Does your balcony still resemble a cluttered basement in summer? Or do you traditionally place only plastic chairs and a few colorful flowers in pots on it? If you want to change that and make your balcony resemble an atmospheric sitting area straight out of interior design magazines, get started! All you need is a wicker or bamboo mat with which to cover the rungs and a jute rug, and the balcony will get a new face. The whole will be complemented by appropriately selected lamps. Today in the article we will suggest what to do to make the lighting of the balcony delightful.
Choosing lamps – where to start when it comes to lighting a balcony?
Before you choose stylish, unique lamps to light up your balcony and add to its unique atmosphere, pay attention to a few important points.
- The lamp to appear on the balcony must be rainproof and sunproof. So pay close attention to the manufacturer’s recommendations and whether the lamp you choose is designed for outdoor use. The basic criterion here is the IP rating, the value of which you will find on the package. For outdoor lamps, it should be a minimum of 44.
- Another important issue is how to power the lamp. Most balconies, especially in older buildings, do not have electrical outlets. Installing them would require a lot of renovation and pulling cables outside. If you want to avoid this, choose solar or battery-powered lamps.
- What color light will work best on a balcony? Certainly, it must not be harsh and bright – this type of lighting will not only tire out householders, but also be extremely annoying to neighbors. If your balcony is mainly to be used as a place for relaxation, opt for a light with a warm color (up to 3000 K). Slightly subdued, soft, will give the whole a subtle, romantic character.
When arranging a work area on the balcony, cool-color light (over 5000 K) will work better.
- Once the safety issues are behind you, it’s time to choose the style of the lamps. Not sure what to go for? Opt for classic models in the shape of a sphere or cube. Handmade lamps have also been a frequent choice in recent seasons – very popular include. eco-friendly outdoor jar lights.
Meanwhile, the most fashionable trend this year is to furnish a balcony in japanese style. It is a combination of Scandinavian minimalism and harmony native to Japanese interiors. Lamps in this style refer to nature – they are made of such materials as bamboo, wicker or rattan.
Solar lamps vs balcony lighting
One of the most popular solutions for lighting both a balcony and a terrace or garden are solar lamps. Among them you will find many models in every style. Their immense popularity is due to the fact that use is virtually free – the lamps derive their energy from the sun. What other benefits are there to installing solar lamps on a balcony?
- setting the lamps does not require pulling kilometers of power cables;
- The lamps automatically turn on after dark and brighten the balcony for 8 to 10 hours;
- You don’t need technical knowledge to handle their installation.
Among solar lamps you will find both typically decorative and fully practical models. Decorative lamps will give you a soft, pleasant light. On a balcony, this type of lighting will work best in the form of a garland or light chain placed around the balustrade rungs.
Practical lamps, on the other hand, are models that give much more intense light – you’ll even be able to work with it! Such strong light will give you, less popular on balconies, standing lamps, floor lamps or wall lamps.
Solar lamps are good to keep on the balcony from spring to autumn. In winter, it is better to place them inside the apartment – sunlight is then too weak to fully charge the device. In addition, by taking the lamp, you will protect it from high humidity and freezing temperatures (this is especially important for its battery).
Standing, hanging, or perhaps wall sconces? Types of balcony lamps
When arranging your dream balcony, don’t limit yourself to safe, familiar solutions. Even a small space will change beyond recognition if you put at least two types of lighting on it. Popular decorative garlands, while beautiful, especially if they are handmade lamps, may not be enough. Their light will successfully complement other types of lamps. If you’re often away or live on the first floor, why not opt for lamps equipped with a motion sensor? This type of solution will be extremely comfortable on a daily basis, and at night or while you are away, it can further effectively scare off people who are unnecessarily interested in your property.
Standing and floor balcony lighting
If you are decorating a small balcony, pay special attention to standing lamps. Among them you will find original and at the same time functional models – for example, illuminated pots. Depending on your needs, you can opt for this type of lamp that gives strong or only dim light. The green decoration, which turns into a lantern after dark, suits any style balcony and looks extremely impressive!
You will complement a large balcony or terrace with standing lamps of any shape. These can be intriguing modern figures, classic lamps with metal shades or romantic openwork wooden models.
Pendant lamps
When you think about how to decorate and light your balcony, pendant lamps probably come to mind last. Nothing surprising about that. This solution is not popular, although it is worth considering – you can achieve excellent results with it! You will gain a balcony, where during summer evenings and warm nights you will feel like in the living room: the light will be intense enough to allow both reading and, for example, board games with friends.
Pendant lamps perfectly complement arrangements especially in industrial, oriental and japanese styles.
Wall lamps as balcony lighting
How about wall sconces for the balcony? This type of solution is rapidly gaining popularity! Wall lamps will allow you to optically change the proportions of the balcony: illuminating its upper part and the ceiling will enlarge the space, and directing the light stream downwards will make the balcony seem smaller and cozier. If, on the other hand, you want to achieve the most decorative effect, choose a wall lamp that will illuminate the entire facade of the building: let the light be directed both upward and downward.
The choice of wall sconces for the balcony is huge! You don’t have to opt for the traditional black or silver plastic models. Extremely stylish will look handmade ceramic wall sconces or eco models made of wicker.
Balcony lighting is an extremely important design element. With its help, you can quickly turn a traditional space into a modern seating area. It’s worth a try, because you only need really little to get amazing results!
Ceramic candle holders as balcony lighting
If you find that you don’t have a power source in the wall on your balcony, and you don’t want to lay out unsightly extension cords and cables, ceramic candle holders will do a great job in this case. Simply place a candle holder and light a candle, and the balcony will light up with a warm, pleasant flame. This is also ideal because of the mosquitoes that can annoy on the balcony in the summer, which the light from the candlestick will effectively deter!
