=Just like in your home, outdoor lighting doesn’t need to be just a practical feature, so you can see where you’re stepping or find the keyhole on your door easier. Lighting has a unique power to transform a space, bringing unique style and ambience into your garden. Here are some of the ways you can do just that.
Beyond the Basic Lightbulb
When it comes to different types of outdoor lighting, the options are truly vast. A classic fixture with a lightbulb inside may be the most obvious choice. However, it can also be a bit too harsh and focused on a single spot of your garden, leaving the rest in the dark.
If you’re looking for a more subtle yet stylish approach, illuminate a certain area in its entirety. For instance, wall lights mounted on the house provide a soft, ambient glow that runs beautifully down the walls. Without being too intense, they provide plenty of functional light, while maintaining a welcoming atmosphere.
Similarly, patio lights that run across the floor, such as tiny recessed lights or more dramatic path lights, offer a unique decorative element. Not just that, they effectively define and light up the boundaries of your patio or the walkway, making it safer too. A great tip is to stagger them on either side, creating a more natural flow.
Pay Attention to Temperature
Another important thing to consider when choosing outdoor lights is the temperature. No, not the weather, but the colour temperature of the light itself. There are three main types: warm, cool and neutral light. The one you choose will have a huge impact on the overall mood and ambiance of your garden.
Warm light tends to create a more cosy, inviting atmosphere, akin to that of warm fire, whereas cool light generally feels more chic and modern. Neutral, of course, is somewhere in the middle. Many LED-based patio lights also allow you to switch between the colours, depending on what mood you are aiming for that evening.
Accent and Feature Lights
This is where you really zhuzh up your garden. Accent lighting is mainly used for aesthetic purposes, making a certain feature stand out. It’s a brilliant option if you have something you love, like a sculpture or a pond, but it’s never visible when you hang out in your garden in the dark.
For example, spotlights are usually placed near or under a feature you want to stand out, focusing a beam of light directly into it and creating a specific focal point from a distance. This is great for sculptures, ponds, water fountains or flower gardens.
Another common option is uplighting – placing a light at the base of an object and aiming it upwards. It adds drama and enhances such features as a textured stone wall or a decorative tree. It’s also something that hotels often use to make their entrance signs stand out.
For a truly unique effect, try silhouetting. This could be placing a light behind a plant or an object that has an interesting shape and aiming it at a wall, which creates a beautiful dark outline (a.k.a. silhouette).
Finding the Middle Ground
Ultimately, garden lighting choices should be both practical and stylish. It’s about making a space safe to use at late hours, while also adding unique layers of depth with the help of light and shadows.
v
With a Master in Architectural Studies from University of Pennysylvania, Marwa Haydar has pioneered living spaces since 2005. Her expertise, initially honed in a prestigious architectural firm, is evident in her approach to creating environments. Marwa became part of our team in 2019 and has since been a driving force in our home improvement section, known for her practical yet stylish solutions. She’s been spearheading our design workshops since then, infusing her passion for teaching into her work. In her leisure time, Marwa enjoys exploring historic architecture and is an enthusiastic pottery hobbyist, further enriching her understanding of form and texture.
