June 21, 2021
When spending summer vacation at home, a little creativity can turn another night on the patio into a night in paradise. Transform your outdoor space into a different destination each night with smart light to make your vacation at home one to remember.
Each light scene below — handcrafted by professional lighting designers — is available for free directly in the Philips Hue app, allowing you to quickly set the scene (and go on your home vacation!) in just a tap.
If you’re missing nights out on the town, turn your backyard into your own personal nightclub! Recreate Ibiza, the Spanish island renowned for its nightlife, in your backyard by first setting the scene: set your lights to Ibiza, which fills your space with a dim, golden hue.
The second most important aspect of recreating Ibiza as a vacation at home is the music. Typical of Ibiza clubs is house music, but if that’s not your favorite genre, remember that you’re the club owner here — you can set whatever music you like. Your outdoor space may not already have a dance floor, so move furniture against the walls so you have all the space you need to dance the night away.
As for food and drink, set up a minibar outside — you won’t want to ruin the mood by walking back inside the kitchen. Create a signature drink and make a few tapas (preferably those that can be eaten with one hand, so you can continue dancing!).
Bright idea: Create an Entertainment area in the Hue app with your color-capable outdoor lights, download the Hue sync desktop app on your computer, and put on some music — your outdoor lights will dance, brighten, dim, and change color in sync with the beat!
The beach is a favorite summer vacation destination, and you can still bring the beach back home even if you’re spending your staycation far from any coastline. With the deep red and orange of the Honolulu scene, you can bring Hawaii into your backyard — all you need is a beautiful flower lei.
If you’re having friends over, create your own luau: light up the barbecue, set out a build-your-own poke bowl buffet, and set the stage for a hula competition among your guests. Let each contestant select their own signature light scene and song during their turn to really up the competitive feel.
Going it alone for a relaxing night in? If it’s warm enough, fill up a kiddie pool and dip your feet in. With gentle island-inspired music and a fruity drink — served in a coconut, perhaps! — you can almost feel the beachy breeze.
Want to travel to a more faraway location? Immerse yourself in the buzzing atmosphere of Japan’s largest city: Tokyo. Whether you’ve been to Japan or it’s on your list of dream vacations, you can recreate the vibes of Tokyo at home. Set the lights to the Tokyo scene, featuring vibrant red, blue, and purple lights.
Turn your outdoor space into a Japanese-style outdoor eating area by bringing a coffee table (or other low table, if you have one) outside and setting mats or cushions on the ground around it. Order in — or, if you’re particularly adventurous, make — sushi to enjoy.
If you’re missing the sounds of the city, there are plenty of playlists that recreate the talking, traffic, and general hum of a bustling city.
With so many possibilities, where will you spend your vacation at home?