Nighttime Patio Ideas: How To Make Your Patio Enjoyable At Night

 It’s super easy to enjoy the different elements in your yard when the sun is out.

Though, it's quite the challenge to still want to be out in your yard in the evenings.

As adults, evenings are the time of the day when we can get a break and enjoy quality time with our loved ones since that’s when we’re off the clock in most cases.

At ShrubHub Landscaping, we believe that the perfect backyard is one you can enjoy at any time of the day.

That’s why we collected some of the best ideas and tips that will make your backyard and patio area enjoyable all day long!

Outdoor lighting ideas

Going over a list of ideas to enhance your yard’s quality at night, it should be no surprise that landscape lighting is the first element we discuss.

Lack of light is the main reason why yards are less inviting in the nighttime, as it tends to make us feel unsettled and unsafe.

Much like indoor lighting, landscape lighting should offer safety and functionality.

But the functional aspect of landscape lighting in making your yard safer and more inviting isn’t the only useful side of it.

With something as simple as string lights, you can turn your yard into a magical oasis.

Lights add a romantic and cozy feel to your yard, and when used at the right spots, will highlight all the best features and landscape elements of your outdoor space.

Here are some backyard lighting ideas to bring life to your outdoor area.

String lights

For an overall ambient lighting feel over your patio or outdoor dining table, consider using string lights.

String lights bring a warm, cozy feeling to your yard and make it feel effortlessly well-lit.

They are also ideal for covered patios and pergolas due to their lightweight and beautiful aesthetic, as well as the fixed structures or the pergola posts making a perfect tool to hang the lights on.

We suggest using led bulbs since they're a lot more durable than standard voltage landscaping lighting.

Solar lights

Solar lights are an eco-friendly option that gives you the required function without you having to worry about maintenance or your utility bill.

Solar-powered lights are quite varied and even have some decorative options that cast a visually pleasing shadow when lit.

Outdoor wall lighting

Wall sconces and other wall light fixtures give an ambient soft feeling to feature walls.

They come in different shapes and light intensity options so you're in control of choosing whatever works for your space.

Rattan lanterns

Rattan decorative landscape features are very trendy at the moment. Incorporating them with lighting features will add a contemporary touch to your space.

Rattan lanterns could be used as a more visually interesting alternative to string lights.

We suggest using them over a dining area or hanging them from a tree over a seating or gaming area to fully enjoy them.

Create an area for board games with rattan lantern lights for an elegant experience.

Fence lighting

Adding vertical fairy lights to your fence will give it a magical vibe, but if you're looking for a more professional feel, we suggest attaching downward lighting fixtures to your fence or opting for LED light posts with equal spacing in front of your fence.

Illuminating your fence side serves a security lighting function as you'll be able to see all ends of the yard.

Led lights are very energy efficient, and durable and are available in all sorts of shapes and types. We suggest using them outdoors for a longer lifespan and less maintenance.

Mixing light elements

Different light elements tend to give completely different vibes.

Ambient lighting makes your yard or patio space generally well-lit and flowy, while accent lighting help highlights and shift attention to a specific garden element.

We advise mixing different light elements to add depth and dimension to different areas of your yard.

Add light fixtures to your flower beds' base to highlight your planters and landscape plants.

An accent light fixture over a reading chair will help you make a little getaway area for quiet evenings.

Path lighting adds depth and visual interest but will not only function as a beautifying feature to your walkways.

Path lights will also direct your guests on where to walk so your lawn isn't harmed by traffic.

We highly recommend adding safety lights near areas that are potential trip or harm hazards such as steps and decorative rock elements.

Shrubhub's Lighting Plans

With our affordable lighting plans, you can get a design with the lighting elements most suitable for your space in both 3D renders for an extremely accurate visual representation, and 2D for the overall vision and detailed information on the type of lighting, measurements, and light switch locations suggested.

Go to shrubhub.com to get started.

Bring the theatre to your outdoor space

Now that your yard is well-lit, it's time to make it more interesting.

Movie nights are cute little events you can gather family and friends over.

Double the fun by bringing movie nights outdoors.

By adding a projector screen and some comfortable seats and blankets, you'll have your very own movie theatre at home.

There are quite a few options for projector screens, from standalone to ones that attach to a patio wall.

Though outdoor projector screens are very DIY-friendly, so you can make your screen at home using basic materials.

Using bed sheets and a wooden frame or pipes, you can make a DIY standalone projector screen.

You can also use a blank white wall to project on without any special steps.

All in all, projector screens are such simple and affordable additions that will add great entertainment value to your outdoor space.

Bonfire

Fire pits are ideal for gathering and socializing. They allow you to enjoy your yard at nighttime and on winter nights and make for an additional seating space where can enjoy conversations and games with your loved ones.

The light from the fire pit creates a romantic and warm atmosphere that is ideal for nighttime entertaining.

Make your patio comfortable

A patio is an extension of your house and should be as comfortable as an indoor room.

Invest in comfortable patio furniture. Choosing comfortable seats, couches and beanbags will make your hangout area a lot more enjoyable. Add a rug and decorative items for a warm indoor-outdoor vibe.

To make your patio more usable at night, consider adding a heater, this will make your yard more inviting to use on colder nights.

Landscape interest

Landscape designs are never complete without vegetation and plants.

We discussed highlighting your plants with lighting fixtures and spotlights, but some plants and garden designs carry the show by themselves.

Include night-blooming plants in a dedicated area to create a dreamy moon garden that will look like an art piece feature.

Moon garden plants

Your moon garden arrangement should contain a selection of white blooming plantings and plants with brightly colored leaves, they can serve as the base layer of your garden and are very showy and beautiful during nighttime.

The star of the show would be night-blooming plants. Some night bloomers are moonflowers and angel's trumpets.

Final Thoughts

We value functionality as much as we value beautiful aesthetics.

Shrubhub's landscape designs are created while considering your site conditions, planting zone, personal preferences, and home styles to ensure a fully customized experience and a design that's perfectly suitable to your yard and your taste.

Don't miss out on thanksgiving promotions. Go to shrubhub.com to view our discounted packages.

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