When you do go into town, your senses are delighted by lights – white, coloured, twinkling it doesn’t matter, before you hear one musical note or quaff one alcoholic beverage you know you’re about to have a good time (hopefully!).

It’s down to your own personal taste whether you go for twinkling, flashing, coloured lights, or simply illuminate the deck so you can an enjoy an alfresco meal with your partner. The point is – it’s like going out whilst staying at home.

Here are a couple of guidelines for getting the best out of your deck lighting:

• Attach post top lights to rails and columns; ensure that there a full 360 degrees of light and your deck will appear distinct from the house, a festive oasis in the darkness.

• Use uplighters to give walls and surrounding shrubbery a wash of light.

• Install wall lights and candle sconces on the inner walls of the deck (i.e. the outer walls of your house) to create pools of light and intimate areas for conversation or eating.

Put in deck lights, invite friends and family, and party!

If you only intend to use your deck before dark, you should at least illuminate the perimeter and the stairs so that you can walk about your deck safely. Ideal lamp style for safety are recessed, walk-over deck lights, or post lights placed on the four corner posts. With safety in mind, you could wire the lights into external time clocks or PIR sensors, and time them to come on as darkness falls.

When it comes to using your deck as an area for socialising or relaxing after dark, the choice of lighting styles open to you is huge – from rope lights to spot lights, LED lights to halogen lamps, you really are spoilt for choice. To make your choice, go to our selection of garden decking lights now.