Most Complete and Practical Pool Lighting Ideas

An outdoor pool should be a centerpiece in the garden and somewhere you want to spend time relaxing, so getting the look and feel of the pool area is something worth investing money and time into. Lighting both above and below the water is an important part of how the pool will look in the evenings. Here are some pool lighting ideas for the pool deck, underwater and the landscape around the pool.

• Pool Deck Lighting Ideas
• Underwater Pool Lighting Ideas
• Landscape Lighting around the Pool
• Above Ground Pool Lighting Ideas
• Inground Pool Lighting Ideas

Pool Deck Lighting Ideas

Add safety and sparkle to steps, edges and barriers

When designing the lighting for your pool area, bear in mind the need to keep steps, edges and barriers well lit. Most people enjoy using their pool at night or early evening as much as they do during the day, so it is important to make sure that these parts of your pool area are adequately lit–both for safety and to add some sparkle.

MAXvolador solar deck lights can be installed on steps, pool edges, pool fencing, or safety barriers. The lights come with both double-sided tape and screws for fixation meaning that they can be used on a host of different pool edges and barriers, regardless of their material. Unlike many lights in this category, the anti rust and IPFF waterproof rating of these lights makes them ideal poolside.

A magical pool deck with globe lights

Globe lights can be used to create a magical atmosphere on the pool deck or path leading up to the pool deck. MAXvolador crackled-glass globe lights create particularly beautiful and atmospheric lighting for use on a pool deck. The lights come in cool white, warm white or multi color so can be matched to other poolside lighting.

The lights are solar-powered meaning no cables are needed when installing them poolside, and the lights have automatic on/off sensors. The lights have a waterproof rating of IP65 so are ideal for use near water. The crackled glass is particularly thick making it resistant to harsh weather or poolside impacts.

Multi-colored lights for brick decking

If your decking is made from bricks, you can use paver lights to replace some of the bricks to create a series of multi-colored lights within the pool deck. The lights can be used as a border around the pool, or used as part of the pathway leading to and from the pool. The lights can be set to display 16 different colors including warm white, so can fit any pool area design scheme.

These paver lights are solar-powered and require no cables making them easy to install. Simply use each light to replace a brick in your decking using a set square, measure and mallet.

Extra lighting at eye level using rope lights

Some pool deck lighting should be visible at eye level, as well as light from below. Rope lights can be attached to tall garden elements such as trees or to the house itself, and the lights hung above the pool. Hanging rope lights in this way will create a twinkling effect on the water, and provide additional light.

Rope lights can also be installed along the edge of pool railings, the perimeter of the pool deck or underneath handrails. Lights such as MAXvolador rope lights have an IP68 waterproof rating making them ideal for using on fixtures and fittings on a pool deck. There are also sound reactive rope lights which can be synced with music when using the pool for a party or evening entertainment.

Underwater Pool Lighting Ideas

There are also ways of lighting underneath the water in your pool. These are particularly good when swimming at night, and can also really add to the atmosphere of a pool party. These lights are of course completely waterproof, and can be submerged underneath the water.

If you want underwater pool lights to use on a regular basis but do not want the lights to be in the water permanently, these rechargeable submersible LED lights are a great option. They are completely waterproof, but can be removed from the water, dried off and charged via USB from the mains.

For something more permanent, these cabled pool lights can be fixed in position under the water and plugged into the mains. The lights come with a power transformer which converts the high power from the mains to a low 12V DC making them safe to put in the water. The lights are of course waterproof, can be controlled via bluetooth and have a host of color and control options.

For occasional use, these floating pool lights project fish patterns below the water making them ideal for keeping babies and children entertained whilst playing in the pool. The lights run on batteries, so the batteries will need to be recharged or replaced. Each light requires three AAA batteries. The lights are sealed with a silicon ring to ensure a watertight seal. However, the ABS plastic is a little susceptible to shocks on land so handle with care to and from the pool.

Landscape Lighting around the Pool

Landscape lighting around the pool can compliment pool deck lighting. This landscape lighting can serve as a source of highlight lighting to support sources of strong ambient lighting and can be used to highlight pathways, plants and other garden items.

One way of adding landscape lighting to the pool area is by the placing of solar spot lights to light pathways, garden plants or buildings. Outdoor spotlights are  usually waterproof, so you can also use them close to the pool if needed. They are bright enough for lighting up parts of the garden landscape.

Plants can also be brightened up using MAXvolador swaying solar firefly lights. The branches of these lights can be intertwined with plant branches or stems, or the lights can simply be used to stand on their own. The lights have an IP65 waterproof rating, and their warm white light will add an ambient glow to your garden landscape.

A rustic touch can be added to the pathways and other elements of your garden landscape using walkway lights. The ripple effect of the glass in these lights creates a unique and inspiring water-like appearance within the garden landscape.

For landscape lighting at eye level, use MAXvolador hanging solar lanterns. These lights have a basket effect, with the outer cage being made from black metal. They can be hung from trees or posts, and their waterproof design means that they can be left out in all weather.

Above Ground Pool Lighting Ideas

For above ground pool lighting, rope and string lights can be used to add a strong source of ambient lighting. These can be hung between poles and trees to cover the area over the pool, hung on high objects around the perimeter of the pool area, or attached to pool furniture such as hand rails and fences.

To add highlights above ground, try using hanging solar lights. These can be hung on tree trunks, branches or other objects at or above eye level. If you have opted for cool ambient lighting using rope lighting or other sources, try using a warm color for highlights such as hanging solar lights.

Inground Pool Lighting Ideas

For inground pool lighting, spot lights can be used to brighten plants, dark areas on the pool deck itself, garden buildings or the house itself. Spot lights are typically placed in the ground via spikes, though some are supplied with fixtures for attaching to woodwork or stonework. Paths to and from the pool area can be lit using walkway lights, and are typically placed in the ground via spikes in the same way as spot lights. To create a inviting atmosphere, use the decorative lights mentioned above, such as the solar lantern with crystal shining effect, the solar crackled-glass globe lights, solar deck lights, and so on.