Outdoor Lighting for Summer Dinners: Make Your Alfresco Feel More Inviting

You’ve set the table, brought dinner outside and switched on the back light. Suddenly, everyone is sitting under a bright glare, while the steps into the garden are still hard to see.

It’s a familiar setup. One fitting ends up doing everything, from lighting the barbecue to setting the mood for dinner.

A few thoughtful changes can make your outdoor space much more comfortable to spend time in.

Start by sitting at the table

Before choosing new lights, look at your alfresco from the seats people actually use.

Check whether you can see a bright globe directly, whether a spotlight shines towards someone’s face, and whether the table casts shadows over the walkway.

Lighting can look fine from the back door and feel completely different once you sit down.

Choose fittings and positions that direct light onto the surfaces you need to see. Shielding the light source and keeping brightness appropriate to the task also helps limit glare and unwanted spill into neighbouring properties.

Give each part of the space its own light

Think about the three main things happening outside:

• Dining: Enough light to see food and faces comfortably.
• Cooking: Focused light over the preparation and cooking area.
• Moving around: Clear visibility along paths, steps and changes in level.

This gives you a useful starting point for choosing fittings. A light that works beautifully above a dining table may leave the barbecue bench in shadow.

Sketch where these activities happen before deciding where the lights should go.

Plan for the part of the evening after dinner

Once the cooking is finished, you’ll probably want a different atmosphere.

Separate controls let you turn off the preparation lighting while keeping the dining area and walkways lit. Where suitable, compatible dimmable fittings give you more flexibility.

Warm-coloured light is also worth considering for evening use. Keeping outdoor lighting targeted, controlled and no brighter than necessary follows the principles recommended by DarkSky and the Illuminating Engineering Society.

Try a portable lamp before committing to bigger changes

An outdoor-suitable rechargeable lamp can be a useful addition to the table. You can move it around to see where an extra pool of light feels most comfortable.

Check the individual product’s outdoor suitability, charging instructions and stated battery performance before choosing one.

Keep the lamp low enough that guests can comfortably see across the table, and leave room for serving dishes.

Check the location before you order

A sheltered patio, an exposed deck and a coastal courtyard can have very different requirements. Check the manufacturer’s installation conditions, materials and weather protection for the exact position.

For fixed fittings, have your electrician confirm the installation requirements before purchasing.

Start with the area you use most, then build your lighting around the way you entertain.

Explore outdoor lighting at Ozlighting, or browse our portable and rechargeable outdoor lighting.