Home Tree Atlas: Home Decor Ideas and Mood Boards

Low Effort Decor: Easy to Do Outdoor Patio Lighting Ideas

Relaxing comfort, a view from indoors, and added security. This is what you get when you add lighting to your garden or patio. Here are outdoor patio lighting ideas that don’t require much effort to set up. At the end of the post I go over the key to creating a relaxing and beautiful patio setting using lights.

Outdoor Living: Modern Patio Design Ideas

The Beauty of String Lights

String lights are inexpensive light fixtures and they can be used all around the patio. If you buy solar powered ones, this will make it even easier to light up the patio. They can be wrapped around nearby trees, railings, or the pole of a patio umbrella as seen in pictures (1) and (2). You can hang them overhead to create a starry night effect. For more ideas and photos on string lighting check out my post here: Home Decor Ideas: Creative Ways of Using String Lights Outdoors.

Tabletop Lighting

The easiest way of adding lighting to your patio is to use tabletop lighting, using wireless battery powered, or solar lights. Some ideas include:

A SolarJar
Battery lanterns
Battery or solar powered LED umbrella lighting (3)

Or how about going the fire route:

With a table top tiki torch
A mini oil lantern
Or candles housed in a lantern to protect them from the wind (4)

More Fire

Tiki torches are great to have around the garden (5), not only because of the graceful flames but if you use citronella oil it will act as an organic insect repellent. One way of adding tiki torches to your patio is to plant them in the garden outlining the patio. If that is not possible, fill up buckets with sand and plant the torches in them. Now you have your own portable tiki torches that you can put anywhere on your patio.

Other Outdoor Patio Lighting Ideas

Modern solar stake lights can also be planted around the edge of your patio. But if you’d like to take on wiring lights for your patio, a good choice would be wall lights attached to the house.

To create a really relaxing patio you’ll want to mix up the kind of lighting you use (just like in picture (6)). For example: use a wall light along with a table light, and then maybe some decorative lighting like string lights wrapped around a nearby tree. 1/2/4/5/6

December 25, 2013 in Lighting, Outdoors

Fishes Swimming in The Night: Outdoor Pond Lighting Ideas

There are 3 kinds of outdoor pond lighting ideas. It would be best to use a bit of all three to mix it up and create a great looking space at night. For me the best garden pond lighting design is when you light up parts of the pool but leave an area dark for the fishes to hide into.

1. Underwater Pond Lighting

First up is lighting that goes underwater. Some options here include stake lights that are fitted to the bottom of the pond. Another option would be lamps that look like rocks that are weighed down to the bottom of the pond. Then you have lights that are fitted into the rock bed on the sides of the pond – called recessed lights just like in picture (1). The one thing that is hard to get away from with these below pond lights is that they are all wired. When it comes to above pond and perimeter lighting you can get away with easy to install solar lights.

The pond lights in the picture above can be bought here

2. Above Water Lighting

One of the easiest and fastest ways of adding lighting to your pond is to use floating solar lights. These lights simply float above the water and will automatically come on at night. There are two kinds available. There are floating lights that have the light bulb above the water – so they bathe the surface of the pond with light (2) (3). Then there is the version that has the lightbulb resting on the bottom of the light fixture creating a moonlight effect underwater.

If you have a waterfall feature, this would be a good spot to light up – like in pictures (4) and (5). Or if you have a fountain to help aerate the pond, this could have an LED light fitted to the base of it. And you’ll be treated to a light show if you get the LED lights that change color.

3. Around the Pond – Perimeter Lighting

Perimeter lighting creates a water wonderland at night, but it is also for safety as it will outline the edges of the pond. Some ideas here include – solar stake lights planted into the garden just like in picture (6). You can also find solar lights shaped into rocks that can be arranged around the pond.

LED pond lighting fixtures like rope lights can be twisted and fitted to outline the pond. Then you have string lights that can be wrapped around nearby trees, draped over bushes, or hung from the house to a tree/pole/beam over the pond.

The key is to keep it simple and buy high quality light fixtures. 1/2/3/4/5/6

December 25, 2013 in Lighting, Outdoors

Closet Lighting Ideas: From Wireless to Walk In

The types of closet lighting ideas you use will depend on the type of closet you have. There are free standing closets (like the PAX closet from ikea), built in, tiny room with a door, or full on walk in closets. One thing is for sure, no matter what closet you have, is that you want the light to hit all of the shelves making it easier for you to find your things.

The FASTEST Way of Adding Closet Lighting – DIY Wireless and Battery Powered

The fastest way of adding lighting to the shelves in your closet is to use battery powered lights. Instead of having to drill holes and wire the lights, you can simply stick a wireless light in there. These lights have an adhesive on the back of them, so they simply stick to the sides of the closet just like in picture (1), to the top (2), or anywhere you want inside the closet.

There are two types of wireless closet lighting fixtures that you can get. You can get the magical motion sensor lights just like the ones below – when you open the closet these lights will automatically turn on. Another type is the tap pucks, you turn them on simply by tapping them.

The wireless motion light above and more like it can be bought on Amazon here

The good thing about these DIY wireless lights is that they are so quick and easy to install, and cheap. The downside is they are not permanent features – you have to replace the batteries/lights and they don’t add that luxurious touch to your closets.

Putting in Those Wires

Getting wired closet lights is a good way to go. You can even get them wired up to a door jamb, so that when you open the closet door, the lights will automatically come on.

Some ideas and solutions include using wired puck lights to light up individual shelves. Another option is to have lamps fitted to the top of closet pointing in as seen in picture (4), or track ceiling lights where you angle the individual lights to different areas of the room, one being into the closet (5).

IKEA has the BESTA shelving range that is made to have integrated lights fitted into them. There is also the PAX closet system, these too can have IKEA lights fitted into them – these lights will automatically come on when you open the closet door (6).

You can even find closet railings that have LED lights imbedded in them, just like in picture (7).

Walk In Closet Lighting Design

For walk in closets, you will also need the display lights to light up the shelves mentioned above – puck lights, directional lamps, or track lights. You can even get creative and fit lights behind the shelves, and add a soft glow – just like in picture (8).

Walk in closets will also need ambient lighting, so general ceiling lights (like recessed ones) (9), wall lights, or pendant lights (10). Solar tubes are great for day time lighting. These tubes are fitted into your ceiling and bring sunlight into your closet. You can even get tubes that have an LED ring, so they can be used at night.

If you have any countertops or an island, these would be good places to have a light. Like a table lamp, plugged into a electrical socket that is in the island. Or a pendant light that hangs down from the ceiling right above the island.

December 20, 2013 in Bedroom, Lighting, Storage

Home Decor Ideas: Using Vintage Glass Bottles

Going Green

One of the easiest and classiest things to do with vintage glass bottles is to use them as planters. Putting one stem in a bottle creates instant decor appeal. How about grouping together 3 of the same bottle in a wire basket just like the bottles in picture (2). Kristina attached vintage soda bottles to some salvaged shutters to create wall planters (3). And outdoors you can wrap some twine or wire around the head of the bottle to create hanging planters (4). For more garden ideas have a look here: Ideas for Vintage Garden Decor and Outdoor Accessories.

Adding Fire

Another simple decor idea is to use vintage bottles as candle stands. Use a bunch of different sizes to create a centre piece arrangement, like in picture (5). If you get larger bottles (more like jugs) then you can place votive candles inside (fill them up with water to have floating candles).

Liquids

The containers we get our liquids in today are not very pleasing to look at. So why not pour them into elegant vintage perfume bottles. This way you can put them up on display. Like the soaps, lotions, perfumes, and other liquids in the bathrooms of pictures (6) and (7). Do the same with liquids and detergent in a laundry room (Style Guide: Vintage Laundry Room Decor Ideas).

In the Kitchen

You can also pour your kitchen liquids into vintage bottles and have them out on display. If you go out and buy in bulk or large volumes, say hand soap or dish liquid, pour some into the glass bottles then store away the rest under the sink (8). For more kitchen storage ideas have a look at my post here Vintage Kitchen Storage Ideas: From Milk Baskets to Wicker Baskets.

Vintage milk bottles make for great cups. If you find vintage glass bottles with lids, or create cork lids for them, you can use them to store homemade drinks (9). Or you could use them as serving containers – like the vinegar bottle in picture (10).

The bottle above and more styles like it can be bought on Amazon here

Creating Vintage

One way to create that vintage look without having to buy vintage is to print out vintage style labels – which you can then paste onto more modern bottles. Head on over to Eat Drink Chic to find the labels in picture (11).

Mason Jars can also be used for a number of decor and storage ideas around the house. Check out my post here for pictures and ideas: Home Decor Ideas: Using Mason Jars. 2/4/5/6/7/8/9/10