Ideas For Lighting A Patio With No Electricity Supply

When you've gone to the trouble and expense of having a patio built, you want to be able to use it during the evening as well as during the daytime.  But how do you light your patio if it doesn't have an electricity supply?  Read on for some helpful ideas.

Solar powered lights

Garden centres and camping shops offer a good selection of solar powered lighting that's perfect for use on patios.  Solar powered lights aren't tremendously powerful, so position them for maximum effect near seating and eating areas, and remember to illuminate dark corners too.

You can easily boost light penetration and effect by positioning mirrors behind the light sources.

LED battery lights and lanterns

Battery powered LED lights usually offer a much brighter glow than solar powered ones, and can be bought in many different forms, including strings of fairy lights, candles, and lanterns.

Strings of coloured lights can be hung around the edge of the patio or twined through the balustrades to give a pretty ambient touch.  Lanterns have the advantage of versatility; you can place them as freestanding light sources on tables or hang them from overhanging trees.

Although the batteries you'll need for this form of lighting may seem expensive, they do last quite a long time, and you can economise by using rechargeable ones.

Old style hurricane lamps

If you fancy something more old-fashioned, hurricane style oil lamps can still be bought from good garden and camping stores.  They throw out a surprising amount of light and can be incorporated very effectively into a retro-style patio design.

One disadvantage of hurricane lamps is that they are fuelled by oil, which can be a fire hazard.  Make sure that oil-fired lamps are placed where they won't be kicked over and keep a fire extinguisher handy, just in case of accidents. 

Candles and tealights

A romantic ambiance can be provided by lighting your patio with candles and tealights.  Be sure to buy containers that will shield candle flames from the wind, and choose colours to blend with your outdoor décor scheme.  The best place to put candles is on tables to light your dining experience or grouped together in dark corners to drive away shadows.

Naked flames obviously present a fire risk, so always keep candles shielded inside containers, and have a bucket of sand or water on hand in case of fire.

Fire pits

A really good way of lighting your patio is by using a portable, self-contained fire pit.  These features come in the form of small metal or clay bowl-shaped containers set on legs.  You simply build a small fire of logs or charcoal inside the bowl, which can also be used to cook on.  If you don't want the hassle of cleaning the fire pit out after every use, you might want to consider buying the propane fuelled version.

A fire pit can make a great focal point for your evening patio use, in addition to giving you light, heat, and a cooking facility if you want one.

In conclusion

These are just a few ideas for lighting your patio in the evenings without the need for an electrical supply.  All the items mentioned above can be bought at garden centres, DIY stores, and camping shops (or companies like Patioworld NSW Pty Ltd).