Stylish Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor Stairway Lighting: Safety After Dark

May 13th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

There’s a style and type of outdoor stairway lighting available to match your landscape and stairway type. Many decks have been added to homes over the years and some of them are in areas where lighting is difficult to place. Adding outdoor stairway lighting to your deck’s steps increases their safety; and can make your deck more welcoming.

The amount of light you want for your stairs will determine the type of outdoor stairway lighting you add. For some, a bright pole-mounted light installed near the steps will suffice. For others, lighting fixtures mounted on an adjacent wall, or in the stair risers, is more aesthetically pleasing. Yet others will opt for miniature flood lights that illuminate two or more steps at a time.

Supplying a power source for outdoor stairway lighting may be difficult in some cases, if not impossible. If running electric lines proves too difficult or expensive, solar-powered lamps may be used. They are simple to install and require no knowledge of electricity. Sensors direct them to come on during the evening and shut off during the day while the solar batteries recharge. Just place them where illumination is needed and turn them on. Another option to consider is fiber optic lighting. Fiber optic has the benefit of adding color choices to your light options.

Keep Power Costs Down With Automatic Sensors

You can have your lights connected to a conventional on/off switch, or an automatic sensor. If you don’t have solar powered lights, having your outdoor stairway lighting connected to an automatic sensor can save money on electricity. Having them turn on at dusk and off at daybreak can provide the light you need, when it is most needed. A timer can also be used to have stairway lights come on and turn off at preset times.

Flush-mounted lights fitted into the stair risers are popular; but call for carpentry skills as well as knowing how to wire them in. Installation of this type of outdoor stairway lighting is usually left to professionals, as electrical problems may occur if done incorrectly.

Short, lamp-style fixtures can be used for your outdoor stairway lighting if it’s a better match for the landscape. Whatever style you choose, you, your family and guests will benefit from outdoor stairway lighting.