Deck Lighting Ideas

The deck is the pride and joy of many a backyard getaway, creating a centerpiece for your yard whether entertaining or relaxing. With the right outdoor patio lighting ideas and some outdoor furniture, the back deck can be as comfortable as the living room or den indoors.

If it’s time to spruce up the deck or patio, consider these deck lighting ideas for making the most of your backyard when the sun goes down.

Outdoor Lighting Ideas for Patios and Decks

The openness of a patio or deck space can be accented and amplified with the right lighting. Chase away shadows to make the patio appear larger than it is, or use the lighting to add additional shadows that create depth and interest. Craft the light placement to highlight the edges of spaces inside the boundaries of the deck, or to light up the border of the path that leads away from it. There are a variety of tricks to creating a comfortable space and emphasizing the shape and size of the back deck area with the right light fixtures.

String Lighting

A more recent favorite style update, string lighting provides a versatile look with a highly mobile light fixture. String lights can be used sparingly for a touch of ambiance, or multiple strands can be linked together to make the deck or patio as bright as daylight.

Look for string lighting with different colored lights and a variety of bulb styles, from clear and round globes, to the yellowed, angular look of vintage-inspired Edison bulbs. You can even choose the number of bulbs on a single strand, and how far apart the bulbs should be spaced, in addition to the basics of how long the cord should be to cover the area of your deck you wish to decorate.

There are many ways to install string lights around a deck or patio. 

• Install screw-in hook hardware along the fence line or the house eaves. Attach the string lights using carabiner clips, or by simply stringing the cable over the hook.
• Thread the string lights from and among tree branches overhead.
• Wrap the string lights around posts and support beams around an enclosed deck. If the support posts cross, hang the strands moving out from the center to create a circular pattern with the lights overhead, or drape them from edge to edge for a layered look.
• Install 8’ or taller posts into movable planter boxes that can be easily rearranged around the patio or deck. Suspend the lights between multiple posts anywhere around the deck. Use screw in hooks, zip ties, or cable mounts to attach the lights to the top of the posts.
• Permanently install posts along the edge of the patio or deck, pathways, or the fence line. Attach the string lights at the top of the posts.

If you’re looking for a style similar to string lights with smaller bulbs, look to the versatile rope light. Rather than exposed bulbs, rope lights utilize small LED lights enclosed in a plastic tubing. The lights are just as bright as string lighting, but they are smaller and placed more closely together.

Rope lights install easily with mounting clips. The clear tubing can be wrapped around support posts, tree trunks, or hidden along the edges of different deck features to wrap around the entire space. Where you can install rope lights really just depends on how many feet of rope lighting you buy. 

When hanging string lighting or installing rope lights, be careful not to pinch the cable or strip any of the protective plastic cover from the cords. Using string lights in your deck lighting ideas incorporates simple, sometimes whimsical design in your outdoor spaces. It keeps the area safely lit and adds a unique style to blend with any backyard motif.

Fire Features

Among other popular outdoor patio lighting ideas for the back deck are fire features, such as an enclosed fire pit. Fire pits are good for warmth in the winter, and ambiance year round, especially when entertaining. Look for the classic fire pit style, or choose a tabletop fire tray with fire glass. Fire features can be installed to connect to propane tanks or your home’s natural gas line, or you can opt for the wood-burning fire pits for the traditional style.

Flood Lights

For deck lighting ideas that will achieve the brightest, most generalized coverage area on a deck or patio, look to flood lights. They work well for providing light to any large area, from the back deck to the side yard, or in front of the garage along the driveway. 

Flood lights are excellent options for boosting the security of your yard because of the variety of features they provide. Choose from options like motion sensors that detect movement and turn the lights on automatically, to photocells that activate the lights as needed when the outdoor lighting is low after sundown or due to cloud cover. When it comes to powering the fixtures, flood lights can be purchased with direct line voltage connection, or as low voltage fixtures to suit your home’s outdoor lighting system.

Outdoor Stair Lighting Ideas

Deck lighting can present the unique challenge of dealing with stairs, steps, and ramps. An important part of enjoying your backyard is making sure every space is safe to get to, and dark steps can be daunting. There are multiple ways to tackle choosing and installing the best step or stair lighting for the back deck.

Outdoor Step Lights

The stairs to the deck should be as easily accessed as the rest of the space, which is where outdoor step lights come in. These small, wall-mounted lights sit a few inches above the steps to help clearly define the edge and prevent stumbles or injury. 

Step lights can be wired to a low voltage power supply, and are also available in solar. They come in multiple design styles, from the flat and square, inset pocket lights, to rounded, half-moon bubble lights that project unobtrusively out over the steps. The shaped lenses are shielded to prevent the light from shining up into the eyes of those walking on the stairs. 

Narrow hardscape lighting options allow the step lights to be hidden under the edge of stone steps or nearby retaining walls. Hardscape lighting is a low-voltage light with a slim profile that is installed beneath the edge of the step to shine down on the surface below it. They can be added during construction of a new deck, or can be fit in to existing decks by temporarily removing the step surface to place the flat mounting plate.

Deck Post Lights

Deck post cap lighting offers a touch of decoration to secure and safe backyard illumination. Deck post lights sit atop the fenceline or along outdoor stair balusters to cast light onto the walking path or stairs below. They light up the railings of raised decks for an added layer of outdoor ambiance alongside other types of lighting around the space.

Post caps are limited in light coverage area by design, often having a louvered, lantern design that reflects the light downward. They don’t provide general illumination for the entire deck area but they are an excellent design choice for railing balusters or along the deck steps.

Look for solar powered post caps for the easiest placement options on a sunny deck or patio. Bright LED lighting helps keep line or low voltage post caps inexpensive to operate over years of quality use.

Enclosed Deck Lighting Ideas

When the deck has an overhead ceiling, or crossbeam supports, a few more lighting options open up. These deck lighting ideas add extra emphasis to the design elements of your back patio and help extend the custom comfort of your indoor living spaces outside.

Outdoor Chandeliers

The elegant and characteristic charm of the chandelier isn’t just for the front foyer. Many styles of chandelier fit well over a protected patio, providing their wiring is rated for wet environments. Outdoor chandeliers can be found in durable materials and a variety of themes, whether you want to amplify a country vibe with something rustic, or bring in a modern chandelier with smooth lines and metallic surfaces.

Outdoor Ceiling Fans

In the summer and fall, a protected patio can be a nice place to catch a breeze, but only if the wind is blowing. An outdoor ceiling fan allows you to flip a switch and turn on the breeze while you’re outside and enjoying your deck or patio. They can be wired into the home’s electricity just like any other ceiling fan, but it’s important to make sure that your outdoor ceiling fans are wet rated for outdoor environments.