6 lighting ideas for your balustrade

When it comes to transforming your garden, every little detail matters. A balustrade can take your garden from bland to stylish, but well-placed lights can add dimension and a homely touch to the space. 

Whether you’re planning to install a balustrade or you want to upgrade the look of your current balustrade, these lighting ideas will add a whole new atmosphere to your garden. Plus, they’re bound to add a little bit of magic to nights spent out on the deck.

Today, WPS Handrails will provide you with some inspiration for your DIY balustrade lighting, so you’ll end up with a result you love. 

Is your balustrade at the end of its life? Instead of trying to save it with a few pretty lights, install a new, modern balustrade from our collection. You can choose from frameless glass balustrades to wire-rope designs, depending on your preference. 

What are the benefits of balustrade LED lights?

Whether you want to make your home much more enjoyable or inspiring to spend time in, or you’re looking for a way to make your restaurant feel more inviting to guests, a little bit of lighting goes a long way.

Combine a beautiful feature, like a glass or stainless steel balustrade, with some delicate detailing (such as LED lights) and you’re left with a stunning feature that will catch the eyes of anyone who walks in. 

1. Soft illumination: LED balustrade lighting is a great way to add subtle lighting to your home, making it feel more ambient and atmospheric when the main lights are off.

2. Versatility: The best part? It can be used to make a staircase more eye-catching, add a cosy touch to a patio or decking area, or make a balcony look more captivating. 

3. Increased garden security: When placed on an outdoor balustrade, LED lights are an effective way to deter unwanted guests, alerting trespassers to your presence and keeping your home safer.

4. Stylish touch: Beyond their practicality, balustrade lights can elevate the appearance of your balustrade, making it look more attractive, ideal for modern designs such as steel balustrades or clear glass panels. 

5. Lower running costs: LEDs use significantly less electricity than halogen bulbs (around 80% less!) and last longer, reducing both energy and replacement costs. It’s an ideal choice for permanent instalments. 

How to incorporate LED lighting into your balustrade 

Now it’s time to get into the creative part: choosing what LED lights to use for your balustrade and where to place them. 

You can be a bit creative with the types of LED lights you use, as long as you ensure they’re rated IP65 to IP68 (for garden balustrades), as these are specifically designed for outdoor applications. Anything below that won’t be waterproof and is unsafe to use outdoors.

1. LED strip under a stainless top rail 

Simple but beautiful, adding LED strip lights to the underneath of a top rail, whether that’s framed glass balustrades or wire-rope balustrades, will create a mesmerising glow. 

The LED bulbs will cascade onto the panels or strings beneath, adding a cosy touch to your staircase, balcony, or patio without overdoing it. You can choose to place these all along the handrail, or on a select few to add a bit of detail. 

The diffused wash of light is easy on the eyes, as the light is directed down and away from neighbours, making it perfect for gardens. 

2. Integrated LED handrail tube

When you prefer everything built in, dedicated LED handrail components keep the strip, wiring, and drivers neatly concealed inside the rail itself.

However, the only thing with this is that the lighting needs to be incorporated as the balustrade is being built. So, if you’ve already got one set up, you might have to sit this idea out.

With this idea, you’ll need to drill into an existing handrail to install in-rail “pod” or spotlight modules, allowing the light to come from within the railing. It will require precision, and you’ll need to seal it afterwards to protect it from corrosion.

It’s also possible to buy handrail parts online with LED systems pre-installed (we recommend getting a professional to install them). 

3. Base-channel wash for frameless glass

If you want something that looks effortless, then adding strip lights to the base channel is the way to go. 

A slim, linear LED can be positioned just ahead of the track to shine onto the glass, lighting up the edges of the glass panels for an eye-catching display. At WPS Handrails, we provide Onlevel base channels for ease of installation with its ‘flex-fit system’.

You can purchase LED lighting strips directly from Onlevel, designed to be used with their base channel products. It provides subtle lighting in various colours without glare, perfect for illuminating stairways, balconies, or patio areas at night.

Decide cable routes and driver locations at the installation stage to make the process easier!

4. Button-fix “halo” on glass panels

With button-fix balustrades, the glass panels fit seamlessly together, held in place with stainless steel ‘button’ fixings.

Since this look is all about subtlety and discretion, we recommend placing small, low-glare lights at the deck edge or coping so the light grazes the lower edge of the glass. If you’re installing them inside on a staircase, add recessed lights to the edge of your stairs. 

The light will create a halo effect along the bottom edge of your balustrade, giving it a sophisticated yet enchanting appearance. Choose warm lighting for a cosier touch and space the lights out at even intervals for a harmonious result. 

5. Recessed rail lights

Are you not a fan of strip lights? Not to worry; there are plenty of other options for your balustrade, such as puck-style LEDs.

These can be fitted to the handrail, creating a spotlight effect along the balustrade and onto the surface of the decking, patio, or staircase. Instead of adding strip lights to the rail, you set small LED “pucks” or a short extrusion into the underside of the top rail, so the beam cascades down in a spotlight effect. 

Aim for warm-white bulbs for gardens (around 2700–3000 K) to create an inviting feel, and space the puck-style LEDs evenly along the rail. Once installed, it’ll act as a guiding path in the night, illuminating every step.

Plus, it’s bound to enthral guests, so what’s better than that?

6. Stair riser and tread edge lighting

When it comes to balustrade lighting, you aren’t limited to the balustrade itself.

Adding lights to stair risers or treads can create just as beautiful an effect, making the balustrade stand out without all the extra hard work and fiddly installations. You could aim for circular recessed lights to illuminate the outline of each step, or triangular designs for a unique touch.

LED stair-nosing profiles are perfect for homeowners or businesses looking to modernise their space. Plus, they help to prevent the risk of trips or falls at night. In fact, pairing stair lighting with glass panel lighting or rail lighting can create a dazzling effect, ideal for those aiming for a maximalist lighting setup.

Uplift your space with a balustrade from WPS Handrails

If you’ve been inspired by our balustrade lighting ideas, why not invest in a high-quality balustrade from us today? Your new balustrade lights will pair better with your brand-new installation. 

Have you got your heart set on a specific lighting system? If so, please let us know, and we’ll recommend the best balustrade setup to complement your new lights. 

You can opt for a professional installation from our team or invest in a self-install kit, complete with CAD drawings and thorough instructions so you can build your own balustrade and incorporate your LED lights. 

With us, it’s really that simple!