Is your backyard FUNctional?
Happy Summer! Are you ready to create some memories with your family and friends this summer? Setting up for home with great entertaining spaces is a must for planned parties and impromptu get-togethers. Regardless of your stage in life, having a pleasant and welcoming outdoor space is important especially with beautiful summers in San Antonio! It is time to make your backyard both FUN and functional.
The easiest way to make sure your outdoor space is FUNctional is to create zones or areas for different activities. We will go through the zones we see the most often in San Antonio but obviously, these can be customized for what you like to do!
Outdoor Game Zone
If you have a playground or swing set, adding a light to the space can keep the kids entertained even when the sun goes down. While you are enjoying the evenings with your adult friends, the kiddos can run around safely on the playset.
No little kids? You still need an outdoor game zone area for corn hole, croquet, or horseshoes. Having your grass area lit up creates an inviting setting for fun no matter what age you are!
There are several different ways to create lighting for a playground or lawn area depending on what landscape and features you have in your yard. Uplighting the surrounding landscape, downlighting from trees, path lights, and hanging lighting are all great options in creating a FUNctional backyard.
Pool Zone
Adding lighting to the pool zone is not only a safety measure but allows you to enjoy its beauty even when you’re not inclined to take a dip! Pool decks can often see far more traffic than the pool itself. Since it is such a high-traffic area, we want to make sure we are lighting it in a way that allows night swimmers to avoid tripping and falling.
Creating a moonlighting effect is a great technique for pools that have trees near the pool deck. A downlight fixture is mounted high up in a tree to cast light downward, creating a very natural moonlit feel to the pool area. This moonlighting effect will also create beautiful shadows in the pool which makes the pool mesmerizing to look at even when you aren’t swimming.
Cooking/Eating Zone
Whether you have an expansive outdoor kitchen or a modest grill area, the right lighting can dramatically change your food preparation, cooking, and dining experience. The first priority for your outdoor cooking area is lighting the working space. The area needs plenty of lighting, preferably from high above so the light is not in your eyes. To eliminate shadows and prevent overcooking of foods, use two or more lights from different directions. LED lights should ideally be mounted 10 to 15 feet above the ground and pouring light over each of the cook’s shoulders.
Fire Feature Zone
There are two key lighting items to consider when creating a great area for a fire pit or fireplace. The most important is safety. Being able to navigate to and around the fire pit safely is made easy with some lighting. The second key item is not to over-light space! The fire feature is the star of the show and will create a lot of light when it is burning. Indirect lighting is the perfect way to create a safe area while also allowing the fire to be the main event in a FUNctional backyard.
Covered Sitting Area Zone
One of the most popular lighting techniques right now is bistro lighting. Often called string or cafe lights, bistro lights are a simple way to spice up your outdoor entertainment space. Hung inside a pergola or above a patio allows you to enjoy these outdoor spaces after the sun goes down. They add depth and beauty to the area while at the same time creating an unmatched, fun atmosphere.
