Table of Contents: Playground Lighting
- Playground Lighting Fixtures
- Mix Form and Function with Playground Lighting
- Considerations for Lighting Playgrounds
- Playground Lighting FAQs
The ideal playground lighting setup is one that showcases an appealing space that everyone can enjoy while also minimizing potential injuries. The fixtures you choose for the space need to draw attention to slides, swings, and monkey bars without blinding those using them in the dark.
Striking a balance in any setup can be intimidating, but this guide aims to provide a starting point for those looking to enhance their backyard playground lighting. We’ll provide some fixture recommendations and upgrades that focus on safety before exploring some considerations before purchase that make lighting playgrounds a walk in the park.
Playground Lighting Fixtures
Fortunately, you can choose from many fixtures to properly light up any playground. You also don’t have to invest in any one type of fixture. Combine multiple variants together to meet your needs or experiment with layered lighting designs to keep lumen levels per bulb low while still adequately illuminating crucial spaces.
Well Lights
A great place to start for playground lighting is with in-ground well lights. These fixtures are flush to the ground and are perfect for soft surfaces like soil or gravel. Their low profile is ideal because people can easily walk over these lights without tripping. Even at lower lumen levels, these lights can easily illuminate nearby objects around them or create a brilliant wash when placed close to a wall.
Pathway Lights
For lining playground boundaries or walkways to and from the space, use pathway lights. The ideal spacing between each fixture is six to eight feet, but you can bring them closer together if more lighting is needed. For better results, choose models with a hat design, which redirects light beams toward the ground.
Flood Lights
If you need a one-size-fits-all solution, flood lights are the answer. These powerful fixtures are built to spread a wide, bright beam angle over large spaces. The bulbs included with flood lights are usually brighter than expected because these are primarily used for security lighting purposes. However, you can easily find lower-lumen bulb options that can still meet your playground lighting needs. Depending on the space, one fixture could be enough to light up the entire area, but it could also create a blind spot in other areas. In this case, consider diffused lighting designs or incorporating multiple flood lights with lower brightness levels.
String Lighting
For a more magical feel that produces a more diffuse lighting pattern, consider adding outdoor string lighting. Across large areas, make sure that you have adequate support on both ends of the fixture and ensure that the center section doesn’t sag too low to the play area. You should also make sure that the bulbs used are made of plastic, which is the safer option around children and pets. Glass bulbs offer better longevity, but when safety is a primary concern, plastic bulbs are the better choice.
Mix Form and Function with Playground Lighting
Similar to other aspects of landscape lighting, there isn’t a definitive bulb or fixture for every scenario. Depending on your aesthetic or budget, you can find multiple options for backyard playground lighting that show off the space and promote safety. Over time, you can upgrade your setup with better options, including RGBW lights or photocells, to maximize the effectiveness of the space.
Considerations for Lighting Playgrounds
With some starting options in mind, you can now find the perfect illumination solution. Aside from the safety factor, the ideal fixture requires careful consideration of other factors that affect both you and the people using the space.
Energy Efficiency
At the top of the list is cost savings, whether it’s through energy efficiency options or strict scheduling. Lighting playgrounds doesn’t have to burn a hole in your monthly utility bill. Using outdoor LED bulbs is the best option due to their low power consumption and minimal heat output. You can also opt for solar lights, which harness the sun in order to charge the batteries used within the fixture, or integrate a timer within your system so that the playground lights turn on and off at specific times.
Color Temperature
When choosing light bulbs, you should also pay attention to their color temperature. Apart from the aesthetic aspect, the right color temperatures in landscape lighting make it easier for people to see the space around them without added glare. We recommend a warm white (2700K – 3000K) or neutral white (3500K – 4100K) temperature. The former offers a warm, cozy glow to the space while still providing enough illumination to see every detail, while the latter features more natural light that is still easy on the eyes.
Brightness
Brightness is another consideration when choosing the right playground lighting. You want each fixture to illuminate walkways, accentuate details, or highlight hazards without a glaring or blinding glow. Before you buy an outdoor bulb, make sure to check its brightness, or lumen, level. To highlight the most important and potentially hazardous playground features, look for bulbs that emit 700 – 1,300 lumens due to their wide and bright beams. You can line the edges and paths of the playground with 100 – 200 lumen options that show the boundaries of the play area and safely guide others to and from the space.
Whether it’s your first custom playground or if you’re looking to upgrade an existing setup, Lighting Warehouse has the lighting options you need to create a safe and fun-filled environment for all.
Playground Lighting FAQs
Most outdoor lights are built with water-resistant or waterproof properties, but it’s not always a guarantee. If you want waterproof playground lighting, look for fixtures with at least an IP65 rating. This means that the bulb inside is protected from small particles like dirt, debris, and water. Higher IP ratings provide further protection from high-pressure streams or full submersion, but they are a more expensive investment.
Like other outdoor lights, playground lights should be included in your regular lighting maintenance checklist. Ideally, you should perform maintenance in between seasons, but it’s also important to inspect your fixtures after severe weather. Make sure that dirt and debris are removed from the lens and that water doesn’t seep into the fixture itself. Repair any frayed wires and make sure that flickering lights are replaced with newer bulbs.
The answer depends on the type of fixtures you use for lighting. Path lights generally use bulbs with a lower lumen level, so you’ll need more path lights dotting the edges. If you use a bright enough flood light, you might need just one. Consider your budget and safety needs before committing to a specific set of lights.
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