18 Brilliant Backyard Lighting Ideas to Transform Your Outdoor Space

Honestly, your outdoor areas really should be useful and inviting long after the sun sets, and getting the lighting right makes all the difference. These 18 straightforward ideas will help you illuminate your yard for safety, mood, or simply to highlight features like string lights and path markers.

Let Greenery Cascade Over Your Pergola

If your pergola feels too stark, drape climbing plants like wisteria or ivy over it. These create a natural canopy for dappled shade over your patio dining area.

Define Your Walkway with Low-Profile Path Lights

Low-profile, bronze-toned path lights line the edge of a flagstone walkway. They feature textured glass tops that cast a warm glow.

Patterned Cushions That Brighten Outdoor Seating

Add brightly patterned outdoor cushions to your patio or deck seating. Look for square pillows with a repeating blue and white quatrefoil design, especially for a white bench.

Hanging Paper Lanterns Add Festive Color Above Your Table

Colorful paper lanterns can hang above your outdoor dining area. A mix of teal, yellow, and white, in various sizes, is good on tree branches or overhead structures.

Layer Lighting with String Lights and Lanterns

When you want soft illumination, hang strings of warm-toned Edison bulbs or fairy lights across your pergola. Supplement with decorative lanterns on your dining table, filled with pillar candles.

Sunburst Mirror Adds Rustic Charm to Outdoor Wall

Hang a rustic sunburst mirror on your outdoor wall. Its weathered wood or metal spokes add texture and reflect light.

Cast Exotic Shadows with Ornate Metal Lanterns

Above your outdoor dining area, hang intricately carved metal lanterns whose detailed patterns cast exotic shadows on the ceiling and surrounding space as they illuminate your gatherings.

White Studded Stools Double as Side Tables or Seating

White studded stools feature a cylindrical shape and nailhead trim. Their sturdy construction means they can hold drinks or serve as extra seating. Group them around a coffee table.

Pastel Torches Add Whimsical Color to Garden Planter

Group a collection of brightly colored bamboo tiki torches, in pastel pink, lime green, yellow, and turquoise, within a large planter among greenery and flowers.

Mount Industrial Barn Lights for Focused Illumination

Barn-style wall lights mounted to an exterior wall cast focused illumination over your patio or deck, with their simple, utilitarian design providing ample light for evening activities. Good for practical lighting.

Hanging Baskets That Add Greenery From Above

Wire baskets filled with trailing plants and flowers drape from pergola beams. Moss-lined versions allow for ample drainage.

Ground Your Seating Area with a Concrete Coffee Table

A modern concrete coffee table offers a sturdy surface for decor in your outdoor seating area. At its center, place a blue bowl. Fill it with succulents and small stones.

Tall Bamboo Screens Create a Natural Outdoor Room

Plant a dense row of bamboo to create a secluded dining area in your yard. Its tall, slender stalks offer abundant greenery.

Woven Sphere Lanterns Add Natural Texture to Trees

Hang large, open-weave rattan or wicker sphere lanterns from tree branches. The natural material introduces a textural element. Their open design allows light to filter through, creating a soft glow in your outdoor space.

Cast Textured Light with Metal Star Lanterns

If you want to cast interesting patterns, hang a string of metal star lanterns overhead. Made from intricately cut metal, they catch the light during the day and night.

Orange Cabinet Stores Outdoor Entertaining Essentials

Organize your outdoor entertaining supplies with a bright cabinet. This piece includes a closed-door section for stowing items like extra glassware and blankets, while its open top displays decorative pitchers and bottles. The bright hue stands out against a dark fence.

Mason Jar Pendant Lights Add Rustic Charm

Above your outdoor seating area, hang vintage mason jar pendant lights. They hold Edison bulbs and suspend from dark cords.

Hanging Lanterns Add Warm Ambiance to Patio Dining

Simple globe lights string above the outdoor dining area. A decorative lantern on the table adds extra light.