Often, the lighting on your deck will not be enough to keep your steps safely and attractively lit. Instead of installing overhead lights on the steps that can create too much brightness and still leave steps in shadows, consider lights that gently illuminate your steps. These add enough lighting to make the steps easy to navigate, while not adding so much brightness that they ruin the peacefulness of your deck and yard.
When choosing lights, be sure to pick those specifically designed for outdoor use, as these are made to tolerate exposure to dampness. Choose from incandescent or LED to create the sort of light that you want while managing your power usage.
A few great choices:
Round Decorative Lights
Rounded lights in decorative finishes like brass add visual interest without overpowering other design elements. These lights are generally hooded. The illumination points down at the step where it is needed without contributing light pollution to the night sky.
Recessed Lights
Recessed rectangular lights are typically designed to be installed horizontally. Often, these can be installed on the edges of risers or at the edge of a step. Some situations call for a light on each riser; in other lighting situations, having a light every other step can provide enough illumination. These gently light up each step to create an intimate and warm area connecting your deck to the yard or garden below.
Louvered Recessed Lights
These recessed light covers have slats that shade the light and point it down toward the step. These are a terrific choice when you want to provide light for safe use of the stairs but do not want to add additional light to your deck or yard. If you live in a coastal area where lighting can be confusing to animals or if you wish to preserve your view of the night sky, louvered covers make a perfect lighting choice.
There are a wide range of lighting choices to add comfort and safety to your outdoor living spaces. By carefully considering which lights suit your needs best, you can find the ones that enhance your space and make it more welcoming to you and your guests.
