall light or pendant is enough, with a moderate IP rating. An open terrace takes slanting rain and spray from watering: aim higher on the IP scale and check the fixing to the support. Modern-design outdoor lights cover both cases, provided you read the specification of each model.

Where should you install lights on a terrace?

A terrace is rarely lit from a single point: the eye follows the ground, then the table, then the walls. Place low sources along the boundaries to draw the outline, a light above the table for meals, and a wall light at hand height near the entrance wall. Cross the beams rather than stacking them.

Outdoor patio lights: lighting the ground without glare

Glare comes from a light placed too high or aimed at the seating. A spotlight recessed into the slab, a low wall washed with light, a low bollard: indirect light gives shape to volumes without lighting the faces of guests. Two weak crossed sources are better than one very directed one, and a freestanding outdoor floor lamp placed in a corner completes the whole without drilling.

At what height should a wall light be placed on a terrace?

Around 1.20 to 1.50 m from the ground in general, at hand height: you read, you set down a glass, the light does not shine into the eyes. Near a door, go rather towards 1.80 m to light the passage. These markers remain orders of magnitude, to be adjusted according to the height of the wall and the position of the seating.

Which type of light for which terrace?

The support often decides for you. On concrete or stone, a recessed spotlight disappears into the slab and marks the way without clutter. On a wooden terrace or a balcony, fix to the facade or place a weighted model rather than drilling the boards, which move with humidity. Under a pergola, a pendant lights the table from above.

Pergola pendants require a solid fixing point in the frame; string lights need only a hook and move with the seasons.

What IP protection for a terrace light?

The first digit concerns solids, the second water: IP44 withstands splashes, IP65 jets and direct rain, IP67 temporary immersion. A covered terrace is fine with IP44, an open terrace is exposed to rain and requires IP65. There is no point going higher if the light stays under a canopy.

The same reasoning applies indoors: see how the IP65 protection rating reads in a wet room. Near a pool, go up a notch and consult the poolside lighting rather than a standard terrace model.

Original lights: how to move away from the standard model?

On a terrace, the light is also seen by day: a cylinder, a dome or a geometric shape makes as much of an impression as the light it produces. Light colours blend into a white wall, dark tones fade away in the evening. Choose a design that lasts rather than a model that surprises for a season.

Original lights

The selection of original lights reads by silhouette: simple volumes, worked materials, lines that stay clean from a few metres away. A wall light with a strong design near the door, a wide-stem floor lamp in the corner, and the terrace has an identity without multiplying light points.

Shapes, materials and colours: what stands out from a distance

Aluminium, stainless steel, tempered glass, polycarbonate or resin: each material ages differently outdoors. A white outdoor light matches light walls and joinery, anthracite fades into the half-light. For a more striking piece, see the outdoor pieces with a crafted design.

How to match terrace lighting with the interior?

A terrace is read from the living room: if the interior is warm white, a cold white terrace creates a visible break in the evening. Keep the same colour family on both sides of the bay and carry over the lines of the interior lights. Continuity shows more than performance.

Around 2700 K for meals and relaxation, 3000 K for moving around, 4000 K to secure a step: these markers help you decide. On the decor side, the light colour for a living room extends outdoors, and a living room chandelier glimpsed through the bay sets the tone for the evening. If you are dealing with the kitchen decor at the same time as the terrace, keep a single family of whites across both spaces, right up to the modern kitchen decor open to the outdoors.

How to install and maintain a terrace light?

A terrace light lasts longer if it is installed correctly: cable gland pointing downwards so that water does not run into the housing, seal wiped before closing, screws tightened without excess. A soapy water clean in spring and a check of the seals before winter are enough.

How to place a light on a terrace without drilling the slab?

A weighted base, a clamp on a railing, a wall light fixed to an existing support: three solutions that avoid drilling, useful when renting or on a heated slab. The cable remains visible, plan a clean run along the wall.

What to do with the terrace light in winter?

Leave in place the models intended for outdoors, cut the power to the string lights, wipe the diffusers and check the seals. A mobile model is brought in somewhere dry. For sensitive pieces, a lighting store in Lyon can advise you on spare parts.

What lighting for a small terrace or a balcony?

On a small terrace, three well-placed sources are better than a series of points: one on the ground for the outline, one above the table, one on the wall. A freestanding floor lamp or a wall light fixed to an existing support avoids drilling the slab of a rented balcony.

20 m2 terrace: how many light points?

Think in layers, not in numbers: a low point, a table point, a wall point. On 20 m2, this framework is enough in most cases; add a source only if an area remains in shadow. A freestanding floor lamp also works outdoors in summer, and a discreet model for a small room can be found among the lights for toilets when the balcony is narrow.

Balcony: which light without drilling?

A wall light on the facade wall, a weighted floor lamp, a string of lights on the railing. Avoid extension leads outdoors: prefer a fixed connection or a power supply intended for outdoor use, and keep the cable gland pointing downwards.

Secure payment, tracked delivery, returns and Designix customer service: the outdoor selection can be browsed by design and by colour, from the understated model to the statement light. To compare the lights and take advantage of the lighting clearance in Lyon, browse the available pieces and check the IP rating of each reference before confirming.

Frequently asked questions