The Best Outdoor Pergola Lighting Ideas To Illuminate Your Space
Pergolas are an excellent way for you to enjoy your outside space, even during dusky evenings. If you want to relax in your garden all day and night, or you love stargazing and outdoor cooking, pergolas can create a great ambience and a cosy atmosphere.
At The OI, we have extensive experience designing and installing pergolas for homes across the West Midlands, so we’ve gathered some of our favourite lighting ideas to illuminate your space.
What types of pergola lighting can you install?
- String lights - These are a popular choice that create an almost magical feel to your garden and can be threaded across or wrapped around beams.
- Fairy lights - These can create a romantic atmosphere in your garden and look beautiful weaved around your pergola.
- Pendant lights - You can choose weather-resistant pendants so that you can enjoy them all year round no matter the weather, giving you stylish yet functional lighting.
- Solar lights - These are an eco-friendly option that can sustain most weather conditions, helping you create your desired lighting arrangement.
Essential factors to consider when choosing lights for your pergola
When choosing lights for your pergola there are a few essential factors you need to consider, such as:
- Whether the lights are weather resistant - This can protect them from damage, allowing you to enjoy your waterproof pergola all year round.
- The brightness and colour temperature you would like - These determine the type of ambiance you want to create in your garden.
- The type of power source you need to use - You can choose between traditional wired lights, battery-powered or solar-powered lighting depending on your availability of power sockets, or whether you want to hide wires from view.
- How easy it is to install - Everyone wants to choose lights that are easy to install. You can choose to drape, hang or mount your lights depending on the structure of the pergola. Easy to install lights are great for retractable roof pergolas due to their simplicity.
Tips for installing and maintaining your pergola lights
When installing and maintaining your lights there are a few tips you should follow to ensure they last as long as possible.
- Always follow safety regulations - You should follow electrical safety guidelines when you’re installing wired lights and think about proper wiring, grounding and using outdoor-rated cords.
- Make sure you secure fixtures properly - Securely fixing lights prevents damage and injuries that could be caused by poorly fixed lighting.
- Clean them regularly - Cleaning your lights keeps them free from debris to help maintain brightness and functionality.
- Adjust your lighting depending on the season - In the winter months, you may want to use warmer colour temperature bulbs or fit temporary heaters to help you enjoy your pergola all year round.
Creative lighting ideas
There are many ways you can implement lighting to create your dream pergola, such as:
- Canopy lights - You can crisscross your string lighting across the top of your pergola to create a starry sky effect.
- Chandeliers - You can hang a chandelier in the centre of your pergola to create an elegant outdoor style that still provides adequate lighting.
- Lanterns - Throughout the year you can hang lanterns depending on the season to create a festive atmosphere.
- Glowing pathways - You can create a light-up path directly up to your pergola with things like solar lights to create an inviting path all the way up to your enchanting pergola.
So if you’re looking to create your dream pergola, get in touch with The OI today to see how we can make your dream a reality.