From practical elements like outdoor furniture and sun canopies to fun decor choices like fire pits and water features, there's so much to focus on when decorating an outdoor space.
However, there is one key outdoor decorating element that homeowners tend to overlook when designing a backyard or patio.
To learn more about this oft-overlooked outdoor design component, we spoke with Kaitlin Desbiens, Director of Interior Design at Olson Lewis + Architects; and Seymen Usta, Interior Design Specialist and Co-Founder of Seus Lighting and Founder and CEO of Modern Chandelier.
??SIGN UP for the Dengarden / Parade Home & Garden newsletter for a weekly dose of our favorite house hacks, decor trends and shopping deals??
In fact, according to Desbiens, this particular decorating element "is often misunderstood as an expensive luxury, when in reality, it is one of the most impactful investments a client can make."
Plus, not only can this design element visually transform an outdoor space, but it can also help improve safety. Keep reading to learn more!
Related: I Thought I’d Ruined My Tomato Garden—Turns Out This Common Problem Has an Easy Fix
Desbiens and Usta agree that in many cases, the most overlooked outdoor decorating element is lighting.
"There are so many reasons lighting an outdoor space is often treated as an afterthought, including climate, schedule and budget," Desbiens explains to Parade. But overall, the common thread between all these reasons is "that the impact lighting can have is not always truly understood by the end user," she says.
"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
Tatiana Maksimova / Getty Images
"Due to the ethereal nature of light and its absence in daytime, people do not understand the fact that it dictates the emotional reaction of humans towards a space making them relaxed or alert," explains Usta. "The absence of light completes the outdoor decoration making it insignificant against the background of the night sky."
"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
Photo by Vero Eve on Unsplash
"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
Maskot / Getty Images
Rather than just having one type of lighting fixture throughout your outdoor space, Desbiens recommends "thinking about lighting in layers, where each source serves a different purpose depending on how the space is being used, while still contributing to the overall ambiance."
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
Justin Paget / Getty Images
Usta is a fan of "submerged illumination," aka lighting up outdoor water features from the inside, whether it's in a swimming pool, fountain or even a birdbath.
"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
Olga Rolenko / Getty Images
Installing wayfinding lighting involves using lighting features that can help guide people through a space when it's dark out.
"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
gorodenkoff / Getty Images
When thinking about where to install outdoor lights, consider where people will actually walk through and gather in your outdoor space.
"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."
Up Next:
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.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The Most Overlooked Outdoor Decorating Element, According to Designers—and It Can Completely Transform Your Backyard )
Also on site :
- Omnis Pleasants, LLC Initiates Voluntary Chapter 11 Proceeding to Facilitate Stakeholder Negotiations and Sale Process
- Thousands march in Pakistan-administered Kashmir amid election unrest
- One-third of Seattle’s downtown is empty: Here’s how America’s boomtown turned into one of the toughest places to find a job