With summertime just around the corner, many of us are ready to start migrating outdoors to enjoy the warmer weather. Backyards and patios tend to become an extension of the home during this time of year. And as we all know, entertaining family and friends with comfortable patio furniture and accessories is important. This includes everything from tables and chairs to your patio lighting setup.
A few years ago a friend turned me on to patio umbrella lights (those flying saucer-shaped lighting units that attach to the top of the umbrella pole). My initial reaction was that they were kind of neat looking, though far from a necessity for most people. We already had a couple of lanterns installed on the wall on opposite sides of the sliding door that provided us with more than enough light. At dinnertime we’d switch those off and just light a couple of candles on the table to dine by candlelight. Surprisingly enough we’ve gotten more mileage out of these outdoor umbrella lights than I’d ever imagined. Here are three ways I’ve found these lights useful.
Create Outdoor Ambiance, Even on Windy Days
When dining outdoors on warm summer nights candles often are the perfect way to set the mood. The problem is, candles don’t work so well when there’s a strong summer breeze. We live at the top of a hill and I’ve lost track of how many times a strong gust of wind has come along and put us in the dark. We used to laugh about it when it would first happen, but there’s nothing funny about burn holes and wax drippings all over an expensive patio table, and that’s what we started seeing after awhile. Umbrella lighting creates the perfect soft, romantic glow of candlelight without the muss and fuss of candles. You can easily adjust the light levels to match your activity–whether you’re eating or playing cards.
Hot to Look at, but Not to Touch
Without having to use dangerous candles for lighting, parents can relax and let their kids play freely on the patio. I don’t have kids personally, but I know when my nieces and nephews came over we were always a bit on edge when they would play near the table with the open flame. This is no longer an issue as we just switch on our umbrella lights and we’re all set. The kids have plenty of light to play, and since the lights are cool to the touch we don’t have to worry about any mishaps.
A Beacon of Light in the Night
Patio umbrella lights create an ambiance that helps make your patio look like a fancy restaurant patio, even if it’s just a backyard in the suburbs. They are perfect for any semi-formal or formal event, like a graduation party or anniversary celebration. If you have a big backyard event coming up these lights are sure to be a big hit. And if the guests happen to drink a little too much champagne and wander away from the crowd they can easily find their way back by the light of the umbrella.
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