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Don’t let your decking go unused this winter! With the right ambience, it can be a cosy, inviting spot to enjoy those crisp winter nights. Lighting is the key to transforming your deck into the perfect place to relax under the winter sky, sip mulled wine, and unwind without catching a chill. Whether you have timber or composite decking, here are five golden lighting tips to make your deck the ultimate winter chill-out spot.
Before diving into style and design, start with safety lighting, or as it’s more commonly known, task lighting. Cold, wet, and dark conditions aren’t an ideal combination; they create slippery patches and trip hazards that could, at the least, dampen your enjoyment and, at worst, cause injuries, and no one wants that!
So, first things first, brighten any dim corners and walkways with spotlights, or even better, run LED strip lights along and around your decking to keep these areas well-lit and safe to navigate. As a bonus, they’ll add a sleek, sophisticated touch to your outdoor space. You could also use a motion-sensing floodlight on the wall near your decking to light the whole space if you’d prefer a more full-on effect (you wouldn’t have to worry about turning them on every time you step outside either – win-win).
It’s not Christmas exclusive (although tis’ the season) to hang fairy lights around your decking, but it sure adds a little extra something to the space. While they do add a festive touch, using different-coloured lights can create a beautiful contrast against evergreen plants or dark garden furniture. By running fairy lights along walls and other structures, you can highlight their corners, curves, and any other unique features. For a bolder look, hang lights overhead, crossing them to meet in the centre of your decking – creating the effect of your very own Scandinavian tipi!
Outdoor lighting is about creating a complete atmosphere. What’s below your line of sight is just as important. Adding spotlights under your decking, along the underside of steps, or around the borders can create a subtle yet striking glow, transforming your outdoor space with a warm, inviting ambience that really comes alive after dark.
This low-level lighting is as practical as it is beautiful. Being closer to the ground and often shielded by the decking itself, these lights are better protected from the wind, rain, and snow, which helps extend their lifespan. The low, ambient light enhances the safety of your deck by illuminating walkways and edges without overpowering the natural surroundings, which is great if you have children or pets!
When it comes to lighting that truly lasts, LEDs are a great choice. LED lights are far more energy-efficient than traditional bulbs and have a much longer lifespan, making them a cost-effective solution for outdoor lighting.
LEDs consume far less energy than standard incandescent bulbs, making them a sustainable and budget-friendly choice in the long term garden lighting. If you want to take energy efficiency even further, solar-powered lighting is an excellent option. Solar lights capture and store energy during the day and automatically illuminate your garden at night, meaning you can enjoy a beautifully lit outdoor space without adding to your electricity costs.
Creating a cosy and inviting decking area doesn’t always require powered lighting – lanterns with battery-operated candles can bring a beautiful, flickering glow without the hassle of relighting or the risks associated with open flames. These realistic faux candles mimic the flicker of real candlelight, providing a steady, soft glow that’s perfect for crisp winter evenings outdoors.
Lanterns also look especially great in a wintery setting, casting an incandescent glow around your space. Positioning a couple of lanterns along your deck’s steps or hanging from hooks adds a gentle touch of elegance and warmth, creating an atmosphere that’s perfect for gathering with family or friends.
For an extra touch of festive cheer, why not try introducing lanterns in varying sizes and finishes to create layers of soft light, or try adding in some seasonal greenery like sprigs of holly or pine around the base for a natural, wintry feel?
The foundation of a cosy, well-lit outdoor space is, of course, your decking. If your timber decking is looking tired or your composite decking could use a refresh, we’re here to help. At Savoy Timber, we offer a wide selection of timber decking kits, composite decking, boards, and accessories to give your space a new lease of life for winter, ready for you to brighten up with beautiful lighting. And if this has inspired you to add decking to your garden for the first time, we’ve got everything you need to make it happen.
Whether you’re looking for some new decking or you just need a bit of DIY advice on lighting your decking, feel free to get in touch with us at 0345 0268 799, and we’ll be happy to help wherever we can!
