Best Lighting For Alfresco Dining
Written by: Millie Breakspeare
Relax into summer with good food, good drink, and good company under the stars. Dining alfresco with friends and family is a brilliant way to make the most of the seasonal warmth and gentle breeze on those long summer nights. But to eat in peace, you’re going to need the right light to see by, without shattering the ambiance with a harsh glare.
Here are our tips for curating the perfect lighting set up that balances function with atmosphere.
Functional Festoon Lights
For the brightest glow, festoon lights are the best shout. They cast a bold light that will allow you to see what delicious food you’re eating, as well as make it easier to top up your glass with your beverage of choice. It’s simple enough to hang Pro Connect festoons above the table using festoon poles, enfolding the table in a golden cocoon of light.
Or, to really embrace nature, you can hang festoon lights from tree branches to create a beautiful shining structure - the centrepiece of your gathering.
Calming Candlelight
Smiling faces bathed in candlelight is the perfect embodiment of summer magic, intimately spending time with friends and family in a cosy and calming atmosphere. Scatter different sizes of TruGlow® candles along the table to create depth and visual interest. You can also use them in simple black Seaton lanterns to add an extra layer of cosiness.
It’s a good idea to use weatherproof outdoor candles on your alfresco table – we are still in Britain after all. But you do have options of both battery and solar powered candles, so you can choose the candle that’s the best fit for your garden, whether it gets plenty of summer sunshine during the day or not a lot.
Luscious Lanterns
Lanterns are a brilliant addition to any alfresco dining area. Placing them strategically means you can create different layers and heights to the overall scene. Larger lanterns like our wooden Sol lanterns are perfect for setting at ground level, either to act as a guiding path for guests or to cast some light from below the table top. Hang Tyvek solar lanterns in Scandi tones from tree branches to add pops of colour and shine from above. Utilising different lighting from the top, middle, and bottom of the space will help tie everything together.
Fun Fairy Lights
Finish your dining area off with some sparkle. Wrap flower shaped fairy lights around chairs, place settings, and serving dishes to add some character to your table – it’s sure to get your friends and family talking. You can also drape micro lights all around your garden to add an extra sparkle amongst the gentle glow of your candles.
Fulfil your dreams of a midsummer night’s feast with friends and family by layering different lighting to create a space that’s both practical for dining, but also has an easy breezy atmosphere for everyone to relax into and chat the night away. Our tips are simple to adapt to your own tastes and colour palette so you can build a welcoming, comforting dining area for the people who know you best.
