I think a solar light, since you have great open space for sunlight.

https://www.wayfair.com/lighting/pdp/gigalumi-brown-low-voltage-solar-powered-integrated-led-step-light-pack-ggal1051.html

It depends on your goals.

For the hot tub, that is for relaxation, mood, and comfort. A typical wall mounted light that you can't help but look into as you lean your head back, makes it seem like you are in a back alley or parking lot IMO. A sconce style (up or down light) is probably too far for the hot tub. So LED strip lights or string lights integrated into the railing or hanging from tall posts/privacy/decorative walls might be a better fit.

The dining area is a choice as well. Having enough lumens to throw onto the table top placed far from the wall that doesn't attract your eye focus or create shadows, or subtle lights mounted on railing posts or hung from tall posts might be another choice.

Mosquitoes are always in the equation for lighting. And I'm biting my tongue on what is shown for hot tub support.

Thanks all. 3onthetree, can you elaborate on the hot tub support comment?

As for the hot tub support: Structurally, decks built to code are designed for a maximum per square foot weight. You need to be sure your proposed hot tub with the maximum number of folks who use it at any time do not exceed that maximum.

You also have to add the weight of the water in the hot tub. We have a Softub which is very light weight and only about 30” deep. It’s ok on our deck, full of water and 2 people with local codes, but the one you are showing probably would need additional structural support.

Perhaps not an useful example for your situation. Our pergola dining space was illuminated using dimmable LED rope lighting.

I see an issue with the hot tub area most hot tubs are installed sitting on a cement pad not on the deck at all we have had 3 over the years all required a cemennt pad . I guess you need to make sure that is done right . I agree solar lights are probably going to be the answer for most of the lighting you need with the panels mounted somehwere where they get sun. You might be able to do some solar railing lights for sure the panel mounted where it gets good sun then maybe wires run to an umbrella for the dining space or n umbreall that has solor lights already .. The hot tub is IMO a first to make sure it is to code and then see about the lighting for that.

I would second the recommendation to put the hottub on a concrete pad— not the deck. Bonus- gives you more deck space. no one ever wishes they had built a smaller deck!

First thing I thought was I wouldn't build a deck at all. I'd build a patio. You'll have a nice critter hotel under there, and you're spending a lot of money for no real benefit, unless walking down a few stairs is an absolute deal breaker.

Second thing I thought was no way would I pay for a hottub to be supported on a foundation when a concrete pad would do the same thing.

What a great space!! If the hot tub is an issue, I would put it at ground level to the left of where it is now. Make the deck one level with a couple really wide steps down to the hot tub areato the Ho which could be a good spot for a fire pit as well. You would need a purple steps up into the slider. You’d have room for a nice table out there.

OMG!!! Autocorrect!!! 😂. A hot tub and fire pit area at ground level to the left of where the fire pit is now. A COUPLE steps (not purple steps) up to the slider since the doors are two different levels.

I give up.

Thanks all, I appreciate the insights!

We did consider putting the hot tub at ground level, but because our sliding door and the door to the garage are both elevated, we needed to build a deck either way. We thought about putting the hot tub in a corner on the ground and building the deck around it, but the access panel for maintenance is on the opposite side from where the cover opens, which made that layout not work well. We're working with a professional design and build company and everything is up to code. Since we needed a deck regardless, the cost ended up being about the same whether the hot tub was on the deck or on the ground.

I had not thought about solar lights and I agree that adding some of these in is a great idea!

I hope you have awarranty for that hot tub placement I would not use it .I have had many hot tubs and all had a cover I could reposition for use . Sorry just not something I would have done no matter what some guy told me .

Just remembered - We had a 6 person hot tub on a deck at our OBX house. 🤷🏻‍♀️

OBX as in Outer Banks or Omega Beta Chi? One would have 2-4, the other 15 people.

There are a few people who have hot tubs on decks in my neighborhood. Of course it can be done. But I've also built a deck recently and know how much a deck costs, which is why I wouldn't pay for the additional foundations, the decking, or really any of it, just to have a hot tub (or a deck, honestly) up a few feet off the ground.

"We needed to build a deck either way". I'm not sure why you think that? For your situation, stairs from the doors down to a patio or slab on grade would work just as well.

Regardless.

You can get lighting on your rail posts. Some railings have them as options, so look at your railing manufacturer for that. Lighting on the stair treads would be a nice-to-have as well.

We used govee string lights around our deck, which are frankly a lot of fun. We attached them using sticky cable clips to our railing under our drink rail, and then zip ties on our stair railing (we don't have a drink rail on the stairs). They provide more than enough light, can be set to a timer, and can be changed for different occasions. They're maybe not as sophisticated as some of the lighting options for decks but we enjoy them. We actually now have a ton of govee lights in our home so we're huge fans. These were our second purchase, after our TV lights.

https://us.govee.com/products/govee-outdoor-string-lights-2?variant=43849007071417

3onthetree 😂😂😂😂🍾💃🏻

While I love that our deck is level with the patio door (the deck we replaced was a step down), I would vastly prefer a step from the patio door over a step across the entire deck.

How often do you use the back garage door? In our last house, we never used it, and used the space in front of the door for storage. However you use that door now will be limited by having the door open onto the deck (especially with the stairs at the opposite side). Can you move the garage door to the side of the house?

I assume you have a dog, which is why half the yard is fenced? I suspect the dog went through the garage door to get to the fenced area? How will that change with your deck proposal? As shown, there's no way to enter the fenced area.