Outdoor kitchens are all the rage – whether it's a small electric or gas barbecue on the balcony, a larger gas or charcoal version on the patio or a complete outdoor kitchen. They all have one thing in common: as the day draws to a close and dusk sets in, it soon becomes too dark to cook. The industry initiative licht.de recommends that sufficient lighting in the work area should already be taken into account when planning an outdoor kitchen. A customised lighting design brings all the important elements of good kitchen lighting outside and creates a safe environment for preparing meals in the open air.

Luminaires must be weatherproof
Light in the evening makes it easier to handle sharp knives and hot grills. It also helps to avoid accidents. At the dining table, the right lighting conjures up a cosy and communicative atmosphere. In principle, any type of outdoor lighting should be weatherproof: The IP protection rating indicates how effectively a light is protected against the ingress of dust and water. A value of at least IP 44 is recommended close to the house wall. Luminaires without a roof should have at least IP 65.

Easy installation
Wall lights provide good ambient lighting on the patio or in the kitchen area, for example. Ceiling lights that distribute light evenly are ideal for covered areas.

Luminaires near the barbecue direct glare-free light onto the work surface when preparing food. Accent lighting creates a pleasant atmosphere and rounds off the garden gourmet experience. Lighting for peripheral areas and paths help the human eye to adapt when the gaze wanders from the brightly lit cooking island into the darkness.

Easy installation: Plug-and-play systems allow several lights to be connected to a transformer for low voltage and cables, lights and accessories to be simply plugged together. With additional controllers, the lighting can also be controlled and dimmed by remote control. Such systems are very flexible and safe against electric shock – for the protection of people and animals.