Deck lighting
Do you mean putting lights into your decking or putting lighting down onto your deck? This page tells you about recessed deck lighting - the first option. Deck lighting by installing lights in a deck is usually concerned with outlining the shape to create an illuminated pattern at night. Small, low power l.e.d. deck lights are the best - use deck lights with a frosted lens (to protect the led from scuffing and soften the sometimes piercing appearance of the l.e.d. within the fitting) and a chamfered edge so there is less to stub your toe on. All Patilo and Elipta deck lights are made in 316 grade stainless steel, not to be confused with cheaper deck lighting kits where brown spots will give away their inferior quality in just a few days. The Elipta Navigator Mini l.e.d. deck lights are the type recommended for miniature deck lighting for step risers at spacings of 30-60cm. Navigator deck lighting also comes in larger sizes which can be used to light steps from the side if there is a flanking wall or board.
The second deck lighting option - putting light down onto your deck - can use many garden lighting techniques: lighting onto and around the deck can be done with bollard lights or spreadlights lighting around the area, step lights set into flanking walls or under seats to wash across the deck, "moonlighting" using tree spotlights or downlights on pergolas beams to highlight a seating or dining area - have a look at the pages for those types of outdoor lighting. For uplighting areas and objects look at the page on recessed uplights for a few tips. Creating an ambience around the deck, use a selection of spike spotlights and uplights to light up planting and create pleasant illumination to surround your "outdoor room".
Elipta's Navigator led deck lights and the budget-priced Patilo l.e.d. deck lighting are all 12v miniature recessed deck lighting fittings which fit the bill and offer choice of blue or white l.e.d.'s, tiny power consumption and "cool touch" operation. These deck lights can all be arranged in custom layouts using cable joint kits and 1.5mm cable supplied by the reel, which is more flexible than kit-type deck lighting products. The front bezel of the Navigator deck lights can be removed to allow insertion of theatre colour gels for variety of deck lighting effect or warmer colour appearance. Navigator comes in 4 sizes - Mini, Midi, Maxi and Mega
To create a lighting pattern around your deck
- start by positioning lights near the corners of a (usually rectangular or octagonal) deck
- continue by placing deck lights near each balustrade or pergola post to form a regular pattern
- Complete the pattern by filling in with lights at 80-120cm spacings
The higher power Navigator Mega recessed / deck lights can be used for side-lighting steps as well as uplighting balustrade posts or rendered walls around the deck, as can the Omnyx II 1w Luxeon led light which is available in brass as well as chrome. Omnyx is one of the few available led recessed lights in brass.
