Deck Patio and Pool Lighting
Outdoor Living Lighting for Chicago Homes
Your Backyard Shouldn't Clock Out When the Sun Does
Here’s what usually happens. You build the deck, pour the patio, put in the pool, and spend a fortune making the backyard exactly what you wanted. Then summer nights roll in, everyone’s finally home, and by nine o’clock the whole space is too dark to enjoy. The party moves inside. The pool sits there glowing faintly from a single builder-grade light.
Accents Lighting fixes that. We light decks, patios, and pools so your favorite part of the house stays open long after sunset. Warm, layered, and controllable, our systems turn a backyard that shuts down at dusk into one you actually use on a Tuesday in July. We serve homeowners across Chicago and the suburbs, and no two of our projects look alike.
Deck & Patio Lighting You Can Live Under
The trick with an outdoor living space is atmosphere without glare. Nobody wants to eat dinner under a floodlight. We build the light into the space itself so it feels like it was always meant to be there:
- Recessed riser and step lights that make stairs safe without a single harsh beam in your eyes
- Under-rail and post-cap fixtures that outline the deck and give the whole platform a soft, finished edge
- Bistro and pergola lighting strung overhead for that easy, golden-hour glow that keeps people outside
- Wall-mounted and column sconces that frame seating areas and doorways with a warm anchor of light
Lit for the Way You Actually Use the Space
Pool & Water Lighting That Actually Wows
Water and light were made for each other, and a pool is the best canvas in your whole yard. We go well past the one dim bulb the builder left you with:
- Color-changing LED lighting inside the pool that shifts from a calm blue for a quiet night to full color for a party
- Fixtures aimed at fountains, spillways, and spa jets so moving water sparkles instead of vanishing into the dark
- Soft edge lighting along coping, waterline, and surrounding stone to define the pool’s shape from every angle
- Subtle surround lighting on nearby trees and planting so the water feels held inside a bigger scene, not floating alone
Where the Light Goes
| Area | What We Use | The Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Steps & Risers | Recessed low-glare fixtures set into the structure | Safe footing with no bright spots in your line of sight |
| Deck & Railings | Under-rail, post-cap, and perimeter lighting | A clean, finished outline that reads great from the house |
| Overhead | Bistro strings and pergola-mounted fixtures | Warm, party-ready glow that keeps everyone outdoors |
| In the Pool | Color-changing LED and water-feature lighting | Rich color for events, calm blue for a quiet swim |
| Pool Surround | Coping, waterline, and nearby planting lighting | Depth and shape so the water sits inside a full scene |
| Controls | Zoned dimmers, timers, and smart-app integration | Instant scenes for a crowd or a low glow for two |
Almost always, yes. Retrofits are a big part of what we do. We route wiring carefully around existing structures and use fixtures made to mount onto finished decks, patios, and pool decks, so you get the full effect without tearing anything apart.
Completely. Everything near water runs on low-voltage LED and is installed to code by our team, with sealed, water-rated fixtures rated for exactly this use. Done right, pool lighting is one of the safest and lowest-maintenance upgrades you can make.
Both. We install permanent, professional-grade bistro and cafe lighting that stays up year-round and survives Chicago weather, none of the sagging seasonal strands you rehang every spring. We can mix it right in with your deck and pool lighting on the same controls.
You can, and it's a favorite feature. Color-changing LED lets you set a soft blue for a normal evening or run through full color for a birthday, a game night, or the Fourth of July, all from your phone or a simple remote.
Why Choose Accents Lighting
Our approach eliminates guesswork, carefully mapping out every beam, angle, and effect before work starts on site.
We believe transparency and careful planning make for the best results. By walking you through each phase of your project before installation begins, we ensure your outdoor lighting plan fits your style, budget, and property layout. Explore our step-by-step approach below:
We meet at your property to walk the space, discuss your goals, and identify key architectural and landscape features to highlight.
Our team designs a precise lighting plan, selecting fixture locations, angles, and beam spreads to achieve your ideal evening ambiance.
We perform a clean, non-disruptive installation, then return after dark to adjust every light for optimal balance and visual impact.
