6 Outdoor Commercial Lighting Ideas

Landscape Lighting Is an Easy Way to Welcome Your Customers at Night

Outdoor commercial lighting ideas are most helpful for businesses that have nighttime customer traffic, like restaurants, residential buildings, mixed-use developments and entertainment venues. Landscape lighting is the perfect solution for creating ambiance and a pleasant environment (compared to options like floodlights that are unpleasantly direct and bright).

We’ll review outdoor commercial lighting ideas on these two themes:

  1. Safety first
  2. Invite customers in

Keep an eye out – you may recognize some of our examples from around Cincinnati.

Outdoor Commercial Lighting Ideas: Safety First

When you provide gathering spaces for the public at night, a business’ top priority needs to be safety. Customers need to navigate the environment safely and also feel safe about being there. But safety can also be beautiful!

  • Path lights or deck lights illuminate walkways, steps and inclines, guiding customers around the property.
  • Entrance, exit and parking safety are also important. Lighting the trees and landscaping in your parking lot and around your entrance bring up the ambient light level, helping customers see and reducing shadowy corners.
  • Patios can often be uneven surfaces, like gravel or paver stones. Bistro lighting strung across these areas is attractive and prevents tripping.

Outdoor Commercial Lighting Ideas: Examples for Safety First

Here’s a nice outdoor commercial lighting idea for deck lighting on this waterfront, while keeping the view of the skyline front-and-center.

6 Outdoor Commercial Lighting Ideas

This trendy club made its alleyway entrance both moody and safe for customers.

6 Outdoor Commercial Lighting Ideas

The Treehouse Patio Bar twinkles like a starry night, while helping customers navigate steps and slide into a picnic table.

6 Outdoor Commercial Lighting Ideas

Outdoor Commercial Lighting Ideas: Invite Customers In

Outdoor commercial lighting ideas should welcome and invite customers to come in and stay awhile. Here’s what to consider:

  • Avoid harsh light. Bright light from above, below or eye level will only invite customers to go home. Wall-washing is a good technique, which shines light onto a wall and reflects it back softly.
  • Bring some fun and show off your brand with color-changing LED landscape lighting. With smart lighting, we can dial in your exact logo colors (or any color on the spectrum of light).
  • Many businesses invest heavily in beautiful custom signs. Uplighting can really make these signs stand out after sunset.

Outdoor Commercial Lighting Ideas: Examples to Invite Customers

Wall-washing this stone wall along the sidewalk creates a pleasant walkway.

6 Outdoor Commercial Lighting Ideas

This Cincinnati business features eye-catching color-changing LED lights.

6 Outdoor Commercial Lighting Ideas

And this HOA-friendly custom sign guides residents home at night, thanks to some well-placed uplighting.

6 Outdoor Commercial Lighting Ideas

Outdoor Commercial Lighting Ideas from Factory 52

Factory 52 is a well-planned, mixed-use development in Norwood. Check out its pleasant public areas, perfect for enjoying a lovely evening out.

6 Outdoor Commercial Lighting Ideas

The rooftop bar features bistro lighting and tabletop fire pit. Down below, ambient lighting makes navigation safe and easy.

6 Outdoor Commercial Lighting Ideas

Landscape lighting makes the trees glow, while keeping the lawn and parking lot cheerfully illuminated.

6 Outdoor Commercial Lighting Ideas

When customers feel welcome and safe at your establishment, they will be happy. And happy customers mean good business! Get in touch with LUX Landscape Lighting for a consultation for your business. Check out our resources for more outdoor commercial lighting ideas.