However, there is one key outdoor decorating element that homeowners tend to overlook when designing a backyard or patio.
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Plus, not only can this design element visually transform an outdoor space, but it can also help improve safety. Keep reading to learn more!
Desbiens and Usta agree that in many cases, the most overlooked outdoor decorating element is lighting.
"Many outdoor areas are covered in sunlight for the majority of our waking hours, so lighting can feel like a less essential added cost when natural light is already doing most of the work," she adds.
"The only decorative element capable of affecting the perception of space is light," Usta tells Parade. As he explains, lighting can make "a small urban courtyard appear higher or [make] a large backyard appear intimate and closed in."
Why Lighting Is So Important When Designing an Outdoor Space
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"A thoughtfully lit outdoor area can extend the walls of a home, making living and entertaining in that zone more enjoyable both during and after sunset," adds Desbiens. "Good lighting sets the scene: it highlights architectural and landscaping elements, creates atmosphere, improves safety and security and helps a space feel just as intentional at night as it does during the day."
Related: 15 Outdoor Room Ideas That Make a Backyard Feel Like an Extension of Your Home
How to Thoughtfully Incorporate Lighting When Designing an Outdoor Space
1. Silhouette lighting against walls
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"Placing a hidden light source in front of dense plant structures such as ornamental grasses, structural palms or architectural topiaries and then aiming it at a plain wall on the exterior side creates an amazing picture like in a gallery," explains Usata. "This process makes the walls of the house look like canvases where huge silhouettes of plants are cast, adding aesthetic value to the garden while creating no physical clutter."
2. Light in layers
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She adds that layering lighting "creates depth, makes the environment feel more inviting and gives homeowners flexibility instead of relying on a one-switch-fits-all solution." That said, layered lighting doesn't have to be expensive—simple solutions like rechargeable tabletop lamps and plug-in lanterns could help achieve the look.
3. Utilize submerged illumination
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"The light is refracted through water, throwing beautiful dancing waves onto neighboring trees and even ceiling and thus creating texture for the whole outdoor living space," he says. "This lighting transforms an otherwise dark and dull part of the backyard into something interesting and captivating and ensures that movement of water can be viewed even at night."
4. Install wayfinding lighting
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"Lighting should do more than simply brighten a space. It should help people move naturally through it," says Desbiens. "Path and step lighting improves safety and security while also guiding people toward entrances, walkways and gathering areas in an intuitive way. It can also draw attention to landscaping or architectural details without overwhelming the overall design."
5. Install practical lighting that supports using the space
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"That usually leads to creating smaller lighting zones and framing 'moments' with light," says Desbiens. "Elements like tabletop lighting, candles, rechargeable lamps and overhead lighting that doubles as heat on a cool summer night help create warmth, define gathering areas and make the overall environment feel more comfortable and intentional."
Related: Interior Designers Say These Are the Flea Market Finds Worth Bringing Home This July
Sources:
Kaitlin Desbiens, Director of Interior Design at Olson Lewis + ArchitectsSeymen Usta, Interior Design Specialist and Co-Founder of Seus Lighting and Founder and CEO of Modern ChandelierHence then, the article about the most overlooked outdoor decorating element according to designers and it can completely transform your backyard was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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