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Magic Pool Lighting Ideas For A Spectacular Backyard Oasis

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stunning pool lighting ideas to try

Want to have a romantic, nighttime oasis by your pool this summer? Use these pool lighting ideas to create a warm glow by your backyard pool!

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Pool Lighting Ideas

A lot of people think of swimming in a pool during the daylight hours as a way to cool off from the heat. But what about using your pool area in the evening too? This is easy to do when you have the right lighting setup for it.

outdoor patio area with pool lights at night

Do you need a bunch of lights around your pool? Probably not as many you might think. If you use a few underwater lights in your pool, this alone will provide a good bit of lighting for the space. Add in additional lighting options as needed to complete the look.

Read on to discover some popular pool lighting ideas to try.

String Lights for Pool Areas

string lights on pergola by outdoor pool at night

String lights are a classic way to decorate an outdoor space for the evening hours, and pool deck areas are no exception. If you’re short on time, hanging a few strands of strings lights by your pool will instantly elevate the space while providing a warm glow.

Outdoor String Lights

String lights for lighting around a pool deck work well hanging from a pergola, cabana, deck overhang or underneath an umbrella. If you don’t have a good way to hang string lights by your pool, consider purchasing a string light stand.

This is basically a tall rod with a heavy base that can be place anywhere you need for mounting string lights.

backyard pool with string lights

If you’re handy, you can also make string light stands using thin metal tubing, hooks and a something to serve as a sturdy base, like a bucket filled with rocks or sand.

Underwater Pool Lights

colorful underwater lights in backyard pool at night

Does your pool have underwater lights in it? Many pools already have these installed, but if you don’t consider adding some. Pool lights are important for safety when you are swimming at night.

Because the surface of the water is large, a few pool lights can really provide a nice glow to the entire space.

Underwater Pool Lights

Many varieties are shaped like a disk that can be mounted to the sides or bottom of your pool. This works well for above ground pools as well as in ground pools without light sockets.

Look for color changing options as well as things like remote controls, timers and rechargeable batteries. Always double check that the lights are designed to work underwater and are waterproof, not just water resistant.

Path Lights for Pool Lighting

Path lights are popular in gardens and along sidewalks to provide some lighting for the walkway. But have you considered using them around your pool deck area as well?

If your pool has landscaping around it, consider adding path lights to the area to create a pretty glow and provide additional lighting to the space.

Outdoor Path Lights

One of the things I like about path lights is that they come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors. You’re sure to find something that works for your budget and tastes.

Recessed Lights Near a Pool

One of my favorite pool deck lighting ideas is to use recessed lighting fixtures. If you’re building a pool in your backyard from scratch, consider installing recessed lighting to the deck. This adds a pretty glow to the area, while helping define pathways, the pool edge, etc.

An advantage of recessed lighting around pools is that it is easy on your eyes at night. Because the lights face downward, it can be a softer glow than some of the other pool lighting ideas mentioned on this page.

If your pool is already installed, you might not be able to add recessed lights to the deck. But you might be able to add in a few paver lights or retaining wall lights to get the same effect.

Landscaping Lighting as a Pool Lighting Idea

backyard pool with landscape lighting at night

Does you pool have lots of nice landscaping around it? You work hard to keep your garden looking nice, so why not show it off in the evening hours?

Popular lighting options for landscaping are path lights and spot lights. Candles and lanterns can also work well amongst the plants as shown in the photo above. Adding lighting to your landscaping can give it an interesting effect at night.

small backyard pool with string lights at night

Don’t forget about string lights when it comes to landscape lighting. You might only need a few strands of LED lights hung from tree branches to create a beautiful vibe near your backyard swimming pool at night.

Pool Lighting Ideas With Colorful Lights

colorful lights surround a pool at night

Why not give your pool area a tropical oasis kind of vibe with colorful lighting options? Sure the more “adult” version of lighting a pool deck is to use cool white or warm white lights. But you can easily create a festive glow by using different colored lights instead.

Even if you don’t want to use colorful lights along your pool year round, these can still be fun to setup for pool parties and cookouts. Just about every lighting option mentioned on this page comes in colors other than white.

You can use outdoor laser projector lights or colorful flood lights. These lights are often used at Halloween or Christmas time to project different colored lights onto your house. Why not do the same thing in your pool area for a summer party?

Rope Lights for Pool Lighting

rope lights on steps by outdoor pool at night

LED rope lights are a great option to provide lighting for a pool deck. Because they are flexible, rope lights can conform to curved or straight edges in your pool area. Rope lights provide a unique glow and serve as a safety measure along the steps in the photo above.

When you go to buy rope lights for your pool area, make sure to check if they are rated as being waterproof. Some varieties are not, and thus shouldn’t be used for lighting around pools as some of the electronics might be exposed.

Spot Lights & Up Lighting Near a Swimming Pool

swimming pool with colorful landscape up lighting

You’ve probably seen some fancy lighting near a pool area at a resort or hotel. Much of this lighting effect is achieved using strategically placed spot lights pointed upwards.

Using upwardly angled spot lights, you can highlight landscaping features or light up a wall near your pool. Different colored or color changing spot lights can be used for a unique effect. I really like the red lighting used on the palm trees in the photo above.

Pool Umbrella Lights

If you’re using a patio umbrella by your pool, consider lighting it up with umbrella lights. These are lights that can be placed under directly under your open umbrella to illuminate the space.

Most umbrella lights on the market are either shaped like a disk that attaches onto the pole of the umbrella. Or you can find string light models that attach to the arms of the umbrella. You can also find umbrella models with lights already installed.

Patio Umbrella Lights

Most of these lights are battery powered so there are no cords. Many models include remote controls for easy on/off access. Some even have Bluetooth speakers. These are a great option for lighting around a pool deck if you don’t have many power outlets near your pool.

Pool Cage Lighting Ideas

Do you have a pool cage surrounding your pool area? Make the most of this area at night by adding lights to the pool cage itself.

The supports of the pool cage make a great place to mount wall sconces. You can find these wall sconces in different styles that are specifically designed for pool cages. Many offer color changing options that can give your pool area a fun vibe.

Another option is to hang string lights or rope lights around the pool cage. This creates a pretty glow throughout your pool cage in the evening hours.

Floating Lights for Swimming Pools

Floating LED lights are a popular option for lighting up your pool area at night. These lights come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, even different colors.

I’ve seen these used to decorate a pool area for weddings. But there’s no reason you can’t get the same vibe in your pool on a summer night.

Floating Pool Lights

You’ll find lots of floating LED lights on the market that are shaped like spheres or disks. But keep an eye out of eclectic options such as floating flamingos, water fountains, jellyfish, etc.

Wall Lights & Sconces for Backyard Pool Areas

backyard pool with lanterns, wall scones at night

I mentioned using wall sconces to light up a pool cage, but you can also mount wall sconces onto your house’s exterior walls, or fences. Wall sconces are great for providing a large amount of light to an outdoor area.

If you’re looking to get the amount of light in your pool area as shown in the photo above, you’ll most likely need to use bright, hard wired lighting. Flood lights and spot lights pointing up towards the wall can achieve a similar look.

If your pool area has a covered awning, consider installing lights within the awning to illuminate the space.

Lanterns & Candles by a Pool

lantern by pool with landscape up lighting

One of the most romantic pool deck lighting ideas I’ve seen is to use lanterns and candles by your pool. Lanterns set by a pool are a great way to create a nice glow in the evening hours. You can group the lanterns in sets of three or six (in keeping with the decorating “rule of threes”).

Or consider setting your lanterns out along a side of the pool in a single row.

Candle Lanterns

To light up your lantern, you’ve got a few options. Some lanterns come with LED candles already installed which makes for a nice “done for you” kind of option. Some of these lanterns are solar powered, so you don’t have to worry about changing the batteries.

Other lanterns on the market will be empty inside, in which case consider using fairy lights, wax candles or outdoor LED candles to illuminate your lantern.

Outdoor & Waterproof Flameless Candles

Outdoor flameless candles can also be grouped together outside of a lantern as lighting for a pool deck. Many companies sell these candles in sets, so you can save some money on a bundle instead of buying them individually.

These candles are designed to withstand some water, so it’s ok if they get splashed. You’ll want to check with the manufacturer as to whether or not they can be completely submerged in water and still work ok.

Fire Pits Near a Backyard Pool

backyard pool with landscape lighting, fire pit

Fire pits have become very popular lately and provide a nice relaxing atmosphere in your backyard at night. I like the idea of having a fire pit around your pool since it allows you to use the space even if you don’t plan on swimming at night.

If you want to have a fire pit, but not have to fuss with burning wood, considering getting a propane gas powered version. These fire pits look really nice sitting on a pool deck surrounded by a couple of chairs. A relaxing way to unwind after a long day!

Hopefully that gives you some pool lighting ideas for how to create a beautiful glow by your pool this summer. What are you planning on having for lighting near your pool? Share it below in the comments! 🙂

More Pool Deck Decorating Ideas

For more pool deck decorating inspiration, tips and styles, check out these posts:

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stunning pool lighting ideas to try
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backyard glow with pool lights at night
backyard glow with pool lights at night

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