Imagine your dream pool in your backyard. It’s a perfectly sunny day, beautiful, tranquil and perfect for entertaining. But then imagine that pool as the sun sets. The waters are dark, and uninviting because you’re still missing a key ingredient of your pool – perfect lighting. Join Melbourne Pool + Outdoor Design’s Belinda Coleman as she interviews Jessica Rust, marketing manager of Spa Electrics and takes you on a journey to discover the essential role that well-planned pool lighting can play on your space.
Spa Electrics was founded as a small family business in 1976. Now celebrating 50 years of Australian made pool lighting, Spa Electrics has grown from a small Melbourne-based company to a global brand, providing premium underwater LED lighting all around the globe, all still made right here in Melbourne.
The company may have grown but the emphasis in quality is still at the forefront of the team’s process.
Who better then to guide us through the complex world of pool lighting. And it truly is complex. Pool lighting done well elevates a space and creates a tranquil oasis whether it’s midday or midnight.
SOAK IN THE DETAILS
Rust points out that it’s important to “start with the pool itself: its size, shape, depth, and interior finish.” She adds that it’s then important to consider what you want to notice after dark. “Consider how the pool is viewed from the house and entertaining areas” as well as how the pool will be used.
Then think about the surrounding areas, decking, landscaping, gardens. It’s important to blend the pool with the rest of the space so that it fits into the overall outdoor setting. You want it balanced so it doesn’t feel overly bright or isolated. Just as in the daytime you view the pool as part of a larger whole, so too in the nighttime is this important.
It’s equally important to consider what the pool is like. Pool interior significantly affects lighting.
As Rust points out “lighter tiles and finishes reflect more, creating a brighter appearance, while darker surfaces absorb more light and can require greater consideration of light output and placement.” Colour and texture will also influence how light is perceived.
LED technology makes it possible to achieve impressive results, especially compared to older halogen styles, but “good design is just as important as the technology” Rust adds, suggesting that the right number of lights in the right places is the key.
Pool depth can have a profound impact on how light travels and is distributed. It is especially important to carefully place lights in deep water to maintain coverage and illumination.
SPLASH OUT
When planning a pool. It’s essential to know what style and feel you’re going for. This is especially true when it comes to lighting. Brightly coloured lights provide a party-like atmosphere, whereas warm or cool white lights provide for a more relaxed tranquil vibe. Rust comments that with more than fifty years in the industry, the team at Spa Electrics has noticed a shift from “purely functional” towards lighting that expands the atmosphere and ambiance of the pool.
Spa Electrics has met this rising desire for stylish pool designs with a range of remotely controlled lights that can do coloured and white lighting, as well as multiple brightnesses.
The MULTIPLUS RGB+W lights and iRIS controllers provide flexibility while still prioritising functionality.
THE PERFECT DIVE
Decades in the industry has also seen Spa Electrics prioritising high-quality pool products. Proudly Australian made, the materials and construction are dependable and precise. All products are also designed for the harshness and severity of Australian climate, such as our high-intensity sun.
This laser focus on quality and precision also impacts the way the team approaches pools. Rust recommends having a lighting technician involved in the design process from the start. “Pool lighting is often one of the last things considered, but it can completely change how a pool and outdoor space are experienced after dark,” she explains, adding that, “while existing pools can also be transformed with the right retrofit solution,” it is ultimately better to design lighting in from the start. Lighting position and maintenance access can become complex once the cement has been poured.
Mounting depth is also something to consider, too high and you don’t get the right level of illumination in the lower depths of the pool, too low and the lights cannot be serviced later on.
Contact the friendly team today for “reliable, well-designed lighting that helps people enjoy their pools long after the sun goes down,” said Rust.
Images courtesy of Spa Electrics