Boost the mood in the backyard with a variety of lighting options. Credit: Getty Images/Rich/Legg

With summer in full swing, you're probably relaxing in your backyard, or hosting friends for a dinner alfresco. Don't let the fun stop once the sun goes down just because your outdoor lighting is nonexistent or inefficient.

Creating ambience requires more than just putting up a wall light or some string lights and calling it a day. Here, Michael Murphy, director of marketing and business development at Lee Douglas Interiors, breaks it all down so you'll be able to enjoy those fun summer nights even more.

Make sure to incorporate the three basic types of lighting: ambient, task and accent. Ambient lighting can be achieved through hanging lights, post lights and wall lights. Task lighting includes pathway lights, plus deck and security lights. And you can get accent outdoor lighting with landscape kits and spotlights. "For a small patio and a modest budget, consider string lights, solar spotlights or LED candles," Murphy says.

To determine how much light a space requires, multiply the square footage of the area you want to light by 1.5 to get a rough estimate of the total wattage required. For example, 100 square feet of space would require 150 watts.

Take measurements so you don't choose fixtures that are too large-scale. Use a paper template to determine exact placement to review the size before buying. For either the front porch or the back patio, the size of an outdoor wall light should be approximately one-third the height of the door. You'll also want to make sure you're choosing sturdy lighting that's made of high-quality and weather-resistant materials.

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For a lawn quick fix, Murphy suggests using a landscape lighting kit of ground spotlights along a single cord that plugs directly into any outdoor outlet. Arrange them to cast dramatic shadows, or place around the perimeter of a patio for a festive mood.

They use far less energy than halogen or incandescent bulbs and are nearly maintenance-free, so you won't have to change bulbs.

Consider how patio spaces, gardens and pathways look from inside your home. Lighting gardens or shrubbery that can be seen from living or dining rooms gives a room-expanding view to the outside at night. Think path lighting for garden areas, or use solar outdoor lighting for a quick and easy style update.

Dinner guests won't want a bright spotlight on them while they're enjoying their meal, so stick with a soft glow. Outdoor rooms, especially dining areas, benefit from subtle, indirect lighting that helps create a restful mood. Popular choices include outdoor lanterns, pendants and ceiling fans equipped with light kits to illuminate seating and dining areas. Use a dimmer with these fixtures; turn to full light when cooking or preparing food or dim it for eating and relaxing.

Outdoor lighting not only provides ambience, but it can also secure your home. Make sure all entry points of the home are well lit. Mount a wall lantern on each side of the garage door or install a single fixture above. For added security, illuminate any side of the house in the shadows with spotlights installed on eaves or use wall lanterns at side doors, windows and garages.

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