How to Include Lighting in Seat Walls

An all-time favorite with clients is the addition of lighting from seat walls. In my experience, the most popular effect is down-lighting from recessed hidden fixtures built into the seat itself. To accomplish this, I set low-voltage brass step lights upside down into our concrete pour at the time of casting. Plywood is used to build support for the cantilevered (4" required) portion of the seat wall cast cap. The standard step light fixture is set flush with the bottom of the forms in the cantilevered portion. Keep the lights in place with small finishing nails (or tacks) that will pull free easily from below when forms are removed. Connect conduit between each fixture and pull wiring thru to save working upside down later. When forms are pulled, the fixture is hidden until night lighting is turned on. The indirect lighting effect enhances the resort-like feel of any garden.

Outdoor Fire Pits fire pit surround The Green Scene
This seat wall includes "eyebrow" lights. Although not visible during the day,
the lights cast an intimate glow after dark.
The Green Scene in Canoga Park, CA

A less expensive and easier to install alternative is to use "eyebrow" light fixtures or flush mounted "Louvered step lights" set into the side of the seat wall. Lighting in seat walls is a great way to add safety and path lighting with a permanent fixture that won't be knocked over by the gardener. Be forewarned, these fixtures can heat up over time and burn the backs of legs if the fixture is protruding too much. To mitigate this, use lower wattage bulbs and ventilate the back of the fixture by leaving a vent hole.

Overall clients recognize the "double-duty" performance of seat walls being both functional and decorative.

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