Where the Table Glows:
Lighting the Heart of Outdoor Entertaining
Woven pendant lanterns illuminating a large outdoor dining table beneath a mature oak tree in Brentwood, California
The Invitation
There’s a rhythm to warm summer evenings in Los Angeles: the sun lingers a little longer,
conversations stretch deeper, and the best moments always seem to happen after the plates
are cleared. A beautifully lit table setting is an invitation to a sunset dining experience.
This image captures that exact transition from golden hour to glow.
Designing the Dining Experience
Outdoor dining isn’t just about eating outside. It’s about gathering, storytelling, and creating
a space where people want to linger. Lighting is what holds that space together, giving it an
indoor feel, outdoors.
For this Brentwood patio, we let the oak tree be the chandelier. Suspended woven pendants
hang at varying heights, creating intimacy without enclosure. They sway gently with the
breeze, casting soft patterns on the table and stone floor below.
Each light feels like a floating, warm ember
Practical Magic: Lighting That Invites
Outdoor lighting for dining areas has to strike a delicate balance:
- Soft enough to keep the mood romantic
- Bright enough to see your glass, pass the bread, or admire the meal
- Subtle enough to let the conversation and laughter take center stage
We achieve this with a mix of low-voltage ambient light, carefully spaced pendants, and
indirect wall lighting that adds depth without distraction. But the real magic is tucked away,
high in the Oak tree, accenting the tabletop and centerpieces secretly.
The goal? To make it feel like the light is part of the evening and not an afterthought.
Entertaining with Intention
Whether it’s a birthday, a reunion, or just “a Tuesday,” something special happens when you
feed your people outdoors. Walls fall away, senses open up, and time slows down just
enough for connection.
At Gannon Electric Light, we design for those moments. For the stories told under branches.
For the friends who stay past dessert. For the laughter of less inhibited conversation after a
glass of wine. And for the glow that outlasts the meal.
Want to Make Evenings Like This a Regular Thing?
Let’s light your table like it deserves to be.