Light up your Fourth of July
By Susie Coelho
Lighting is one of the most important elements in a backyard. There are so many options these days, from pathway lighting, to lanterns, to chandeliers, to solar globes that float in your pool! One of my favorite discoveries are resin battery operated candles, because they are safe, but have the look of a real candle and can be left outside without melting. They also don’t blow out with the breeze!
I love the month of July as the sun is shining and the nights are warm. My family and I love to barbeque in the evenings. I grew up on the East Coast and have so many fond memories of summer nights with friends and family.
The most important element to the outdoors is lighting. Have you ever been to a restaurant during the day and thought that it did not feel the same as it did at night. Well it’s all about creating a mood with lighting. There are many restaurants in Los Angeles that I frequent that have outdoor patios. The mood at night is spectacular with candles everywhere and the warm breeze. One restaurant patio has a grand tree in the center and they place lanterns hanging from all of the branches and around the base of the tree. This is the focal point of the restaurant and it creates this wonderful mood and ambience.
So it’s all about lighting and if you don’t have much out there then at least concentrate on the lighting. It’s amazing what furniture and items you can get away if it’s lit correctly. It’s an inexpensive way to get a lot of bang for your buck!
Keep Creating!
