{"title":"Outdoor lighting for patio","description":"\u003cp\u003ePlan 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"quel-luminaire-choisir\"\u003eWhich outdoor light should you choose for a terrace?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eOutdoor terrace lights: the three uses to distinguish\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMove around, eat, look. Three uses, three qualities of light. For moving around, a grazing light that marks the ground without rising into the eyes: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/designix.fr\/collections\/luminaires-encastrables\"\u003erecessed spotlights set into the slab\u003c\/a\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eOutdoor patio lights: covered terrace or open terrace\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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. \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaires-d-exterieur-moderne\"\u003eModern-design outdoor lights\u003c\/a\u003e cover both cases, provided you read the specification of each model.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"ou-installer\"\u003eWhere should you install lights on a terrace?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eOutdoor patio lights: lighting the ground without glare\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGlare 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 \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaires-d-exterieur-sur-pied\"\u003efreestanding outdoor floor lamp\u003c\/a\u003e placed in a corner completes the whole without drilling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAt what height should a wall light be placed on a terrace?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAround 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"type-de-luminaire\"\u003eWhich type of light for which terrace?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eType of light\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhere to place it\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat it lights\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChoose it if\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWall light\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFacade or partition wall\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThe passage and the wall\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYou do not want to touch the slab\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecessed spotlight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSlab, step, low wall\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA precise point, a marker\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThe terrace is concrete or stone\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBollard or marker light\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTerrace edge, path\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThe ground and the outlines\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYou move around outside in the evening\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFreestanding floor lamp\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTerrace corner, near an armchair\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA seating area, reading\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo recessed connection is possible\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePergola pendant\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeam or high structure\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThe table and the dining area\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThe terrace is covered by a pergola\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eString lights\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRailing, trellis, tree\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThe decorative atmosphere\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYou want a mobile and light source\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaires-d-exterieur-suspendus\"\u003ePergola pendants\u003c\/a\u003e require a solid fixing point in the frame; string lights need only a hook and move with the seasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"indice-ip\"\u003eWhat IP protection for a terrace light?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eIP rating\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eExposure\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat it covers\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eLights concerned\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIP44\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCovered terrace, under canopy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater splashes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWall light, sheltered pendant\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIP54\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSemi-sheltered terrace\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDust and splashes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBollard, corner wall light\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIP65\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOpen terrace, poolside\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater jets and direct rain\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecessed spotlight, bollard\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIP67\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubmersible zone\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemporary immersion\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePool light\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe same reasoning applies indoors: see how the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaires-ip65-pour-salle-de-bain\"\u003eIP65 protection rating\u003c\/a\u003e reads in a wet room. Near a pool, go up a notch and consult the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaires-d-exterieur-pour-piscine\"\u003epoolside lighting\u003c\/a\u003e rather than a standard terrace model.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"luminaires-originaux\"\u003eOriginal lights: how to move away from the standard model?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eOriginal lights\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe selection of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaires-originaux\"\u003eoriginal lights\u003c\/a\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eShapes, materials and colours: what stands out from a distance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAluminium, stainless steel, tempered glass, polycarbonate or resin: each material ages differently outdoors. A \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaires-d-exterieur-coloris-blanc\"\u003ewhite outdoor light\u003c\/a\u003e matches light walls and joinery, anthracite fades into the half-light. For a more striking piece, see the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaires-d-exterieur-design\"\u003eoutdoor pieces with a crafted design\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"accord-interieur\"\u003eHow to match terrace lighting with the interior?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAround 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 \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaires-led-pour-salon\"\u003elight colour for a living room\u003c\/a\u003e extends outdoors, and a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaires-design-pour-salon\"\u003eliving room chandelier\u003c\/a\u003e glimpsed through the bay sets the tone for the evening. If you are dealing with the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaires-moderne-pour-cuisine\"\u003ekitchen decor\u003c\/a\u003e at the same time as the terrace, keep a single family of whites across both spaces, right up to the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaires-design-pour-cuisine\"\u003emodern kitchen decor\u003c\/a\u003e open to the outdoors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"installation-entretien\"\u003eHow to install and maintain a terrace light?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow to place a light on a terrace without drilling the slab?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat to do with the terrace light in winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLeave 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 \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaire\"\u003elighting store in Lyon\u003c\/a\u003e can advise you on spare parts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"petite-terrasse\"\u003eWhat lighting for a small terrace or a balcony?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e20 m2 terrace: how many light points?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThink 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 \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaires-sur-pied-pour-salon\"\u003efreestanding floor lamp\u003c\/a\u003e also works outdoors in summer, and a discreet model for a small room can be found among the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaires-pour-toilettes\"\u003elights for toilets\u003c\/a\u003e when the balcony is narrow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eBalcony: which light without drilling?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSecure 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 \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaire\"\u003elights\u003c\/a\u003e and take advantage of the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaire\"\u003elighting clearance in Lyon\u003c\/a\u003e, browse the available pieces and check the IP rating of each reference before confirming.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"faq\"\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary\u003eWhich lights for an outdoor terrace?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn an open terrace, you generally combine a wall light or a bollard for moving around, a recessed spotlight to mark the steps and a source above the table. The choice is then made on the IP rating according to rain and on the colour of light desired for the evenings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary\u003eOutdoor patio lights: warm white or neutral white?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eWarm white around 2700 K gives light close to the living room and suits meals and relaxation corners. A more neutral white, around 3000 or 4000 K, makes reliefs sharper and secures a step better. The simplest thing remains keeping the same family on both sides of the bay.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary\u003eCan an outdoor light be installed under a covered terrace?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes, and it is the simplest case: under a canopy, the light receives little direct water and an IP44 rating is often enough. Check the fixing to the support and leave access to the connection, as a covered terrace remains damp in winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary\u003eHow to light a terrace without dazzling guests?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eGlare comes from sources placed too high or aimed towards the eyes. Favour low lights that graze the ground, frosted diffusers, and a point above the table rather than facing the seating.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary\u003eDo you need a high IP rating for a terrace light?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot systematically. The rating must match the water the light actually receives: IP44 under a canopy, IP65 on an open terrace. A higher rating than necessary does no harm, but it does not replace correct installation with the cable gland pointing downwards.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"CollectionPage\",\"name\":\"Outdoor patio lights: choosing and placing them well\",\"description\":\"Choosing outdoor patio lights for a terrace: wall light, bollard, recessed spotlight or pendant, IP rating, light colour and mounting heights.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/designix.fr\/collections\/luminaires-d-exterieur-pour-terrasse\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"name\":\"Designix\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/designix.fr\"},\"speakable\":{\"@type\":\"SpeakableSpecification\",\"cssSelector\":[\"h1\",\"h2\"]}},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/designix.fr\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Lighting\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/designix.fr\/collections\/luminaire\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Lights\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/designix.fr\/collections\/luminaires\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Outdoor patio lights: choosing and placing them well\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/designix.fr\/collections\/luminaires-d-exterieur-pour-terrasse\"}]},{\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Which lights for an outdoor terrace?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"On an open terrace, you generally combine a wall light or a bollard for moving around, a recessed spotlight to mark the steps and a source above the table. The choice is then made on the IP rating according to rain and on the colour of light desired for the evenings.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Outdoor patio lights: warm white or neutral white?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Warm white around 2700 K gives light close to the living room and suits meals and relaxation corners. A more neutral white, around 3000 or 4000 K, makes reliefs sharper and secures a step or staircase better. The simplest thing remains keeping the same family on both sides of the bay.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can an outdoor light be installed under a covered terrace?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, and it is even the simplest case: under a canopy, the light receives little direct water and an IP44 rating is often enough. Still check the fixing to the support and leave access to the connection, as a covered terrace remains damp in winter.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How to light a terrace without dazzling guests?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Glare comes from sources placed too high or aimed towards the eyes. Favour low lights that graze the ground, opaque or frosted diffusers, and a point above the table rather than facing the seating. Crossing two weak sources is better than one very directed one.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do you need a high IP rating for a terrace light?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Not systematically. The rating must match the water the light actually receives: IP44 under a canopy, IP65 on an open terrace or near a pool, IP67 only in a submersible zone. A higher rating than necessary does no harm, but it does not replace correct installation with the cable gland pointing downwards.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Where to find original outdoor lights?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Original lights are recognisable by their shape in daylight: cylinder, dome, geometric volume, worked material. At Designix, the outdoor selection can be browsed by design and by colour, with pieces with a strong design as well as more understated models to match the facade.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Does a terrace light require a lot of maintenance?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Routine maintenance is enough: a soapy water clean at the start of the season, a cloth on the diffuser and a check of the seal before winter. Also check that the cable gland remains pointing downwards. If in doubt about the condition of a seal, it is better to replace it than to close the housing again.\"}}]}]}\u003c\/script\u003e","products":[],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0677\/8598\/2228\/collections\/designix-entete-luminaires-d-exterieur-pour-terrasse-v1.jpg?v=1792535986","url":"https:\/\/designix-lighting.com\/collections\/outdoor-patio-lights.oembed","provider":"Designix","version":"1.0","type":"link"}