Cheap Trick
Shed light on your outdoor space to reveal functional, beautiful areas
Image courtesy Stone Forest
Elegance and function in a contemporary outdoor lighting solution can come at a high price these days. But a tight budget doesn't have to impede ambitions for either when choosing outdoor lights for your home. From the patio to the poolside, all your lighting needs have trendy options that will fit your budget and make your outdoor space glow.
"Tiki torch lighting, colored paper lanterns, glass lanterns, twinkle light and hurricane lamps are all cost-effective and stylish solutions for lighting any outdoor area." Christina MacDonald, publicity director of Studio City, Calif.-based DRS & Associates.
If you have a garden, consider placing outdoor torches around it to create a tropical setting. This is a favorite trick of Vicki O'Neal, owner of Form and Function, a Richmond, Va.-based interior and landscape design firm. The flame of a tiki torch can be fueled with oil or gas and should always be extinguished when your outdoor area will be unoccupied for long periods of time.
When applied safely, candles can add inexpensive, calming décor to any outdoor space. South Florida-based celebrity design expert Kathy Peterson likes to couple candles with antique dishes to create unique stands. Create faux chandeliers by hanging votives with hand wire or hang a candle fixture on a wall to add some outdoor lighting. O'Neal says that it's important to place candles away from artificial lighting so they will get the attention you want, avoid fire mishaps by keeping candles on a secure surface in an enclosed holder or lantern.
If you're looking for a safer alternative, battery-operated candle pillars create the same ambience, sans the risk, Peterson says. Another stylish and affordable solution is the Wabi Oil Lamp from Stone Forest, a company that produces Japanese-style granite sculptures for kitchens, baths and gardens. At $39, the Wabi Oil lamp is a small granite boulder with a hollowed interior for oil and wick which doubles as a candle.
"These lamps can be clustered together on an outdoor dining table or they can be used to accent a coy pond, fountain or any outdoor water feature," says Michael Zimber, president of Santa Fe, N.M.-based Stone Forest. "They can also be used inside on the mantle or any other place you'd use a candle."
For a do-it-yourself solution to light outdoor areas, create your own paper lantern. There are many how-to guides that allow you to customize your outdoor lighting décor, and you can also purchase one at a low cost.
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