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Summary: Landscape lighting usually does not supply enough light for a patio/BBQ area, find out what is the best way to light a BBQ area.

Question: Our backyard garden has a fair amount of landscape lighting providing what is called “spill lighting”, but, we need to add more on our recently updated patio area. Any suggestions?Clay, Atlanta, Georgia

Answer: Lighting the landscape garden is one type of lighting task, but you will probably need more than some low voltage lighting for a BBQ area.

Since your outdoor cooking area is primarily a working space, it needs to be well lighted, preferably from high above so the light is not in your eyes.

To prevent throwing your shadow over the steak that may be getting too well done, use two or more lights from different directions.

Two 150-watt bulbs mounted 10 to 15 feet above the ground and pouring light over each of the cook’s shoulder would be a good choice.

Mount these lights on the walls of your house or other convenient structure, or use a couple of high pole game and work lights. They may not be the most attractive… but it works!

If your fireplace or barbecue is some distance from your table, make certain that you have adequate light to guide you in carrying the food to and from the eating area.

This may not require separate planning since there usually is enough spill light from the two areas.