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Before deciding on how to tackle a step lighting challenge, think about the following:

Function

Are the steps likely to be frequently used? Are they likely to be used by lots of people? Will people be hurrying across the steps, or taking their time? Steps up to a popular restaurant, for example, will require brighter lighting and greater light coverage than those in an out of the way part of a private garden.

Character

Also think about the nature of the steps - are they steep? irregular? winding? If so, they might require more thorough or careful lighting in order to remain safe at night. Also consider the surroundings–there may be other nearby garden features you wish to light, in which case you'll want to avoid emphasis on the steps.

Material

The material of the steps should also have an impact on the kind of lighting you choose. Rough stone steps with an irregular surface should be lit well for the sake of safety. On the other hand, pale or reflective materials–such as polished tiles–should be lit sparingly or they could end up too dazzling, or too dominant a part of the lighting composition.

Intent

Finally, your design objectives and your client's preferences will be part of your decision. Are you looking to create intimacy, or grandeur? Small spots of light down one side of the steps will be fine in a residential garden setting, while bright, even lighting across the width of the step is more appropriate in public settings.

Step lighting techniques

There are three ways you can light steps: downlighting from above the steps, sidelighting from a wall next to the steps, or mounting the light fitting into the step tread itself.

Downlighting from above the steps

This technique often allows you to hide the light fitting. Provided the flight of steps is not too long, and you can find an appropriate place to mount the light fitting about mid-way over the steps, this can be very effective. Be careful about creating shadows down the steps; if you can't mount the fitting above the centre of the steps move it down, rather than up.

Also pay attention to controlling glare – don't use light too strongly – and shielding the lamp, you want the fitting itself to remain invisible.

Downlighting is a good option if the steps have surrounding vegetation which you also want to illuminate, it's not so effective if you want to create small, tightly controlled areas of lighting.

The adjacent tier ligths provide enough downlighting to create an attractive, and safe, contrast on these steps.

Sidelighting

The next option is to mount light fittings on a wall, or handrail, alongside the steps. This lights only the steps, and not the surroundings, so it's a good choice if you want to tightly control the lighting on your steps so as not to distract from surrounding features.

A low wattage step light low lux every second step is enough for these steps.

The higher above the step you mount the light fitting, the more steps it will be able to light. However, mounting the fitting too high has the same potential for problems as downlighting – lower steps may be in shadow.

Placing the fitting closer to the step is a better idea if you want to light each step individually, or you can light two steps per fitting by mounting it directly above the riser.

Two options for wall mounted side lighting

Steps with a lot of traffic are best served with light which washes over the whole step, or lighting on both sides of the steps. Don't place fittings on alternating sides of the steps, unless their light will overlap.

Placing fittings in the step riser

In our opinion this is best avoided in most instances. Mounting the light in the step riser frequently results in too much glare for people walking up the steps, and overlighting of the steps. If you do want to mount your light fittings here, then use a low wattage and a fitting which will control glare and focus the light downward (such as our Mouse Light).

Back to outdoor lighting effects.