The sizzle of meat on the barbeque mingles with laughter drifting across the lawn. Someone uncorks a bottle of wine with a satisfying pop, while ice clinks against glass and the balmy breeze carries the sweet smoke of manuka wood. As the sun dips lower into late afternoon, conversations soften, and that perfect summer playlist floats through the warm air – maybe it’s Ella Fitzgerald’s velvet vocals in ‘Summertime’, or Bryan Adams taking us back to the ‘Summer of ’69’.
These are the moments that make summer magical – when good food, great company, and the right atmosphere come together under an open sky. Whether it’s an impromptu weeknight barbecue or a long-planned gathering of friends, there’s something about dining outdoors that makes time slow down and memories stick.
Yet too often, the setting sun signals a retreat indoors, cutting short those perfect moments just as they’re getting started. What if the gathering didn’t have to end when daylight fades? What if your outdoor space could transform as dusk settles, creating a new atmosphere for nighttime entertaining?
Chris French, owner of French Electrical, talks through some of his ideas for outdoor entertaining —something he is passionate about!
Set the mood with a summer soundscape
While the warm glow of outdoor lighting sets the perfect backdrop for your backyard oasis, nothing complements the ambience quite like your favourite summer playlist drifting through the evening air. Installing weatherproof outdoor speakers can transform your backyard into an immersive entertainment space. Whether mounted discreetly under eaves, disguised as landscape rocks, or positioned strategically around your patio, today’s outdoor audio systems are designed to withstand the elements while delivering crystal-clear sound. With proper placement and installation, you can create zones of balanced audio that won’t disturb the neighbours but will keep the summer vibes flowing from sunset well into the starlit hours.
While music sets the mood, thoughtful outdoor lighting is essential for both creating atmosphere and ensuring safe navigation through your outdoor spaces after sunset.
Outdoor lighting – the untapped potential of home improvement
What is it about garden lighting that has such a significant impact on our lives? It serves a bigger purpose other than just lighting up our homes at night. Light provides a welcoming warmth, a sense of beauty, ambience, and safety.
Outdoor lighting is often an underutilised aspect of home design. Many homeowners focus on interior spaces, leaving their gardens and outdoor areas in the dark – literally. However, outdoor lighting can transform your property in unexpected ways. “I don’t think people realise just how much of a difference it can make,” says Chris French. “Once they have it, they wonder what they did without it.”
Creating depth and atmosphere
Imagine sitting on your deck on a warm summer evening. Without proper lighting, your view might be limited to the edge of your patio, with the rest of your garden shrouded in darkness. But with strategically placed lighting, (see the image below) you can illuminate key features of your landscape, creating a sense of depth and showcasing the full expanse of your property.
“You don’t even need a lot,” says Chris. “Just three or four specimen trees lit up can show the depth of your property. It’s not about trying to say you’ve got a lot of property, but it gives a bit more atmosphere.”
Outdoor lighting isn’t just about aesthetics – it serves practical purposes too. Path lighting ensures safe navigation around your property, while task lighting in outdoor kitchen and entertaining areas makes nighttime barbecues a breeze. And security lighting can deter potential intruders and provide peace of mind.
But beyond these functional aspects, outdoor lighting can transform ordinary spaces into extraordinary ones. A simple wooden fence can become a beautiful, lit backdrop, and a plain patio can transform into an inviting entertainment area. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.
The technology behind the glow
Modern outdoor lighting solutions have come a long way from the flimsy solar lights you can find at your local hardware store. Although cheap, these lights will break and become rusty in months. Our electrician-installed high-quality systems use low-voltage LED lighting, typically 24-volt, which offers several advantages.
“We use all low-voltage LED lighting now,” explains Chris. “It’s extra low-voltage, which means it can just be on top of the ground. You don’t need to bury it deeply for safety reasons anymore.” This makes installation easier and more flexible, allowing creative lighting designs without major landscaping disruptions.
From residential to commercial: Lighting up the town
While much of our focus has been on residential outdoor lighting, the impact of lighting in commercial and public spaces is worth noting. From bars and restaurants to town centres, strategic lighting can create inviting atmospheres and transform mundane areas into vibrant nighttime destinations.
Look at these before and after photos where we installed the atmospheric lighting at the Blacksmith Eatery and Bar in Takanini. This project demonstrates how lighting can change the entire character of a space, drawing in customers and creating memorable experiences.
Getting started with outdoor lighting
Where should you start if you’re considering adding or upgrading your outdoor lighting? Chris suggests beginning with a few key areas:
- Deck and patio lighting – Illuminate your primary outdoor entertaining spaces for evening enjoyment.
- Path lighting – Ensure safe navigation around your property.
- Feature lighting – Highlight a few special elements in your garden, such as specimen trees or water features.
- Task lighting – Don’t forget practical areas like BBQ spots or outdoor kitchens.
The key is to start small and expand your lighting as you see the benefits. “We can put a decent-sized driver in at the very beginning and run just three or four lights out in the garden in specific areas,” says Chris. “Then later on, if you decide you want more, we can put some more lights in because we’ve already got enough power which we put in earlier in the piece.” This approach allows homeowners to see the impact of lighting and often leads to further expansion in subsequent seasons.
A bright idea for every season
Whether you’re looking to enhance your home’s street appeal, extend your living space, or simply create a more inviting outdoor atmosphere, outdoor lighting offers a world of possibilities. So why leave your outdoor entertaining spaces in the dark? It’s time to light up the night and discover the transformative power of outdoor illumination.
After all, when it comes to making your outdoor spaces shine, it’s not just about being “all lit up” – it’s about creating an environment that’s truly “lit” in every sense of the word. (Yes, Chris enjoys Louis Litt’s tagline “You just got litt up”.)
French Electrical Auckland designs elegant bespoke garden lighting systems – click here for a hassle-free quote.