A swimming pool is the heart of any backyard, and lighting fixtures can add a touch of elegance and elevate late-night swims. Electrical contractors and landscapers can advise clients by understanding the design impact of various lighting fixtures.
Where to Place Pool-Area Lighting
The perfect pool lighting placement depends on your clients’ desired effect and the yard features they want to illuminate. Here are some of the best ideas for lighting a pool area.
Trees and Plants
Illuminating trees and plants in the pool area highlights their beauty. If your client grows herbs or vegetables, they could increase yields by placing red, green and blue LEDs above them. Adding a modern feel to landscape design contrasts beautifully with natural elements.
Water Features
Accent outdoor lighting near the pool can draw attention to water features, creating a luxurious and therapeutic effect.
Steps
Step lights illuminate walkways and highlight potential tripping hazards, making them a must-have for nighttime swims and backyard get-togethers. Choose high-quality step lights that won’t attract bugs or create a glare that could impair visibility.
Perimeters
Lighting the perimeter of an outdoor pool area adds a soft and subtle glow for a gentle wash of light that works stunningly when paired with in-pool lighting.
Walls
Wall lights make it easier to identify doorways and exits. You can use them to brighten the pool area and increase visibility.
Paths and Walkways
Highlighting paths and walkways to and from the pool increases visibility. Chlorine can fog swimmers’ eyes, but these lighting fixtures show the way back inside.
Patios and Seating Areas
Lights around seating areas and patios make it more comfortable to enjoy a glass of wine around the pool. They are ideal for outdoor entertaining because they improve visibility and functionality.
Statues and Decorations
Lighting statues or other hardscaping ensures people can still appreciate their beauty when the sun goes down.
In-Pool Lighting
In-pool lighting is essential for swimming or throwing backyard parties after sunset. Without lighting, people can slip into the pool and have trouble getting out.
Types of Pool Landscape Lighting Fixtures
Pool area lighting beautifies, increases functionality and creates a welcoming environment. Professional landscapers use four types of pool landscape lighting fixtures to draw attention to focal points, add safety or separate specific zones.
1. Path and Area Lights
Path and area lights illuminate walkways for increased visibility. They add a touch of serenity that plays off the water’s natural reflection and come in multiple designs. These lights can even suit niche tastes to add personality to poolscapes.
LED landscape path lights provide several benefits.
- Boosts curb appeal: Highlighting unique architecture gives any yard an elegant feel.
- Increases security: Lighting dark paths may deter human and animal intruders.
- Promotes safety: Trips and falls around pool areas can cause severe injuries. Illuminating paths increases visibility, reducing the risk of accidents.
- Showcases landscape features: Path lights draw subtle attention to flourishing gardens and bushes.
2. Spotlights and Floodlights
Pools are always stunning, but don’t forget other architectural elements. For instance, spotlights emphasize features like tree canopies, walls and sculptures.
Floodlights enhance safety and cover larger areas in bright, intense light. Mini-beams can create subtle impacts around the desired features. They work well for shrubs, bushes and beautifying elements.
3. Outdoor Hanging Lights
If you’re looking for landscape lighting around the pool, outdoor hanging lights create a relaxing ambience and balance the water’s reflection, and you can configure them for uplighting or downlighting.
Outdoor hanging lights provide a soft hue that bathes landscape features in a gentle wash of light.
4. Underwater Fixtures
When choosing underwater illumination, consider the clarity and depth of the body of water. Deep water may require a bulb that shines brighter or has a narrower beam so it reaches the surface. If it’s muddy or murky, a light won’t change or improve it.
Here are three underwater lighting types to consider.
- Halogen pool lights are incredibly bright but are less energy-efficient and have a far shorter life span than LEDs. They also tend to get hot to the touch over time.
- Solar lights offer easy upkeep and save money on monthly lighting bills. They’re ideal for areas that get a sufficient, consistent amount of sunlight. However, in-pool solar lights aren’t bright enough to illuminate a pool on their own. Consider solar path lights instead if you want to incorporate solar lighting into your client’s yard.
- LED lights are the most widely used underwater lighting fixtures. They provide excellent low-voltage lighting around pools and underwater. LEDs last longer and deliver unmatched energy efficiency. These lights offer color-changing technology and a comforting ambience that improves water clarity and works for most water depths. Some LED underwater fixtures even come with remote-controlled light displays for added convenience. They’re an excellent investment because they save money and are low-maintenance.
Find a Brilliance LED Distributor Near You!
If you’re a contractor, lighting expert, distributor or e-commerce company owner looking for LED lights, metal fixtures or other lighting products, we have what you need. Brilliance LED’s mission is to illuminate living spaces so people can see the beauty of their worlds. Our affordable Black Diamond line caters to most budgets, and we also sell upscale pieces.
Our distributors enjoy many perks, like expert advice and end-of-the-year rebates. Don’t hesitate to contact us for quotes or questions or find a store near you to check out our collections or chat with us face-to-face.
