What is the best way to light a patio?

Layer several soft light sources rather than one bright one: low-level lighting around the edge, a warm overhead element if there's a pergola or canopy, and dimmable table or feature lighting. Avoid a single central light overhead, which creates glare and flattens the space.

How do I avoid glare on my patio?

Keep light sources low, shielded, or aimed away from where people sit and look. Uplights and wall-washers create ambience without shining into anyone's eyes, whereas an unshielded bulb at eye level is the most common cause of harsh glare.

Should patio lighting be warm or cool white?

Warm white, around 2700K, almost always suits a patio better. It feels relaxed and inviting in the evening, whereas cooler, bluer light tends to feel clinical and uncomfortable to sit under.

How-To Guide

How to Light a Patio for Evenings You'll Actually Use

Updated July 20266 min readBy Eastbourne Garden Lighting Co.

The short answer

Layer several soft, low, dimmable light sources rather than one bright overhead light — edge lighting, a warm overhead element if you have a pergola, and shielded feature lighting. Keep it warm-white and adjustable, and avoid anything that shines directly at eye level.

A patio that only gets used in daylight is usually a lighting problem, not a design problem. Here's how to fix it properly.

Start with what's already stopping you

Sit out there at dusk before you plan anything. Is it too dark to see your drink? Too exposed to the wind? Facing the wrong way for the evening sun? The lighting plan should solve the actual problem, not just add brightness.

Light the edges, not the middle

Low-level lighting around the perimeter — border lights, step lights, a soft wash up a boundary wall — defines the space and creates ambience. A single light in the middle of the seating area does the opposite; it flattens everything and puts people in a spotlight.

Add one warm overhead element, if you have the structure

A pergola, canopy or overhanging tree gives you somewhere to run warm festoon-style or recessed lighting. This is what makes a patio feel like an outdoor room rather than a lit patch of paving.

Keep everything shielded and low

Any fitting visible at eye level from a seated position causes glare. Recessed, shielded, or uplighting fixtures avoid this entirely — you see the effect of the light, not the light source itself.

Make it dimmable

A quiet dinner for two needs a different level than a garden party. Dimming (or simply having two or three zones you can switch independently) means one scheme covers both without compromise.

Think about wind and orientation

Many Eastbourne rear gardens face away from the seafront, which is often a blessing for sitting out — less wind, more shelter. If your patio does catch the coastal breeze, position any candle-style or flame-effect lighting away from the exposed side, and favour fixed fittings over anything that needs to stay lit in a gust.

See it lit before you commit

A patio scheme that looks right on paper can feel completely different once it's dark. Check the plan against the space at night before signing anything off — and see our garden & outdoor lighting service.

A quick example

A typical rear patio in Old Town, roughly 4m by 5m, backed by a low brick wall: border lights along the wall base for a soft wash, two uplights on the pair of standard bay trees either side of the doors, and a warm festoon run under the existing pergola, all on one dimmer. No single light source, no glare, and three intensity levels for a quiet evening through to entertaining.

Coastal patios

On more exposed patios — closer to the seafront or in Sovereign Harbour — favour recessed and wall-mounted fittings over anything free-standing or delicate, and specify marine-grade housings from the start. See our coastal garden lighting guide.

Let us design your patio scheme

Our design visit gives you a plan for your patio and a fixed quote.

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