There is a lot to love about a finished Water and Earth backyard. From custom pools, to seamless paver patios and lush landscapes, it can be hard to pick just one feature to highlight. However, one of the elements of outdoor design that makes the biggest impact in a space is lighting. A great lighting plan not only increases the functionality of your backyard living space, but makes an incredible impact on the aesthetic appeal.
There are countless ways to integrate outdoor lighting into your outdoor design. From sleek, modern stair lighting, to functional pathway lighting or moody plant and pool spotlights, a perfectly placed light can bring your space to life well after the sun goes down. Here are a few of our favorite examples of how outdoor lighting transformed a few Richmond backyards.
Bar and Bench Lighting
This first space we're highlighting uses lighting to take their space from a bright daylight destination, to a cozy, cool nighttime hang spot. These homeowners were working with a small foot print, but creative layout and design choices brought huge design impact to this Richmond backyard. Below, you can see the impact a great lighting plan makes on transition this space from day to night. From perimeter lights, to under-bar lighting, to landscape spotlights, this dream backyard has it all.
One of our favorite parts of this particular space was the homeowners' choice of a bright blue, funky tile on the outdoor bar. Instead of losing this bold design element after dark. under-bar spotlights allow it pop 24/7. Around the perimeter of the space, lighting set into the fence illuminated the yard and ensures that the landscaping is still visible after the sun goes down.
Lighting is as much for function as it is style, and here, bench lights create accessible seating at all times while lighting along the home's ADU provides safety and visibility to the outdoor kitchen and dining space.
Moving around to the front of the ADU, you can see more examples of how lighting can be both useful, while highlighting modern design. Step lights guide the clients down their deck and out of their backyard, while highlighting the composite decking and modern lines of the stairs.
Spa and Pendant Lighting
This next space is a great example of how lighting can be integrated into, and elevate, any design. One of the most requested features for any of our clients is covered living space, or pergolas. While there are many ways to customize a standard pergola, adding lighting is one of the most practical things we can do that also adds a big design punch.
Below you can see the finished outdoor dining space. Above it, a stylish pendant light has been anchored and integrated into the finished pergola. Not only does this allow outdoor dinner parties to stretch long into the evening hours, but it brings indoor design sensibilities into the outdoor space. Adding additional function are can lights, wired into the pergolas support beams, as well as large heaters that extend the seasonability of the space.
While many homes are looking to build pools in their outdoor living space, not everyone has the space, need, or desire for an entire pool construction. In that case, a spa allows for additional entertainment without stretching space or maintenance requirements.
To make a spa such as the one featured below practical, they should be able to be used whenever you want. Below, custom inlaid spa lights illuminate the feature, adding a warm glow to the space. Instead of disappearing into the paver patio once the sun goes down, good lighting allows it to pop and remain functional no matter the time of day.
Pathway and Pool Lights
This last example calls back to a custom project overlooking the James river. While the space was small and presented unique layout challenges due to a steep include, the finished result was absolutely beautiful. Here, you can really see how lighting can be both functional and a key aesthetic factor.
Beginning at the entrance to the space, you can see below how step lights have been used to add safety and highlight the clean, minimal lines of the staircase. Can lights at the entrances provide the homeowners visibility and increase the safety of the property while adding a warm glow to the outdoor space.
Moving around to the other side of the house, path lighting plays double duty. Not only does it guide the homeowners along their concrete stepper pathway, but it casts a spotlight on the property's featured plantings. Landscaping can easily be lost as a feature once the sun goes down, but these spotlights breathe life into it and allow it to shine.
Finally, one of the most notable design elements in this space was the custom infinity pool that overlooked the James River. In-pool lighting provides visibility as well as ambience casting a moody blue glow that allows the clients to take a dip at any hour of the day or night.
Don't Underestimate Outdoor Lighting
When a design is finished, it's easy to put the most emphasis on the larger or more obvious items in a space. A great pool, a new deck, or a custom spa all are well deserving of attention. But outdoor lighting should not be overlooked or overestimated. The right lighting plan will bring an outdoor living space to life, allowing it to shine long after the sun goes down.
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