If you love spending time outdoors, whether it’s enjoying a meal on the patio or hosting a bonfire with friends, one thing that can really enhance the ambiance of any outdoor space is lighting. From string lights to lanterns, there are countless ways to add some warmth and illumination to your backyard or front porch. But besides lighting up these spaces, you need to add some light to your paths, perhaps your fire pit, pool or landscape. Today’s roundup is dedicated to pathway lighting, let’s consider some info before you choose an option.
How To Choose Pathway Lighting?
There are several key factors need to be considered. Let’s go through each of them one by one.
Style
Think about the style of your home and outdoor decor. You want your lighting to complement your space, not clash with it.
Safety
Safety should always be a top priority when it comes to outdoor lighting. Properly lit outdoor spaces can prevent accidents and deter unwanted visitors. Brighter fixtures are ideal for illuminating walkways and stairs. In addition to brightness, consider the placement of the fixtures. Make sure they are strategically placed to provide adequate lighting for the entire outdoor space.
Durability
When it comes to outdoor lighting, durability is key. You want to choose fixtures that are made from durable materials that can withstand the elements: aluminum, stainless steel, and brass. These materials are not only durable, but they also look great and can add a touch of elegance to your outdoor space.
To ensure the longevity of your outdoor fixtures, it’s important to regularly clean them and check for any damage. Clean the fixtures at least once a year, or more often if you live in an area with harsh weather conditions. It’s also a good idea to replace any damaged parts as soon as possible. This will not only help to keep the fixture looking good but it will also prevent any further damage to the fixture.
Automation
One of the main benefits of smart outdoor lighting is the automation and control systems. With the help of these systems, you can control the lighting of your outdoor space from anywhere in the world. Whether you are on vacation or at work, you can easily turn on or off the lights with the help of your smartphone.
How To Illuminate Walkways?
One of the most important areas to light up is your walkways. Not only do they provide a safe path to walk on, but they also create a warm and inviting atmosphere for your guests. You can use a mix of path lights, step lights, and wall lights to create a layered effect. With these factors in mind, let’s explore some creative walkway lighting ideas!
LED Options
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly option, LED lights are a great choice. Not only do they use less energy than traditional bulbs, but they also last longer, making them a more sustainable option in the long run. LED lights come in a variety of styles, including string lights and spotlights, so you can choose the option that works best for your space. If you’re looking for a more modern look, LED strips and rope lights are a great option. These lights can be used to create unique patterns and designs, and they’re incredibly easy to install. Plus, they’re available in a variety of colors, making it easy to find the perfect match for your outdoor decor.
A brick path with LED strips that give a lot of light to the space and make the garden safer and more welcoming.
A wooden path with lights built under it to make the look clean and a bit magical at the same time.
A gravel path lined up with LED strips looks perfect, bold and cool, and provides enough light to see it well.
A beautiful modern path of stone with hidden lights under the steps is a lovely idea for a modern outdoor space.
A concrete and gravel path with built-in lights looks modern and stylish, and hidden lights don't spoil the design.
Modern Lamps
Stylish modern lamps or even spotlights are a great idea for almost any walkway, they are usually tiny, come in very minimalist designs and give enough light. They don’t change your pathway design, they are almost invisible light sources.
A modern space with a green lawn, hedge, bold blooms and large black metal lamps that illuminate the space very well and can withstand harsh weather conditions.
A flagstone path with rocks, greenery, lavender and tiny outdoor lamps hidden is a beautiful walkway.
A stone path with a green lawn and greenery, with modern outdoor lamps is a cool solution for an elegant and classic garden.
A curved flagstone and gravel walkway with ferns along it and large outdoor lamps that give dimmed and cozy light.
A modern concrete and gravel path is lined up with stylish metal outdoor lamps that provide it with enough light.
A pretty stone path accented with outdoor lamps that feature a cool modern design and match the outdoor space very well.
A gravel path is lined up with tiny outdoor lights, topiaries and larger lanterns plus LED lights on the trees.
A simple garden path finished off with tall black lamps to provide a lot of light and add to the modern design of the space.
A marble path is lined up with ultra-modern mushroom-shaped lamps that are practical, stylish and cool.
A gravel and brick path is finished with low voltage mini lamps that look like light crystals and add interest to the design.
A white brick path lined up with grasses and greenery and modern lamps that bring a lot of light to the space, great for maximal safety.
A chic and elegant path lined up with a rock garden, with pebbles, greenery and large outdoor lamps that add to the scenery.
A gorgeous gravel and stone path lined up with greenery and bold blooms and with little spotlights placed between the rocks.
A gravel and rock path with small outdoor lamps that match the style and provide a lot of light to the space.
A gravel walkway with grasses and topiaries and small outdoor lamps that are durable as they are of metal, and give a lot of light.
Built-In Lights
Built-ins are perfect for many kinds of paths, those that are done with materials where you can easily build in something, for example, wood. They can be also built under the path but in such a case you should find out if they give enough light. This is a very pretty, modern and minimal solution for modern gardens.
A wide wooden path lined up with small neutral lamps is a cool idea for a modern garden, they illuminate the path gently.
A planked wooden pathway with built-in lights and a matching terrace compose a chic modern space, and railing lamps are a second layer.
A concrete path with pebbles, in which lights are hidden, is a perfect fit for a minimalist space.
A creatively shaped concrete pathway with built-in lights and garden beds with built-in lights as a second light layer.
Hidden lights built into the path itself are always a good idea as they match any garden style and any looks.
A whitewashed wood path with built-in lights is a cool idea for a modern space, they don't give much light but still are very seamless.
A modern gravel and concrete path with lights placed in the gravel, this is an easy and cool solution that can be DIYed.
A concrete and gravel path is accented with grasses and illuminated with lights built into the wall next to it.
A stone, gravel and rock path is finished with lights along it, placed in rocks, looks natural and becomes part of the garden.
A simple stone and gravel path is lined up with rocks, between which the lights are hidden to make the space look more natural.
A cool flagstone path with gravel, lights and lined up with hedges is a classic and sophisticated solution for a chic garden.
Other Ideas
You may also line up your path with various kinds of lamps that are out-of-the-box, for example, mushroom-shaped lamps, or plant-shaped ones that will become part of the scenery. One more creative idea is lit up tiles that can be included into your pathway design.
A fantastic garden path of concrete and LED lit up tiles is a unique solution that looks fairy-tale like and magical.
A gravel walkway is lined up with gorgeous tall lamps that give a lot of light and create a lovely path in the garden.
Such tall and small lamps give a lot of light to the path and can be hidden strategically in dense greenery or grasses.
Add a bit of magic to the space using lovely lanterns along the paths, this is a unique solution that will give a boho feel to the space.
Lit up mushrooms are a unique idea to illuminate your path or your garden, they are whimsical and cute.
Create your own magic with a red brick path, ferns and flowers and little lanterns, this is a fairy-tale.
A modern walkway lined up with hedges and with little lights placed in the hedge is a cool idea.
A stone path lined up with sphere lamps that look creative and add interest to the space.