Many people think that outdoor spaces are a place to enjoy their space. According to the American Lighting Association, outdoor living can be just like captivating, high-tech, and chic as inside your home.

No matter what season it may be, it’s becoming more common to transform a patio or deck into an additional living space with beautiful furnishings and modern amenities. ALA member lighting manufacturers have expanded their lines of decorative lighting that is rated for all-weather usage.

Rick Wiedemer (CLC), CEO of Hinkley Lighting, discusses how the trend to accessorize outdoor areas with traditional indoor lighting products has grown in recent years. “It started with landscape lighting and then moved into sconces, wall sconces, and now pendants and chandeliers,” Wiedemer says.

Sconces can be used to highlight doors or step lights. Many homeowners now hang elaborate chandeliers or pendants above tables. Spotlights can also be seen above barbecue grills or under covered patios.

Anything is possible with imagination and creativity. There is a growing demand for fixtures that replicate the traditional indoor styles and pay attention to detail.

“People want to extend their indoor living space outside, and still have the same quality of finishes outside as inside,”Rick Seidman, president & CEO of Quoizel, Inc. “They’re putting rugs, televisions and furniture outside, so we almost have to treat [outside] decorative lighting as if it’s interior.”

The latest outdoor lighting fixtures look great, but don’t think they can withstand harsh weather or extreme temperatures. High-quality outdoor fixtures have been designed to last.

“One of the things consumers are concerned about when shopping for lighting is durability,”Seidman. “It really has to be able to withstand the elements. With new technology, fixture finishes are actually built into the material so that it weathers beautifully.”

Wiedemer agrees.”You want to have something that’s meant to be in the weather. Normally a rustic finish fixture will weather better,”He said. “The principal thing these are engineered for is to be rained upon. Rain will not collect inside the fixture, it will drain out…. A typical interior fixture is not made that way.”

You can find the latest all-weather lighting at your local ALA-member dealership.

Go to for a list of outdoor lighting videos and a list of showrooms. americanlightingassoc.com.