Our gardens and driveways are extensions of our house – and deserve the same care and consideration we give our living room, dining room kitchen and more, when it comes to design.
There are many ways to enhance the look and appeal of our gardens – from water features to stylish topiary – but there is arguably no design choice more important than outdoor lighting.
And one of the key features in need of targeted lighting is the stairways or steps that guide us around our home and garden.
In this guide, our lighting experts cover everything you need to know about outdoor step lighting – including how to light outdoor stairs and some unique and stunning product suggestions.
What Are the Benefits of Outdoor Step Lights?
There are plenty of ways to illuminate your outdoor stairways – providing style, safety and security around your home.
Here, we explore the benefits of adding stair lighting:
Style
- Architectural Accentuation: Outdoor step lights can be strategically placed to highlight the architectural features of the stairway – drawing attention to ’design details, textures and materials.
- Ambient Lighting: Step lights contribute to a warm and inviting ambience in outdoor areas, providing a soft, subtle glow that adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to the surroundings, especially at night.
- Visual Depth and Dimension: Casting light on steps creates depth and dimension in the outdoor space – visually expanding the area and adding visual interest.
- Versatile Design Options: Outdoor step lights come in various styles, finishes and shapes, allowing for versatility in design. They can be integrated into various architectural styles, from modern and contemporary to traditional and rustic, complementing the overall outdoor aesthetic.
- Personalisation and Customisation: With outdoor step lights, you can customise the lighting design to suit your preferences and outdoor decor. You can choose the desired brightness, and colour temperature, and even incorporate smart lighting features for added convenience and control.
Safety
- Improved Visibility: The primary safety benefit of outdoor step lights is improved visibility – making it easier to navigate the outdoor staircase or pathway and reducing the risk of accidents, especially in low-light conditions.
- Clear Pathway Marking: Outdoor step lights can be strategically placed along staircases or pathways, clearly marking the route towards the home.
Security
- Deter Intruders: Illuminated outdoor areas, including steps, act as a deterrent to potential intruders – providing greater visibility and removing potential hiding spots around the home.
- Enhanced Surveillance: Outdoor step lights can improve the effectiveness of surveillance systems, such as security cameras, providing improved visibility.
- Access Control Support: Outdoor step lights can be integrated into access control systems, such as keypads or card readers, to make it easier for individuals to navigate the access control area and reduce the risk of errors or delays in authentication.
How To Light Outdoor Stairs
Looking for design inspiration for your outdoor stair lights, or a step-by-step guide to positioning your product? We’ve got you covered…
How To Position Step Lights
- Determine the Purpose: Consider the main reason for installing the lights. Is it primarily for safety, aesthetics, or both? This will help you determine the desired lighting intensity and coverage.
- Illuminate Tread and Risers: Position the step lights to illuminate both the tread (horizontal surface) and riser (vertical surface) of each step. This improves visibility and depth perception to help people safely move around the stairs.
- Evenly Spaced Placement: Space the lights evenly along the entire length of the staircase or pathway – this helps users measure the distance between steps to avoid trips or falls.
- Avoid Glare and Shadows: Position the step lights to avoid glare or shadows – aiming for a balance between illumination and comfort.
- Consider Step Width: If your steps are wider than average, you may need to install more lights to boost coverage. Place them strategically to evenly illuminate the full width of each step.
- Test Lighting Effect: Before permanently installing the step lights, test the light output while positioning them temporarily in place.
What Is the Best Height for Step Lights?
The best height for step lights varies depending on the location, the design of the steps and more.
An average height range for step lights is typically between 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimetres) above the step surface.
This range provides effective illumination while minimising the risk of the lights being accidentally kicked or damaged.
Other Places to Use Outdoor Step Lights
Step and stairway lights provide versatile illumination that can also be used to brighten other areas of the garden or around the home, including:
- Decking and Patios: Install step lights on the edges of decks or patios to provide illumination and guide people safely around. They can be placed along the edges of raised platforms, steps or transitions between different areas.
- Garden Borders and Pathways: Use step lights to line garden borders and walkways, defining the path to guide visitors and add ambience to your outdoor landscape.
- Pool Areas: Illuminate steps and boundaries of swimming pools or hot tubs, improving visibility around potentially slippery areas.
- Outdoor Seating Areas: Consider installing step lights near seating areas, such as around benches, lounge areas or dining spaces, to provide subtle illumination and create a warm and inviting ambience for outdoor gatherings.
- Gazebos or Pergolas: Place step lights on the entryway to gazebos or pergolas to help people move around safely. They can also be installed around the perimeter of the structure as a decorative touch.
- Driveways and Car Ports: If you have steps or transitions in your driveway, lights can be used to improve visibility and act as a helpful parking guide.
- Retaining Walls: Illuminate steps or terraces on retaining walls with step lights. This not only enhances safety but also draws the eye to the architectural features of the wall.
- Dock Areas: For properties with waterfront structures, step lights can be installed on the lead down to the dock or along the edges to improve safety and visibility at night.
Ideas to Make Your Outdoor Stairs Look Beautiful
Outdoor stair lights add an inviting glow to the steps around your home – providing the perfect backdrop for summer evenings and a warming touch year-round.
Here, our experts offer their top tips for getting the most from your stairway lights:
- Illuminate Entrance Stairs
If your home has a run of stairs leading to the front door or porch, installing lights beneath each step adds a warm, welcoming feeling – while also guiding guests safely into the property at night.
For this design idea, we recommend our Sherpa Solar Step Lights, available for just £19.99 for a set of four lights.
- Pathway Illumination
One of the easiest ways to make guests feel welcome when they pull up in your driveway is to provide a bright and beautiful walkway to your front door.
Plus, this comes with the added benefit of boosting visibility around your home to deter unwanted visitors from sneaking around undetected.
For this design idea, we recommend our Lavenham Solar Garden Lights, available for only £29.99 for a set of four.
- Compliment a Modern Aesthetic
Many modern homes enjoy a minimalist aesthetic, with concrete or marble stairs in muted greys, blacks and whites. Compliment these modern features with sleek and stylish lights.
Our Onyx DualWhite Solar Brick Lights fit flush in driveways and bricked stairways, delivering a subtle glow exactly where you need it – and are just £29.99 for a set of two.
- Safety First
For those looking to illuminate darker areas around the home – or simply highlight potential hazards like steep steps or curbs – lights can prove the perfect safety feature.
For example, our Modena Solar Spot Lights are perfect for creating uplighting along the stairs leading up to your home – providing added visibility in key areas with an adjustable light head – and are available for £29.99 for a set of three lights.
Step lighting from The Solar Centre
The Solar Centre offers a wide range of step lights and solar decking lights designed to provide the perfect welcoming glow for friends, family and guests – or to highlight key features around the home to avoid trips or falls.
Our outdoor lights are completely solar powered – proving sustainable and cost-effective – and are guaranteed to last through the summer months.
Shop our range of solar lights now or chat with our experts for help finding the right product for your driveway, garden and more!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How Bright Should Outdoor Stair Lights Be
A: Outdoor stair lights should be bright enough to provide clear visibility and safety. Aim for a brightness level that effectively illuminates the steps without causing glare or discomfort for individuals using the stairs. This brightness level should roughly be between 10-20 lumens to provide the appropriate visibility without distracting visitors from the rest of the garden.
Q: How Many Step Lights Do I Need?
A: The number of step lights you need depends on the length and layout of the staircase or pathway. Aim for even spacing and sufficient coverage to make sure each step is adequately illuminated, typically placing one step light per step or every few steps.
Q: How Far Apart Should Step Lights Be Placed?
A: Step lights should be spaced evenly along the length of the staircase or pathway, typically placing them every 2-3 steps or approximately 3-5 feet apart. This spacing creates consistent lighting and helps individuals navigate the steps safely.
