Pool & Spa Lighting

Create a stunning poolside environment with professional landscape lighting around your pool and spa. We design deck-level path lighting, surrounding garden accents, and overhead moonlighting that transforms your pool area into a resort-quality retreat while ensuring safe nighttime navigation.

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Get Your Free Estimate (803) 889-0096

About Pool & Spa Lighting

Pool and spa lighting creates a dramatic focal point in your landscape while ensuring safety for nighttime swimming, entertaining, and relaxation. At Fireflies Landscape Lighting, we design and install comprehensive pool and spa lighting systems for Lake Wylie, Charlotte, Fort Mill, Tega Cay, and Rock Hill properties that combine underwater illumination with surrounding landscape lighting to transform your pool area into a stunning nighttime oasis.

The visual impact of a professionally lit pool is extraordinary. Underwater LED lights turn the water itself into a glowing canvas, casting shimmering reflections on surrounding surfaces and creating a jewel-like centerpiece in your backyard. When combined with thoughtfully designed landscape lighting around the pool deck, water features, plantings, and structures, the effect is a resort-quality environment that dramatically elevates your property's beauty and value.

Safety is a critical consideration in pool area lighting. Dark pool decks create tripping hazards, obscure depth changes, and make it difficult to see swimmers in the water. Our pool area lighting designs ensure even illumination across the deck surface, clear visibility of steps and depth transitions, and proper lighting of diving areas and shallow entries. For homes with children, well-lit pool areas are not just beautiful — they are essential for nighttime safety.

Our approach extends well beyond the pool itself. We light the entire pool environment: the deck, coping, water features, fire bowls, surrounding landscape, cabana or pool house, outdoor shower, and pathways connecting the pool to the home. Every element receives appropriate lighting — task lighting where safety demands it, accent lighting where beauty is the priority, and ambient lighting where relaxation is the goal.

For Lake Wylie waterfront properties, pool lighting takes on added complexity and beauty. Many pools in The Palisades, River Hills, and Reflection Pointe are positioned to capitalize on lake views, meaning the pool lighting design must complement rather than compete with the natural beauty of the water beyond. We use shielded fixtures and strategic placement to create a luminous pool environment that frames, rather than obscures, the evening lake panorama.

What's Included

Deck-level path lights for safe navigation
Garden accent lighting around pool perimeter
Moonlighting from nearby trees
Dimmable scene control for entertaining

Key Benefits

Safe nighttime pool area navigation
Resort-quality ambiance at home
Extended evening entertaining
Increased property value

Our Pool & Spa Lighting Process

Pool Area Assessment

We survey the entire pool environment — water features, decking, structures, landscape, and sightlines from the home and seating areas — to develop a comprehensive lighting plan that addresses safety, beauty, and functionality.

Underwater Light Specification

We specify LED pool and spa lights based on your pool size, shape, finish color, and desired effect — whether that is a uniform warm glow, color-changing capability, or dramatic spotlighting of water features.

Deck and Perimeter Design

We design the above-water lighting: deck-level step lights, coping wash lights, landscape uplighting, structure lighting, and pathway illumination that completes the pool environment.

Installation

We coordinate with your pool contractor if the pool is new construction, or handle the complete installation for existing pools. All wiring is concealed, and fixtures are positioned for maximum visual impact.

Landscape Integration

We connect pool area lighting to your broader landscape lighting system so the pool, garden, architectural, and pathway lighting all operate cohesively from a single controller.

Nighttime Showcase

We return after dark to fine-tune underwater light positioning, adjust deck lighting levels, balance the brightness between pool and surrounding landscape, and present the finished result.

Technical Details

Underwater LED pool lights use sealed, potted housings rated for permanent submersion at pressures up to 15 PSI (equivalent to approximately 30 feet of water depth). We install nicheless LED fixtures in new construction and retrofit LED replacement lamps in existing niches for older pools. Color-changing underwater fixtures use multi-channel LED arrays producing millions of color options controlled via wireless remote or smartphone app.

Pool deck lighting uses flush-mounted LED step lights recessed into deck surfaces or coping, producing a downward wash of warm 2700K light that illuminates walking surfaces without creating glare at eye level. Fixtures are rated IP67 for permanent exposure to pool chemicals, chlorinated splash water, and standing water on deck surfaces. We use marine-grade stainless steel or composite housings that resist corrosion from salt, chlorine, and bromine.

Surrounding landscape lighting around the pool uses our standard professional-grade 12V LED fixtures from Unique Lighting Systems, WAC, and Kichler — spotlights for specimen trees, wash lights for garden beds, and uplights for palms and ornamental grasses. These fixtures operate on separate zones from the underwater lights, allowing independent control of pool versus landscape illumination.

All pool area wiring meets or exceeds NEC requirements for swimming pool electrical installations. Low-voltage landscape lighting wire is routed at minimum distances from pool water as specified in local building codes. Underwater lights connect to dedicated, GFCI-protected circuits. We coordinate with licensed electricians for any line-voltage pool equipment connections while handling all low-voltage landscape and accent lighting ourselves.

Spa and hot tub lighting uses compact LED fixtures designed for smaller water volumes and higher operating temperatures. We install both underwater spa lights and surrounding accent lights that create an intimate, glowing retreat. Chromatherapy-style color-changing spa lights are popular for their therapeutic ambiance, cycling through calming blue, green, and purple tones.

Pool & Spa Lighting Is Perfect For

Homeowners with existing pools that lack adequate nighttime lighting and want to dramatically improve both the safety and visual appeal of their pool area after dark.

New pool construction projects in Lake Wylie, Charlotte, and Fort Mill where lighting can be integrated during the build for the cleanest, most comprehensive installation.

Properties with elaborate pool environments including waterfalls, grottos, fire features, and swim-up bars that benefit from dramatic accent lighting to showcase these investments.

Lake Wylie waterfront homes in The Palisades and River Hills where pool lighting must complement lake views and integrate with dock and shoreline lighting for a cohesive waterfront presentation.

Families with children who use the pool after dark and need bright, even illumination of the water, deck, and steps for safety during evening swimming.

Homeowners who entertain poolside and want resort-quality lighting that transforms their backyard into a destination for summer parties, holiday gatherings, and weekend relaxation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you add lights to an existing pool?

Yes. We retrofit LED lighting into existing pools using nicheless fixtures that install through small core-drilled holes in the pool wall, avoiding the need to drain the pool or modify the shell structure significantly.

How much does pool and spa lighting cost?

Pool area lighting ranges widely: basic underwater LED retrofits start around $1,500, while comprehensive pool environment lighting including underwater, deck, landscape, and structure lighting typically ranges from $5,000 to $15,000. Call (803) 889-0096 for a free estimate.

Are underwater LED lights safe?

Absolutely. Underwater LED pool lights operate on low-voltage circuits protected by GFCI breakers. The sealed, potted housings prevent any electrical contact with water. Modern LED pool lights are the safest pool lighting technology available.

Can pool lights change colors?

Yes. We install color-changing underwater LED fixtures that produce millions of colors, controllable via wireless remote or smartphone app. Popular presets include party mode (cycling colors), calm mode (slow blue-green transitions), and warm white for everyday elegance.

How long do LED pool lights last?

LED pool lights last approximately 30,000-50,000 hours, which translates to 10-20 years of typical use. This is 5-10 times longer than traditional halogen pool lights and eliminates the frequent and expensive bulb changes halogen owners endure.

Will pool lights increase my electric bill?

LED pool lights use 80-90% less energy than halogen equivalents. A typical pool with two LED underwater lights uses 40-80 watts total, compared to 600-1,000 watts for halogen. The annual operating cost is typically under $30.

What color temperature is best for pool lighting?

Warm white (2700K-3000K) produces the most inviting, resort-like glow in most pool finishes. Cool white (5000K-6500K) creates a more modern, vivid blue appearance in the water. We recommend viewing both options during your nighttime demo.

Can pool lighting be integrated with landscape lighting?

Yes. We design pool lighting as part of your overall landscape lighting system. While underwater lights require dedicated circuits, all surrounding deck, landscape, and structure lighting connects to your landscape lighting controller for unified operation.

Do you light pool water features?

Yes. We install dedicated LED fixtures for waterfalls, spillovers, bubblers, deck jets, and grottos. Underwater feature lighting creates dramatic effects as light interacts with moving water.

How do you handle pool deck step lighting?

We install flush-mounted LED step lights recessed into deck surfaces, risers, or coping stones. These fixtures produce a downward wash of light that illuminates the step surface without creating glare for swimmers in the pool.

Do you offer a nighttime pool lighting demo?

Yes. We bring portable LED fixtures to your pool area for a free nighttime demonstration. You will see how underwater lights look in your specific pool finish and how deck and landscape lighting transforms the entire area. Call (803) 889-0096 to schedule.

Can spa and hot tub lighting be added separately?

Yes. We install standalone spa lighting systems including underwater chromatherapy fixtures and surrounding accent lighting. Spa lighting integrates with your landscape lighting system or operates independently.

Pool & Spa Lighting in Lake Wylie & Charlotte

Lake Wylie's waterfront properties present unique opportunities for pool lighting. Many homes in The Palisades, River Hills, and Reflection Pointe feature infinity-edge or vanishing-edge pools oriented toward the lake. Lighting these pools requires careful balance — the underwater glow must enhance the pool experience while preserving the evening lake view beyond. We design these installations so the pool appears as a luminous extension of the waterfront, blending the man-made and natural water elements seamlessly.

Charlotte's long pool season — typically May through September, with heated pools extending into October and November — means pool lighting gets heavy use for five to seven months each year. Homeowners in Ballantyne, SouthPark, and Myers Park invest in pool environments that rival boutique resorts, and professional lighting is the element that elevates a nice pool into a breathtaking nighttime destination.

Fort Mill and Tega Cay in York County have experienced a pool construction boom, with new homes and renovations increasingly including pools as standard outdoor living features. Professional pool lighting during construction is significantly less expensive than retrofitting, so we encourage homeowners to include lighting in their pool project from the start. Our team coordinates with local pool builders throughout the York and Mecklenburg County area.

What Affects Pricing

Every pool & spa lighting project is unique. Here are the key factors that influence your investment:

Pool size and shape — larger pools and irregular shapes require more underwater fixtures for even illumination; simple rectangular pools need fewer lights than freeform designs.

New construction versus retrofit — integrating lighting during pool construction is less expensive than retrofitting existing pools, which may require core drilling and deck modification.

Water features — each waterfall, spillover, grotto, or fountain requires dedicated lighting fixtures, increasing both fixture count and installation complexity.

Deck and perimeter scope — basic deck step lighting is less expensive than comprehensive deck, coping, landscape, and structure lighting for the full pool environment.

Color-changing capability — color-changing underwater fixtures cost more than warm-white-only models but provide dramatically more versatility for different moods and occasions.

Get a precise quote for your project. Request your free estimate or call us at (803) 889-0096.

Maintenance Tips

Check underwater light seals annually for any signs of moisture intrusion, which can appear as condensation inside the lens. Address any seal issues immediately to prevent fixture damage.

Clean deck-mounted step lights and coping wash lights quarterly to remove calcium deposits, sunscreen residue, and organic material that accumulates in pool environments.

Verify that all GFCI breakers protecting underwater pool lights trip correctly during annual testing — this is a critical safety check that should never be skipped.

Inspect low-voltage wire connections near the pool for corrosion caused by chlorinated splash water, especially at junction boxes and fixture terminals within the pool chemical exposure zone.

Update color-changing light controller firmware when prompted by the manufacturer's app to ensure continued compatibility and access to new color presets and features.

Schedule a professional lighting inspection with Fireflies at the start of each pool season to verify all fixtures are operational, properly sealed, and aimed correctly after winter.