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Outdoor Deck Step Lighting Trick

ByDiane Henkler

This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read my Disclosure Policy.

Inexpensive outdoor solar stake light hack for adding light to deck steps or all around the outside of a deck. No electrical skills needed.

I can’t take credit for this clever outdoor deck lighting idea. It was in place when we bought the lake house.

Copper solar path lights being placed in brackets on the side of deck steps. Graphic overlay says Outdoor Step Path Light Trick.

Outdoor Deck Lighting Trick:

supplies needed:

To light up the edges along the deck steps or even all around a deck, all I had to do was add a few new solar path lights along the outer edge of the steps going down to the yard.

Solar light at bottom of deck stairs. No electricity outdoor deck lighting

It was easy to do…

Pole bracket attached to side of deck steps that will provide a place for outdoor deck lighting.

…with two-hole strap U brackets that you can buy at the hardware store. The brackets come in different sizes, so get the size you need for your light stake size.

You simply attach a bracket to the side of each step with two screws using a screwdriver.

Placing a copper staked solar light in pole bracket along step.

Then place the light right in.

Solar light in bracket provides just the right amount of outdoor deck lighting.

I used 4 copper solar path lights along the steps. Two at the top and two at the bottom.

Smaller black solar lights along outer edge of steps.

On the steps in-between, I used smaller and less decorative path lights that are not as bright, but that add enough light to see each step at night when going down to the yard and lake.

Deck staircase with two rattan chairs at the top and a tree trunk table between them.

At night the solar lights go on so there is just enough light to safely get up and down the steps. The lights also add a nice ambiance.

Two rattan chairs and planters with purple and yellow pansies on deck.

The house came with all the planters filled with pansies and other perennials.

Copper solar light in pansy filled planter. Watering can next to it. Another way to add outdoor deck lighting in an easy way.

I added a copper solar path light to the center of each to add some soft lighting to the deck at night.

View of deck lined with barrel style planters with outdoor solar lights in each.

The lights comes with stakes that make them easy to move anywhere you want. They do require 2 – AA batteries and need to have a few hours of sun each day so they will light up at night.

Two rattan chairs with white cushions on deck. Pink Petunias on table.
Overhead view looking down on deck.



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38 Comments

    1. Thanks Carla – Living on the lake is more than I could have ever hoped for. I still can’t believe we were able to make it happen. It is true that determination can get you where you want in life, even when life gives you lemons like unemployment that happened to my husband. :-)

      Reply

    1. Hi Elaine – Thanks. I am so excited to be able to have a space like this. My previous house had a deck, but it was in full sun all day which made it too hot to sit. We could only use it at night. I am looking forward to spending many hours outside all day long now. :-)

      Reply

  5. Love what you’ve done with your outdoor living space, Diane! I’ve been looking for an easy way to do outdoor lighting around the pool area and those copper lights seem like they would work well. Are you happy with the amount of light they provide? Also, what are the small lights you used on the steps?

    Reply