Outdoor spaces are all the rage. Gone are the days when aluminum framed lawn chairs or a wicker lounge set sufficed for all your backyard needs, as we devise more and more ways to bring the comforts of indoors, out.
A BIG part of that is lighting. Good lighting in any space has the ability to transform, and the outdoors in no exception. Of course, the type of lighting you choose largely depends on the particulars of your outdoor space, but there are definite trends out there that may help guide you in your decision.
Green
Clockwise from the top; Soji solar lanterns, Oxo LED rechargeable lanterns, IKEA's battery operated outdoor lights, Oxo LED rechargeable lantern.
Low energy, solar, rechargeable or battery operated, these typically modern-style options are loved especially because they’re cordless. The Oxo rechargeable LED lanterns made a big splash in the recent past and other low-impact/low-maintenance options followed. The Soji solar lanterns offer the look of interior lanterns with a fade-resistant nylon, and IKEA’s battery-operated options come in sizes small enough to illuminate your food wile dining.
Rustic Lanterns
Clockwise from the top; lanterns from ZGallery, West Elm lanterns, Moorish lantern from Kuda, Moroccan-inspired lantern via MoroccanDecor.co.uk.
What could be greener than no power at all? These rustic and Moorish-inspired options are like earrings for your backyard, dressing up and providing interest with very little investment. Almost always made of natural materials such glass, metal, and ceramics, few artificial lighting options have the same charm. Ubiquitous in the market, there’s surely a lantern out there to suit any taste.
The "Indoor" Pendant
Foscarinin's "Havana" pendant lamp.
This here is a splurge: over $600 a pop, and uses incandescent bulbs. But it’s done what the world of exterior design has been aiming to do for some time, which is simply take an indoor pendant lamp, out. Foscarini’s (a revered lighting design/manufacturer) best seller, the “Havana” (as in the cigar) has been selected by New York’s Museum of Modern Art to be part of their permanent design collection. This is in fact an outdoor version of the original indoor lamp, perfectly weather resistant, and available in pendant or floor-standing models – yes, in Canada.
Torches
Photo by Amy Rosenfeld, This Old House.
This option is my personal favourite. Torches pack so much atmosphere in their punch! My back yard, while ample, is really nothing to speak of save for if you’re talking about weeds, bugs and a lack of landscaping, but every time I host any type of outdoor gathering, I just throw up some torches around the table and the evening is instantly transformed. These copper and other solid options are very much worth the investment over the wicker Tikis you get at your local super market (even though those are great for last-minute décor) and will most definitely save you that pile of broken bamboo that ends up in the corner of your yard if you are to go with the former.
Fat Chance You’ll Find These in Canada, but aren’t They Cool?
Clockwise from the top; “Miami” standing lamp by Antonangeli, via
Trendir.com, BLOOM! flower pot lights via
Luxis.com, Moonlight Globe LED lights by Moonlighting USA, “The
Corona” solar light via Inhabitat.com.
Those designers…always busy! Above is some eye-candy that has been making the international design rounds, which, if nothing else, can give you hints as to where the world of outdoor mood lighting is going. That solar “Corona” light can be detached from its “stem” and affixed to the wall, or simply rest on a flat surface, and I especially can’t get enough of those Moonlighting globes that are made of weatherproof, shatterproof polyethylene plastic, and come in a battery-powered option that can be thrown in the pool!
What is your choice for outdoor mood lighting? Anything to add?
Previously on Top 5 Friday: Bring the Beach Home
Top 5 Friday is featured every week on Stylesheet.
Related:
All things Backyard Living, on HGTV.ca