Get inspired with our pergola lighting ideas and keep your outdoor space beautifully illuminated all year round. No matter the season, having the right lighting for your modern pergola is essential if you want your outdoor space to remain comfortable and inviting after the sun goes down.
Whether you’re looking to create a cosy haven for evening relaxation or a vibrant spot for hosting guests, these practical yet stylish outdoor lighting setups will look beautiful in any outdoor space.
Create the perfect evening ambience with our top pergola lighting ideas
At Open Space Concepts, we know a thing or two about crafting beautiful outdoor spaces. These inspiring ideas have been carefully selected by our team for their ability to add style and personality to any garden.
1. Opt for integrated LED lighting
Sleek LED strips or spotlights can be integrated into almost any contemporary metal pergola, providing a practical and modern lighting solution. This style of pergola lighting can be operated via remote control or smartphone, giving you full control over the colour and brightness and allowing you to set the right mood with ease.
Not only will integrated LED lights effortlessly enhance the beauty of your outdoor space, but they also consume less power than traditional bulbs. This makes them a great cost-effective and environmentally friendly option.
At Open Space Concepts, we offer two different types of LED perimeter lighting as a bespoke add-on to your new pergola. Our white LED strip lights are simple yet elegant, beautifully illuminating your space and fully dimmable to suit your preferences. Our colour-changing LED lights give you even more control over the ambience, allowing you to create the perfect atmosphere for any mood.
Alternatively, opt for LED starlight sky lighting to relax under a dazzling starry sky without even having to leave the comfort of your pergola. These LED lights are perfect for cosy evenings or romantic date nights, especially on cloudy nights when gazing at the real thing isn’t an option!
2. Make it cosy with fairy lights
They may be small, but fairy lights have the power to completely transform the look and feel of your pergola. Incorporating this type of pergola light idea into your outdoor space is an easy way to create a warm and cosy atmosphere.
The best thing about fairy lights is how versatile they are, giving you the freedom to get creative with how you use them to enhance your pergola. Create a starry sky effect by draping them across the ceiling, or wrap them around the pillars to produce beautiful columns of light.
If you have an enclosed pergola, consider hanging fairy lights in gentle cascades down the inside of one wall to create a captivating waterfall of light. You could even hang fairy lights as curtains to create a magical and inviting entrance to your pergola.
There are many different styles and colours to choose from, making it easy to create the perfect ambience with your pergola fairy lights. If it’s a cosy atmosphere you desire, make sure to select fairy lights that cast a warm orange glow, rather than a white glow which might be too intense.
3. Create visual interest with pendant lights
Adding outdoor pendant lights to your wall-mounted pergola is a great way to imbue the structure with a touch of modern elegance.
Consider suspending one pendant light from the centre of your pergola to create a captivating focal point that is both functional and stylish. There are various styles to choose from, from subtle pendant lights for a minimalist look to more decorative fixtures designed to add dramatic flair and character.
In a larger pergola, you could suspend multiple outdoor pendant lights to highlight key features or decorative elements of the space. This inviting pergola light design choice will make your pergola feel like an extension of your home and ensure it blends seamlessly with your interior.
4. Make a bold statement with a chandelier
Want a pergola lighting idea that dials up the drama a little higher than a standard pendant light? A chandelier could make an audacious statement.
Just imagine hosting an elegant dinner party on a beautifully set table under the light of a glimmering crystal chandelier. Ensure it’s dimmable, as having adjustable lighting levels will mean that you can achieve the perfect cosy glow.
By the way, chandelier doesn’t have to mean crystal. There are plenty of weathered, rustic, wrought-iron options that will give an instant French farmhouse aesthetic to your outdoor space and become a talking point.
For more traditional charm, you could even add some matching sconces to the walls to complete the look. If they aren’t electric, we’d recommend adding LED candles to combat any breezes and give a safer, longer-lasting glow.
5. Add rustic charm with a fire feature
Providing both warmth and an inviting ambience, adding a fire feature to your pergola is the perfect outdoor lighting solution. There are multiple options available, from stylish fire pits to eye-catching hanging fire lanterns, all of which will provide a focal point and become a natural outdoor gathering spot for you and your guests.
Using a fire feature as a light source is an especially good idea for the winter as it will keep your retractable pergola well-lit and warm all at once, elongating the amount of time you can spend outdoors. Plus, it will create the right ambience for everything from catching up with friends to snuggling up with a book and a blanket on chilly evenings.
When integrating fire features into your pergola, safety should be your top consideration. Ensure that any fire pits are placed away from overhanging structures and that lanterns are securely mounted at a safe distance from seating areas or areas with heavy foot traffic.
6. Go eco-friendly with solar lighting
If you’re interested in pursuing more eco-conscious pergola lighting ideas, solar lighting is well worth considering. Not only does it offer an eco-friendly way of illuminating your space but it’s also highly cost-effective as it removes the need to draw from your mains electricity.
There are more solar lighting options than ever now, so let’s explore some of the best options for your space.
- Solar lanterns – These can be hung from your pergola’s beams or posts creating the impression of floating orbs of light. Paper lanterns are a particularly popular choice, creating a soft, intimate glow perfect for evening gatherings. However, if you prefer a more contemporary aesthetic, a sleek geometric lantern can add a modern touch.
- Solar fairy lights – As dusk falls, your cascading fairy lights or festoon lights will spring into action and start twinkling across whichever beams you’ve strung them from. Alternatively, opt for a net of fairy lights for a canopy of lights across the roof, reminiscent of sparkling stars.
- Solar stake lights – Light the pathways leading to your pergola with solar-powered stake lights, creating an inviting entrance that guides guests safely to your outdoor space.
7. Set the mood with LED candles
LED candles give your pergola all of the pretty flickering ambience of candlelight without having to constantly replace them as they burn down or the fire risks.
However, it’s worth considering that candles might not cast enough light on their own. Integrate them into a layered lighting system as accent lighting, with an option like LED strips or pendant lighting to switch on as your primary light source if you need more visibility. For example, if you’re eating or reading.
For a truly magical effect, consider hanging LED candles at different heights from your pergola’s beams using clear fishing wire. When lit, these suspended lights create the illusion of a sky full of candles floating above you.
8. Add flexibility with an outdoor table lamp
Rechargeable outdoor table lamps are having a moment and for good reason – their chic versatility. Free from the wires traditionally associated with a lamp, you can place your outdoor table lamp wherever it’s needed, moving with you around the space.
Need some table lighting for an al fresco dinner under the pergola? Place your lamp at the centre of the tablescape. Want to curl up in an armchair after work and read with aperitivo in hand? Simply move your lamp over to use as task lighting. As you can see, lighting doesn’t have to be fixed to be a hugely useful addition.
9. Add pretty stake lights to your pergola borders
We’ve let you in on some lovely ideas for illuminating the inside of your pergola, but don’t forget about the surrounds. Solar-powered LED stake lights make pretty options for lining the perimeter of your pergola, especially if they’re mingled in with plants and flowers.
As for design, a classic option is a black or brass stake light with a simple downward-facing lamp head, offering both quiet sophistication and practicality. However, if you’re fond of something more whimsical, there are a growing number of stake lights that are designed to look like flowers or branches, meaning you can add an artistic touch to your garden even during daylight hours.
They’re also a useful option for lining the path to your pergola if it isn’t immediately attached to your home. Picture this: at the end of the day, you open up your French doors and see a twinkling path of light leading to the end of your garden where your beautiful Aura Pod is waiting for you and your guests. Now that’s an inviting sight.
10. Showcase structure with uplighting
If you’ve got a fantastic pergola, why not show it off using tactical lighting? Architectural uplights shine up the columns or supports of a structure to draw the eye and add extra depth and dimension to the space. It’s a form of lighting that brings all of the drama after dark.
Many modern uplights offer colour-changing capabilities, allowing you to switch between warm white for everyday ambience and dynamic colours for special occasions.
Just remember to position your uplights carefully to avoid any glare for seated guests and consider installing them on a separate switch so you can adjust the lighting layers to suit different occasions.
Tips for a smooth light installation
Before you can bask in one of these pergola lighting ideas, make sure you’re prepared for the installation. Whether you’re planning outdoor modern pergola lighting or something more traditional, consider these essential factors before you start:
Weatherproofing – Check the IP rating of any lights you plan to install. Outdoor lighting should be at least IP44-rated for adequate weather protection.
Power planning – Map out your power sources early. You may need to install an outdoor socket if you don’t have adequate plug sockets. Just make sure it’s installed by a qualified electrician.
Control options – How do you want to be able to control your lighting? You’ll need to think about this ahead of purchase or installation if you’ve got a specific preference. Think about whether you want smartphone control, timer functions or just simple switches.
And remember, always consult a qualified electrician for any hardwired outdoor lighting installations.
Transform your outdoor space with a bespoke pergola
Whether you’re planning cosy winter evenings or garden entertainment ideas for the summer ahead, we’re here to help. At Open Space Concepts, we specialise in the design and installation of bespoke outdoor living structures that offer the ideal blend of style, practicality, and comfort.
With over 30 years of experience in the outdoor living industry, we’re trusted by customers all over the UK to deliver the highest quality structures and the best customer service. We’ll work with you to create a contemporary pergola that meets your unique specifications while staying within your budget.
To make an enquiry, fill out our online contact form or give us a call directly on 0808 168 0043.
