How to choose outdoor lighting for terraces and gardens

Why it matters, at home or in a venue

Lighting a home terrace or a restaurant's outdoor seating area completely changes the atmosphere of evenings outdoors. The right light turns a dark corner into a welcoming space, where you can stop to chat or have dinner when it is warm. Whether you are fitting out your balcony at home or the tables of your venue, the right light makes people feel at ease.

Unlike indoor spaces, outside you have to deal with rain, wind, night-time humidity and dust. For this reason you cannot use lamps designed for the living room. Choosing suitable products saves you nasty surprises, short circuits and bulbs that burn out after the first summer storm.

A good outdoor lighting scheme combines safety with beauty. It means being able to walk without tripping, easily find the key in the lock and, at the same time, create a play of soft shadows that enhances the plants, the stone walls and the garden furniture.

What to look for, explained simply

The first thing to check is the IP rating followed by two numbers, which measures how well the lamp withstands water and dust. IP44 is fine for covered balconies or verandas sheltered from direct rain. IP65 is perfect for wall lights on the walls of your home or pendants under an open gazebo. IP67 is instead needed for fittings placed directly on the ground near plants or along paths, where water can pool.

For atmosphere, look at the light temperature measured in kelvin. A warm light of around 2700K gives a golden, relaxing tone, very similar to that of old filament bulbs. This shade is ideal for creating an intimate, welcoming mood, both on your home terrace and at the outdoor tables of a bar.

One detail that is often forgotten concerns insects: very cool, white lights attract swarms of moths and mosquitoes. Using a warm light helps you enjoy the evening outdoors in peace, reducing the nuisance of insects around the table.

Bulby's tips

• Always check the lamp's IP rating before buying it, making sure it suits the area where you will install it.
• Choose bulbs with a colour temperature of around 2700K for a warm, relaxing atmosphere.
• Plan several low-power light points instead of relying on a single, very strong lamp.
• Use string lights to create soft, festive lines above tables or along pergolas.
• Clean the glass and covers of outdoor lamps regularly to keep the light clear and bright.

The most common mistakes

The first mistake is buying indoor lamps and thinking a makeshift cover will protect them. Even when sheltered, night-time humidity gets into the circuits and ruins the electrical components in no time, creating safety risks for anyone using the space.

Another common mistake is overdoing the power and the amount of light. Lighting the garden as bright as day takes away that relaxing evening atmosphere and turns the terrace into a car park. It is better to spread several soft light points rather than use just one very strong, dazzling one.

Finally, underestimating the height at which string lights or pendants are fitted can spoil the end result. Cables that hang too low get in the way of people's heads as they move around, while badly placed light points cast annoying shadows right over plates or on people's faces.

Ideas for using it well

String lights are the simplest and most versatile solution for instantly adding a festive touch to a terrace or a venue's courtyard. You can hang them in a zig-zag above the tables, fix them from a wall to the nearest tree or run them along the balcony railing to define the space.

Wall lights help mark out the boundaries of the garden and light entrance doors safely and elegantly. Choose models that spread light both upwards and downwards, to draw clean geometric shapes on the facade of the house or venue.

Outdoor pendant lamps, perhaps made from natural materials or woven fibres, create a surprising focal point above the outdoor dining table. It will feel like bringing the comfort of the living room right under the stars.

In short

• IP ratings indicate how well the lamp resists water and dust, which is essential for outdoor safety.
• Warm light reduces the nuisance of insects and makes the space more welcoming for dinner or relaxing.
• A good outdoor scheme mixes wall lights, pendants and string lights to enhance every corner.