Indoor & Outdoor Lighting Installation in Crete

Lighting installation in Crete: LED, garden, terrace and pool lighting for homes and villas

Good lighting changes how a home feels. In Crete you live outside for half the year, so the terrace, the pergola, the garden paths and the pool matter as much as the living room. Warm light for dinner outside, safe steps when you walk to the car at night, a pool that glows softly in the evening: it all makes a villa or holiday rental more pleasant, and more attractive to guests.

Outdoor lighting here has to cope with a lot: strong sun that bleaches and cracks plastic, salty air near the sea, dust in summer and heavy rain and wind in winter. Fittings that are not made for it let water in, and then the RCD trips every time it rains. I choose outdoor-rated fittings and seal every connection properly, so your lights keep working season after season.

Indoors I replace old fittings with energy-efficient LED, add light points and dimmers, and set up timers, motion sensors or smart control. I am a Belgian-certified electrician based in Hersonissos, and I install lighting in Heraklion, Malia, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda and the villages in between, from a single ceiling light to a complete lighting plan for a villa.

Lighting I install

LED upgrades

Old halogen and fluorescent fittings replaced with LED, with the right colour of light for each room and dimmers that suit LED.

Terrace and pergola

Wall lights, ceiling fittings and string lights for terraces and pergolas, so you can eat and sit outside comfortably at night.

Garden and path lighting

Low lights along paths and steps, spotlights on trees and walls, with cables laid safely in the ground.

Pool lighting

Safe low-voltage pool lights and lighting around the pool area, with the correct protection and earthing.

Sensors and timers

Motion sensors, dusk-to-dawn switches and timers, so lights are on when needed and off when not.

Smart lighting

Smart switches and lighting scenes you control from your phone, also from abroad. See smart home.

Don't see your job in this list? Contact me with your question: if it is in or around the house, I can most likely help.

Choosing the right outdoor light fitting

Where a light hangs decides what it has to withstand. This is what I look at for each spot.

Location	What to look for	Tip
Covered terrace or pergola	Splash-proof fittings, warm white light	Use a dimmer so the same lights work for dinner and for cleaning up
Open wall facing the sea	Fully weatherproof, corrosion-resistant housing	Stainless steel or good aluminium lasts longer than cheap metal
Garden paths and steps	Low, sealed fittings with protected cable	Light the steps themselves, not people's eyes
Trees and walls	Ground spots rated for burial or wet soil	A few well-placed spots give more atmosphere than many weak ones
Pool and pool area	Low-voltage fittings made for underwater use	Keep transformers and connections away from splashing water
Entrance and parking	Motion sensor or dusk sensor	Combine with a timer so the house looks lived-in when empty

Outdoor lighting that survives the Cretan climate

Most outdoor lighting problems I am called for come from fittings or connections that were never made for the conditions here. When I install outdoor lights I pay attention to:

Fittings rated for outdoor use, at least IP65 where they get rain or splashing water
Corrosion-resistant housings near the sea, so salt does not eat the fitting from inside
Sealed junction boxes and cable glands instead of tape and hope
Cables laid in protective conduit in the ground, deep enough to survive gardening
A separate outdoor circuit on its own RCD, so a wet fitting does not switch off the whole house
UV-resistant materials that do not crack after a few summers in full sun

Planning lighting for your terrace, garden and pool

A good lighting plan starts with how you use the outside space. Where do you eat? Where do you walk at night? What do you want to see from inside the house when it is dark? I walk around with you, ideally at the end of the day, and we decide together where light is useful and where it creates atmosphere.

Usually I combine three layers: functional light at the entrance, steps and paths, comfortable light on the terrace and around the table, and accent light on a tree, an old stone wall or the pool. Each layer gets its own switch or circuit, so you can choose the mood. With dimmers, timers or a smart system you do not have to think about it every evening.

If cables need to go into the garden, I plan it together with other work where possible, such as new irrigation lines or a renovation, so the ground only has to be opened once.

Lighting for holiday homes and empty houses

For a house that stands empty for weeks, lighting is also about security and convenience. A few simple measures make a big difference:

When the house is empty

Lights on timers so the house looks lived-in
Motion sensors at the gate, the door and the parking
Smart switches you can check from abroad
Works well together with an alarm or cameras

When guests are staying

Clear, simple switches near every door
Path lights on a dusk sensor, never left off
Pool lights on a timer, not on all night
LED everywhere to keep running costs down

For extra security I can combine the lighting with cameras and alarms, so a sensor switches on a light and alerts you at the same time.

Get more from your lighting: combine it with

Smart home control

Control lights, A/C and other devices from your phone, with schedules and scenes that run on their own. Ideal for a house you are not always in.

Lights and A/C from your phone
Schedules and lighting scenes
Check the house from abroad
Works with existing switches where possible

More about Smart Home Automation

Cameras and alarms

Lighting and security work best together. A motion sensor can switch on the lights and send you an alert at the same moment.

Cameras at entrances and parking
Alerts on your phone
Lights that react to movement
Peace of mind for empty homes

More about CCTV & Alarm Systems

Indoor & Outdoor Lighting Near You

Available across Heraklion and Lasithi, from Agios Nikolaos to near Rethymno.

Hersonissos Analipsi & Anissaras Malia Stalis Gouves & Gournes Mochos & Avdou Kastelli (Pediada) Heraklion Knossos & Archanes Arkalochori Gazi & Ammoudara Agia Pelagia & Lygaria Fodele Moires Tympaki & Kokkinos Pyrgos Sissi & Milatos Neapoli Agios Nikolaos Lasithi Plateau Elounda & Plaka Kritsa Istron & Kalo Chorio Pachia Ammos & Kavousi Ierapetra Anogia Bali Perama & Mylopotamos Panormo Margarites

Frequently Asked Questions

My outdoor lights trip the RCD when it rains. What is wrong?

Water is getting into a fitting, a connection or a junction box. I find which one it is, then reseal it or replace it with outdoor-rated material, and where possible put the outdoor lights on their own circuit.

How much does it cost to install garden or terrace lighting?

It depends on the number of lights, the type of fittings and how far cables have to go through the garden. After a visit I give you a free quote with a fixed price before I start.

Is it worth replacing my old lights with LED?

Yes, in most cases. LED uses much less electricity, lasts much longer and produces far less heat, which helps keep rooms cool in summer. It is especially worth it for lights that are on for many hours, such as outdoor and security lights.

Can lights switch on automatically when I am not there?

Yes. With timers, dusk sensors or smart switches you can make the house look lived-in, which helps deter burglars. I set it up so it runs on its own.

Can you install lights in my swimming pool?

Yes, with safe low-voltage pool lights, the correct transformer placed away from the water, and proper protection and earthing. Existing pool lights that no longer work I can also repair or replace.

Can I control my outdoor lights from my phone?

Yes, with smart switches or a smart lighting system. You can switch lights, set schedules and check them from anywhere, which is handy for owners abroad.

Which colour of light is best for a terrace?

For terraces and gardens most people prefer warm white light, which feels cosy and attracts fewer insects than cold light. For a kitchen or workspace inside, a slightly cooler white is often more practical.

Do you install outdoor lighting for villas in Elounda and Hersonissos?

Yes. I design and install lighting for villas, homes and holiday rentals in Hersonissos, Malia, Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda and the villages in between.

Related Services

Smart Home AutomationControl lights, A/C, boilers and shutters from your phone. Electrical Fault Finding & RepairsPower cuts, tripping breakers, dead sockets and burning smells. CCTV & Alarm SystemsCameras and alarms you can check from anywhere. Rewiring & New InstallationsFull or partial rewiring, new circuits, sockets and switches.

Indoor & Outdoor Lighting