Lighting options for a summerhouse

Lighting in the gazebo must be done in order to create a comfortable place to relax in the evening. And closed structures can be used all year round, but at the same time it is necessary to install equipment protected from adverse effects. It is especially important to provide good light if you need to cook something (for example, on a barbecue or barbecue), as your safety depends on it.

Types of gazebo lighting

Illumination serves not only practical, but also decorative purposes.

You can organize lighting in different ways, so first of all you should deal with the main options. This will help to evaluate the pros and cons of each of them and choose the solution that best suits a particular gazebo and provides the best effect. If necessary, you can combine two or even three types, if necessary.

General

This option involves the use of a single light source located in the middle.If the gazebo is elongated or irregular in shape, then two or more lamps may be required. As for the benefits, they are:

1. High-quality lighting that provides good visibility throughout the gazebo. In fact, this is an analogue of a chandelier in a room, if you choose the right power, then there will be no problems with light.
2. Installing the structure is most often not difficult, you need to bring the power cable and fix it on the ceiling partition or beam. The main thing is to choose a suitable mount so that the lamp holds well.
3. You can provide a comfortable stay for everyone who is in the gazebo. Light is distributed evenly.

For general lighting, you can independently make a chandelier out of wood.

Master class: How to make an excellent and simple lamp for a gazebo from scraps of a board.

As for the disadvantages, they also exist:

1. Sufficiently high electricity consumption. Generally, a general lighting fixture needs to be powerful, so electricity costs are higher.
2. High price of quality equipment. Since for installation in the gazebo you need models with high resistance to moisture and dust, designed for outdoor use, then they cost an order of magnitude more expensive than standard products.

By the way! It is better to purchase a lamp with several modes of operation in order to choose the right one depending on the situation.

Local

This option is suitable where you need to allocate a separate part of the space or provide high-quality light for needlework or other purposes. The main advantages of local lighting are:

1. You can install the lamp in any suitable place and use it only when necessary.For example, turn on the light while cooking or reading a book.
2. It is very easy to change the position of the ceiling and the direction of the light if you install an adjustable model. This option is best suited for such purposes.
3. The power of the lamp is small and the cost of electricity is much less than that of the general light.

Local lighting allows you to illuminate a separate area.

Among the shortcomings of the solution, the following can be distinguished:

1. Illuminates a small area, which can create visual discomfort if it is dark around.
2. There is usually enough light for one person, so you need to put lamps for everyone.

decorative

This type of lighting is needed to make the gazebo attractive and improve its appearance in the evening and at night. Different lighting options can be used here - from lamps to led strip or searchlights directional light. The advantages are:

1. You can decorate the site in a single style and give it a special comfort and charm. It is better that all lighting equipment is combined.
2. Due to decorative lighting, visibility is improved, it can also be used as a subdued light for relaxation.

Garlands are often used for decorative lighting.

Of the minuses, it is worth mentioning the difficulty of installing a large number of small lamps and the need for wiring in open areas.

How lighting depends on the design of the gazebo

Arbors are open and closed, each option has its own characteristics, which affects selection of fixtures. In order not to make a mistake and find the optimal solution, it is worth remembering a few recommendations:

1. In open structures, the light is scattered over the area, therefore, to ensure good illumination, you need to use lamps of greater power. But at the same time, it is necessary to select options that will not cause discomfort and illuminate the surrounding space too much. For installation, only waterproof luminaires intended for outdoor use are selected, this also applies to the cable.
   The brightness of luminaires in open structures should be greater.
2. In closed gazebos, the light does not extend beyond the walls, so the choice can be guided by the same principles as for the premises. It is necessary to calculate in advance the preferred rate of illumination and, based on this, buy equipment of the required power. For unheated rooms, it is better to use equipment that is resistant to moisture changes.

So that the light in the open gazebo does not spread around the site, you can put lamps behind the eaves along the perimeter.

Types of fixtures for gazebos

There can be many options, they primarily differ in the light source, so it’s better to deal with this issue in advance and choose the best solution:

1. Incandescent lamps - cheap and available. But at the same time they have the smallest resource of work and give yellow light of not very high brightness. In addition, light bulbs consume the most electricity and get very hot during operation, which is unsafe when installed at a low height.
2. Fluorescent lamps consume much less electricity, have a large resource and do not heat up during operation. The light quality is good, but the equipment does not tolerate low temperatures well, so it is better not to use it in winter.
3. Halogen lamps give a bright light, close to daylight. But they also get very hot and have a small resource. You can make a system operating from low voltage.
4. LED options are the most preferable for today, as they have a large resource and consume the least electricity. Diodes give bright light of different brightness, they do not heat up during operation and work well in the open air.
   LEDs are the best solution for gazebos.

Depending on the power source, the following options can be distinguished:

1. Electrical network. It is necessary to bring the cable over the air or on the ground.
2. Battery. Autonomous power supply is suitable when using light infrequently.
3. Autonomous food. Most often, these are solar panels that accumulate energy during the daytime.

How to make a backlight in the gazebo with your own hands

It is not difficult to make lighting a gazebo in a country house or a plot with your own hands. To do this, you need to follow simple recommendations:

1. Think of an idea that needs to be implemented. Draw up a clear and detailed diagram showing all the elements of the system. Purchase the necessary equipment.
2. If electricity from the network will be used, bring the cable. It is better to do this underground, it is more difficult, but safer.
3. Set the equipment in place. Connect the wiring using sealed sockets or by soldering the connections and covering them with heat shrink tubing.
4. Check the operation of the system and make sure that it does not pose any danger.

Open type wiring should be laid in corrugations.

If the option with a battery is used, then you need to choose a place for its installation and think over a simple and reliable connection system.For autonomous lamps, it is better to have solar panels in a southerly direction so that they accumulate maximum energy.

Organization of lighting in a country gazebo without electricity

If it is not possible to lay electricity or do not want to spend money on equipment with solar panels, alternative solutions can be used:

1. Candles placed in jars or candlesticks with glass to protect the flame from gusts of wind and provide a more even light. This option allows you to create a cozy atmosphere for evening gatherings.
   Candles do not give bright light, but they provide a romantic atmosphere.
2. Kerosene lamp or more lamps. A good solution that provides warm light and is suitable for open structures. The lamp can be placed on a table or hung, which is very convenient.
3. Mobile lamps. Now there are many travel options on sale, they can work up to 12 hours on a single charge and take up little space.

From the video you will learn how to make lamps from a bar.

It is not difficult to make the backlight of a gazebo in a summer cottage or personal plot if you choose the right equipment and install it correctly. The most convenient option is to connect to a fixed network, the main thing is to ensure security.