Pool Lighting

Serving the local Houston area: The Woodlands, Spring, Magnolia, Montgomery, Conroe, Cypress, Tomball, & More

Are you in the dark about choosing the best lighting for your swimming pool? As with virtually every other aspect of pool design, the number of pool lighting options has increased over the last several years due to new technologies and consumer demand for more “resort-style” features.

For the average pool owner, traditional incandescent lighting is still a good option due to the comparatively low cost of installation. However, for those who want to brighten things up a bit, LED lighting has become the energy efficient and trendy choice. As always, it all depends on your goals, the environment you’re working with, and how much money you have to spend.

To get you started, here are some cool pool lighting facts, tips, and ideas to consider:

1. LED lights are literally cool

While LED lighting offers that “HOT” look, they actually run considerably cooler in temperature compared to that of the older style incandescent lights. They’re hot as in “popular.” While more expensive than incandescent lights, LED lights are one of the more affordable ways to add that new and improved look to your swimming pool – whether it’s a new pool or an older pool in need of an update or remodel. You can get LED lights in just about any color, or even swap colors at will. Besides their fabulous looks, there’s also many economic reasons to choose LED lights – they’re more energy efficient than traditional lighting, saving you a few dollars here and there.

2. Don’t forget about the area around the pool

It’s natural to focus on underwater lighting first, but in terms of safety and aesthetics, the area around the pool is just as important. With that in mind, consider adding soft lighting around the deck, pathways, and landscaping elements. Beyond turning your backyard into one giant piece of nighttime eye candy, the strategic use of lights makes the area easier to traverse. As a bonus, it also keeps light-seeking bugs from congregating around the water.

3. Factor in the color of your pool tile

The same pool lighting can produce radically different effects depending on the backdrop. The simple rule is that lighter surfaces tend to reflect light, while darker surfaces absorb it. However, things get considerably more complicated when you’re talking about the different color options available with LED and fiber optic lighting. To get an accurate picture, look for examples of pool lighting options already installed on pools with the same or similar tile.

4. Go for more diffusion

As a rule, soft lighting coming from lots of sources is more attractive than harsh lighting coming from fewer sources. Even if you’re going for standard incandescent lighting, consider installing at least two lights in the water for a cleaner, smoother look. Outside of the pool, use soft lighting spaced out around the pool area.

5. Incandescent lights are the most affordable option – at least initially

As with many pool design decisions, your choice of lighting involves a tradeoff between present and future costs. Good old incandescent lighting offers the cheapest installation price, but uses more electricity than other, more energy efficient options. Traditional lighting installed in waterproof fixtures can also be a beast to replace. That’s not to say the alternatives are more economical in every case. It just means that you should consider what the lighting will cost you both now and in the long run.

6. Fiber optic lighting offers many of the same advantages as LED

If the colorful possibilities of LED lights appeal to you, you may also want to add fiber optic to your shortlist of pool lighting options. Fiber optic lights can also change colors based on the occasion and produce spellbinding light shows.

Please call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We look forward to helping you with any of your outdoor needs. (281) 357-0007