Pool lighting ideas can be a little tricky to find, which is why we’ve rounded up some of our favorite examples of beautifully lit swimming pools, both domestically and internationally. Regardless of the size of your pool or garden, there are a few factors to consider when lighting your pool and its surroundings, such as: B. where you want to draw attention, what kind of atmosphere you want to create and how much you are willing to invest in outdoor lighting.
“It’s crucial that you have a good lighting design to enhance the ideas of the surrounding pool,” says Luke Thomas, design director at John Cullen Lighting. “Creative swimming pool lighting can produce magical effects. They can transform a pool area into a dynamic and vibrant environment that can change mood depending on the time of day.”
For the lighting in the pool itself, Luke advocates choosing quality fittings that can withstand prolonged use underwater, as leaking or broken fittings can cause significant problems. “The pool company you use will have a range of lights that they are comfortable installing,” adds Luke, who recommends smaller lights with controlled beam angles and glare shields for a more design-led approach, or fiber optics to create a sparkling effect .
If you are looking for pool lighting ideas, read on to learn how to create a pool area that will add an extra wow factor to your outdoor space and look just as good after dark as it does during the day.
8 pool lighting ideas for outdoor pools
Outdoor pool lighting is slightly different than indoor pool lighting. When it comes to indoor pool lighting, your scheme may need a little more flexibility. “Indoor pool areas are often used as multi-purpose spaces, so the lighting may need to be suitable for everything from a gym to a home theater to an entertainment area,” Luke continues. “Think about how you can illuminate your interior design at night to enhance it. Textured walls look especially great when lit from above with, for example, an LED strip or a series of uplights. Or to create a calming, spa-like environment, use low lighting, such as B. Floor cleaner.’
1. Present the environment
(Image credit: Sublime Comporta)
An hour’s drive from Lisbon, on the southwest coast of Portugal, the Sublime Comporta boutique hotel is owned by husband and wife team Gonçalo and Patricia Pessoa, who wanted to “fuse the stunning natural setting with an elegant and contemporary retreat”.
The couple hired architect Alberto Charrua to build a tranquil, eco-friendly retreat with a stunning above-ground pool framed by the surrounding pine forest. Powerful underwater lights give the pool’s surface its luminous quality, while softer floodlights, tilted upwards into trees, cast a warm glow and highlight the surrounding nature. A lantern-lit fire pit completes this magical outdoor space.
2. Consider floating pool lights
(Image credit: Luxx Design)
Ideal for swimming pools, ponds and fountains, the Acquaglobo floating light from Italian brand Slide will add a whimsical, otherworldly touch to your outdoor space. “The design is simple and linear, but at the same time creates a dramatic effect, especially when combined with other sizes in the range,” says Silvia Rangoni, founder of London-based Italian design specialists Luxx Design.
Use this lightweight and waterproof floating lamp in or around the pool to create an atmospheric space for alfresco dining and summer gatherings as part of your broader garden lighting ideas.
3. Frame your pool with uplighters
(Image credit: Derek Swalwell. Design: Ong & Ong)
We love this spectacular swimming pool that fills this courtyard garden of a renovated Art Deco home in Singapore. Designed by architecture firm ONG&ONG, the living room opens onto the swimming pool, with a series of stepping stones giving access to the kitchen area. Another striking feature is the lighting, which enhances the dramatic architecture.
“An elegant aluminum cladding lines the walls to act as a reflective surface,” say the architects. During the day, this cladding reflects sunlight throughout the space, while at night, wall-mounted spotlights cast rays of light upwards, framing the pool and enhancing the space’s powerful linear quality.
4. Change the mood with dimmable lights
(Image credit: Go Modern)
“This is one of our most beautiful lights,” says Tina Mahony, Director of Go Modern, of Tribù’s Monsieur Tricot outdoor lights. Designed by Belgian designer Ilia Eckardt, the lights are made from high-performance, weather-resistant polyolefin rope and crafted using innovative knitting and crochet techniques. ‘
The result is an unusual design that casts a beautiful glow and intricate shadows across your pool area, with a dimmer switch to change the mood when the light fades.’ This freestanding version runs on rechargeable batteries and also includes a hanging hook if you prefer to mount it on a wall or pergola.
5. String garland lights on top
(Image credit: Lights4fun)
“Garlands are a great way to light up your pool area,” says Lucy Kirk, Creative Manager at Lights4Fun. “For the perfect presentation, we recommend wearing warm white interlocking swags overhead, creating a soft and subtle glow to enjoy each evening as dusk falls.”
Lucy recommends combining multiple sets with a single power source for a fuss-free setup, and suggests opting for white swags as a softer alternative to dark cords. Here, they pair perfectly with the white-painted backdrop and light-colored stone surround of this small backyard pool.
6. Go up and down with the lighting
(Image credit: Vibia)
The pool area of this Mediterranean home features two styles of lighting from Barcelona brand Vibia and is the perfect example of how to position landscape lighting. Tall and angular, the ‘Palo Alto’ lamp was designed by Josep Lluís Xuclà and features a double-armed, tree-shaped design that illuminates the pool and terrace from above.
On the floor are low-slung floor lamps by Jordi Vilardell & Meritxell Vidal, casting light across the floor and between the daybeds. “The Meridiano outdoor lights have a dual function: they serve not only as a lamp, but also as a stool or side table and fit seamlessly into gardens, courtyards and swimming pool terraces,” says the Vibia team.
7. Draw the eye outwards
(Image credit: John Cullen Lighting)
‘For this swimming pool, set in a large garden, we used a mix of our ‘Hampton’ spiked floodlights and ‘Kew’ spotlights to illuminate the surrounding plants and trees.’ says Luke Thomas, design director of John Cullen Lighting.
This was combined with lighting inside the pool as well as under the structure of the house. The latter not only contributes to the lighting of the pool area, but also gives the house an ethereal floating quality. “In homes with large glazing, adequate outdoor lighting is an essential tool to direct the view outside and avoid the feeling of being in a fishbowl,” says Luke.
8. Simulate a starry reflection
(Photo credit: Bill & Coo Coastal Suites)
Bill & Coo Coast Suites is a laid-back Mykonos destination set amidst fragrant gardens of lavender, olive trees and prickly pears. “The architecture focuses on local stone and shades of white, bringing out the colors of the island,” say the founders of the enviable design, which includes an infinity pool overlooking the Aegean Sea.
If you’re not jetting off to the Greek islands this summer, don’t worry — we’ve found a pool lighting idea to steal from one of Myokonos’ “most Instagrammable spots for sundowners.” When the sun goes down, this pool at Bill & Coo is filled with a fiber optic light display that mimics a starry reflection. A perfect choice for underwater use, fiber optic cables conduct light, not electricity, and can also be used for color changing lighting. Imagine the view from your terrace or pool house in the evening as well.
Can you add lighting to an existing pool?
It is possible to add lights to an existing pool, but incorporating lights into the pool itself may require a remodel, which involves a significant amount of work and expense.
If you already have halogen lights, it’s easier to switch to modern LEDs, and this job can sometimes be done without lowering the pool mirror in the evening.
If you cannot remodel your pool to include integrated lighting, there are many modern lighting options that can be used to illuminate a pool that is not built-in or mains powered. However, keep in mind that solar lighting and battery lighting tend not to be as bright and are therefore better suited for ambiance than security lighting.
How much does it cost to install pool lights?
Whether in a new or old pool, you can expect pool lights to cost anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500 to install.