Menu
blogdetail1
Jun 02, 2025

Summer is almost here - and along with it come those long and golden days, impromptu barbecues, backyard hangs, and late-night conversations under the stars. But let’s face it: when the sun goes down, your outdoor fun might go with it. The right lighting doesn’t just keep the party going; it also transforms your entire outdoor space into an evening retreat.

We’re not talking about tossing up a few string lights and calling it a day. While there’s nothing wrong with a little ambiance, there’s a method to the lighting madness that can elevate your space from “eh” to “exceptional.”

In this brief article brought to you by Abulous Lighting, we walk through some summer lighting ideas that offer maximum impact with minimal stress. If you're not the DIY type, no worries. Abulous Lighting is always ready to lend a hand with professional outdoor and landscape lighting services.

Layer Your Lighting Like a Pro

Great lighting doesn't come in pairs; it comes in layers. For the best results, you’ll want a combination of ambient, task, and accent lighting:

  • Ambient: Floodlights, spotlights, and outdoor wall lights offer general lighting to set the scene.
  • Task: Use focused lights over cooking areas, staircases, or near doorways for functionality.
  • Accent: Spotlights or uplights work wonders to highlight trees, architectural features, or garden art.

Implement a combination of these lighting options for comprehensive coverage. This way, your lights will offer visibility, functionality, safety, security, aesthetics, and the whole shebang.

Go Beyond the Patio

Most people focus their lighting efforts on the patio or deck. While that’s a great place to start, it’s only a slice of your total outdoor space. Take a walk around your property after sundown and notice the darker areas you could breathe new life into.

Is there a cozy bench under your favorite tree? A forgotten flower bed? A water feature begging for a little sparkle? Don’t limit your lighting to where the furniture is; let lighting guide your guests through the full beauty of your property.

Choose the Right Temperature

Here’s where things get technical - but not too technical. Light color temperature plays a big role in how your outdoor area feels.

Summer evenings typically call for warmth, so opt for bulbs in the 2700K to 3000K range. These offer a soft and inviting glow that feels natural and flattering. Avoid anything too blue or white, though, as they can look sterile or overly bright. The goal is to make your yard feel like a cozy retreat, not an airport runway.

Consider Solar, But Stay Practical

Solar-powered lights are a solid choice for eco-conscious homeowners and simple fixtures, but they do have limitations. For one, they're often not as bright or reliable as wired options - especially if your yard doesn't get full sun during the day.

We recommend using solar lighting for decorative purposes like along garden borders or pathways. Reserve hardwired lights for areas where consistent illumination matters. The hardwiring demands expertise, however, and it's not recommended for DIY work.

Smart Lighting for a Smart Summer

Want to dim the patio lights after dinner? Easy. Prefer your garden lights to come on just after sunset? Done. Smart outdoor lights let you control brightness, color, and even schedules right from your phone. Many of these systems are even compatible with voice assistants like Alexa or Google Home.

Smart lighting is not just about convenience. They are especially great for security as they can give the impression that someone’s home even if you’re away on vacation. Enjoying evening drinks by the beach? Grab your phone and open some lights at home to ward off potential trespassers.

Call in the Pros for Seamless Setup

All these ideas sound great until you're on a ladder with a tangled mess of wires. That's where Abulous Lighting comes in with professional outdoor lighting services. We take care of wiring, code compliance, and system setup so you don’t have to second-guess a thing. Plus, we tailor each design to fit your property’s unique features.

Still have questions or concerns? Call or message Abulous Lighting to speak with a member of our team today. Our live representatives and team of certified electricians are ready when you are.

See Our

Latest Blog Posts

Read More

Easy Lighting Ideas to Welcome the Season

Summer is almost here - and along with it come those long and golden days, impromptu barbecues, backyard hangs, and…

Read More

Reasons to Hire a Professional Outdoor Lighting Company Over DIY

There’s something enchanting about a well-lit home or business at night. The soft glow along a garden path, the uplights…

Read More

What Maintenance Does Outdoor Landscape Lighting Require?

There’s something magical about outdoor landscape lighting. With the flick of a switch (or the setting of the sun if…

Read More

Understanding If Bugs Are Attracted To LED Lights

Picture this if you haven't experienced it already: You’ve just settled into your favorite patio chair with a glass of…

Read What Our

Happy Customers Saying

google
Kimberly Buckland

Absolute Lighting installed my outdoor flood lights 2 years ago and they are beautiful! They did such a great job that I used them to setup and take down the Christmas lights for the past 2 years. I would highly recommend them. Frank always responds to questions and automatically puts me on the schedule for set up and take down of the Christmas Lights.

google
Graham Antin

We love Abulous lighting and have been using them for years  They are very responsive and professional and  will come back no questions asked for any follow up work  Good pricing and highly trustworthy  Frank, the owner, is a true  stand up guy.  I recommend without reservation

google
Allan Conlan

Frank and the team at Abulous were great to work with. They came out and retro-upgraded some previous lighting that we had done a few years back and made it look as seamless and continuous as possible. They also worked with us on the best (& most economical) way to light up a hard to reach area of our yard. They also followed up with us after we had another group of workers "disturb" some of the lighting wires and came back out and fixed everything back up again. Very friendly, dependable local resource who do great work. Highly recommend.

google
Mike Thomas

After reviewing multiple companies we contracted with Abilous Lighting to create outside accent lighting for our home, backyard patio, walkways, & fire pit.  Their ideas and design were the best!   It was a pleasure working with Frank Hasty, who did  the design, and his crew of Brandon & Rusty who performed the work.  All were excellent to work with.   We are very happy with Abulous Lighting.