Embracing the outdoors as many hours of the day as possible is a goal for many people. If you could have a space on your property that is made to experience a lot of use, such as a pergola, landscape lighting can stretch out the time you could spend then even further. Here are some landscape lighting ideas that can correspond with a pergola on your New Boston, MI, property:
Perimeter Lighting
To make your pergola area shine, perimeter lighting is an option for around the shade structure. In addition to including lighting inside the pergola, you could have outdoor lights within the nearby garden areas surrounding the pergola or at the beams that hold the pergola in place. Perimeter outdoor lighting will brighten your pergola and let you show it off to guests as well as use it all hours of the day.
Walkway Lights
The walkway from the pergola to your patio could feature recessed lighting for an inviting, attractive route to and from your favorite landscape features. If your pergola is set back from your house, you can add walkway lights that lead out to the party area. You may want to match the outdoor lights with other ambient lighting already in place on your property to create a lovely uniform look.
Outdoor Lights Within a Retaining Wall
If you have a retaining wall surrounding your pergola, this masonry structure can be an ideal spot where you can add outdoor lighting. The retaining wall can have the lights installed on top for an overall lighting result that will still be subtle if you don’t want the area to be too bright. You can also add outdoor lights to the sides of the retaining wall that surround the pergola. If there are plantings surrounding the retaining wall, add outdoor lighting to this space for an ultimate outdoor lighting combination.
Outdoor Lighting Around Your Pool Patio
If your pergola is a prominent part of your inground pool area, the landscape lighting plan will need to account for the effects of the lighting within the pool and your pool deck. Then, in between swim sessions, you will be able to dry off and relax in your pergola even after the sun has gone down.
Task Lighting for Your Outdoor Kitchen
A pergola and outdoor kitchen go together well and by adding outdoor lighting to this area, you’ll be able to use both with ease when it’s dark outside. Outdoor lights added to your kitchen area will shine brightly so that they cover not just this outdoor cooking area but the pergola next to it as well. You can enjoy evening meals alfresco while cooking them in your outdoor kitchen and sitting down to a meal with the family in the pergola. Patio lighting in your outdoor kitchen area will also add a welcome glow to this space.
