A patio is a place to relax; to get away from the trials of the world and have a quiet drink or a chat with a good friend. It is neither outdoors nor indoors, and this is the reason why people have been incorporating patios in the designs for their homes for ages. While in earlier times you had to rely on moonlight for providing illumination when you were out on the patio, there are more options available these days.
There are separate lighting systems sold as patio lighting nowadays, so that people need not be confused about what to get. The number of designs that are available are innumerable and there is one for every need that you can think of. If you want subdued lighting there are small lantern like lights that are either wall mounted or come with their own stand that can be put up, or if you want something more lively yet dim, you could go for string lamps and string them up to create a pseudo roof for your outdoor patio.
There are deck lights, patio umbrella lights, fountain lights and floor lights, garden lights and tree lights and every kind of light that you can imagine. This is because different people want different things with their patio, and the lighting system has to be different for each of these purposes. For instance, if you are the sort of person who has week end get togethers for a barbecue, you would like brighter lights than if you want to come out on to your patio of an evening and have a quiet time by yourself. A patio also makes a great dance floor and if you have teenage children you have to resign yourself to having something or the other going on there on a regular basis. Keeping this place well lit will be a good idea if you want to rest a little easier in your mind.
Although there are innumerable different kinds of lighting systems that you can choose for your patio, the choice is governed more by what kind of an effect you want to create or achieve than on what lamp looks the best. If, for example, you have a relatively small patio it might be a good idea to go for floor or deck lights that will act as a sort of a boundary, while if you have a relatively larger one, you can put in pole lights, especially if you are able to accommodate a couple of round tables and chairs there. Pole lights are not generally chosen because they are more expensive, but if chosen well even the cheaper ones will look very nice. If you are of the DIY bend it is even easier to create a pole for a lantern light and install it; as long as it is given a coat of paint nobody would be any the wiser.
You can even try spotlighting something that is the highlight in your home from the outside and allow the backwash to light your patio. This method may not be very common, but will look very nice. The only thing to remember when you are installing patio lights is that since they will be outside you should make sure that the lights do not come within normal eye-line for people. You will only end up squinting all the time which is really not what you are setting out to achieve.
When it comes to prices there is one for every pocket, and finding something that suits you will usually not be difficult. If you feel that your local store does not have a good collection you can always check online. In fact doing this may be a good idea anyway; you will not only be able to identify what you want, but will be able to compare prices too.