As an interior designer in London, I’ve had my fair share of projects involving those delightful in-between spaces we call verandas. They’re a real treat to work on – part indoors, part outdoors, and totally versatile. But nailing the lighting? That’s where things can get tricky. Get it right, though, and you’ve got yourself an absolute gem of a hangout spot.
The thing is, verandas serve so many different purposes for London homeowners. Sometimes they’re swanky outdoor dining areas, other times they’re just casual lounging zones. Maybe there’s a bar setup, or even an outdoor kitchen situation going on. As interior designers in London, it’s our job to suss out exactly how the client wants to use the space before we even think about lighting.
Once we’ve got that functionality nailed, we can start getting creative with the lighting design. And honestly? That’s where the real fun begins!
Personally, I always aim to make the most of any natural light a veranda gets during the day. Big windows, glass doors, strategically placed skylights – you name it. Streaming in all that gorgeous sunshine does wonders for opening up the space and giving it an airy, bright feel. You can always add blinds or curtains too if you need to take the edge off.
Then in the evening, it’s time to set the mood with some ambient lighting. Warm pendants, low-hanging chandeliers, even a few well-placed lanterns – they’ll quickly turn that veranda into a total cosy haven. Pro tip: put those babies on dimmers so you can control the atmosphere.
But you can’t stop there! Any good interior designer in London will tell you task lighting is an absolute must for verandas. Are there going to be reading nooks? A dining setup? An outdoor kitchen? You’ll need properly positioned task lamps or directional spots to make sure those zones are bright and functional.
And of course, we can’t forget accent lighting – the pièce de résistance! Well-executed uplights or directional beams can truly transform a veranda, highlighting gorgeous architectural features or creating a warm wash over plants and landscaping. It adds so much depth and drama.
The cherry on top of any veranda lighting scheme? Making it energy-efficient and eco-conscious. LED bulbs are a godsend here – they last forever and barely sip any electricity. Solar-powered path lights are another nice sustainable touch. And have you seen those snazzy low-voltage setups the kids are using these days? Very ‘green’, very chic.
Safety’s obviously paramount too when you’re dealing with outdoor spaces like verandas. No one wants to take a tumble because it’s too dim out there! Installing motion-sensor lighting along pathways, plus maybe some smart pocket lights in shadowy corners, is an absolute must.
At the end of the day though, lighting up a veranda is as much an art as it is a science. That’s where us interior designers really earn our keep! We know all the tricks – the layering, the illumination techniques, the perfect pairings of form and function. If you really want an outdoor living area that’s practical yet utterly luxurious, that merges indoor and outdoor in style, I’d highly recommend enlisting some professional help.
us interior designers in London live for this kind of thing. We’ll work our magic and turn your sad little veranda into an absolute dream space – a true extension of your home that you’ll just never want to leave once the sunshine hits. Atmospheric lighting for sipping morning coffees, adjustable task beams for prepping dinner under the stars, plus all the accent bells and whistles to make it totally ‘gram-worthy’. Yeah, we’ve got you covered!
So if you’re in the market for veranda lighting that truly dazzles, don’t settle for subpar. Give one of us talented London interior designers a shout, and we’ll illuminate your life in ways you never dreamed possible!
