Lighting is an all-important subject when it comes to the interior of a property; without good lighting, a property can appear dark and less spacious, so we fill our homes with lamps, spotlights, and novelty lights that are designed to overcome this issue. Externally, however, lighting tends to receive less of a focus. For the most part, daylight alone is the light source many people use when it comes to their outdoor spaces and, particularly, their garden – which of course works well on bright summer days at midday, but can be more problematic in the winter months or when the sun sets below the horizon. The natural solution to this issue is garden lighting, which can be used to its greatest effect if you keep the following “do’s and don’ts” in mind…
DO… consider your power options
When thinking of garden lighting, many people’s minds immediately go to solar-powered lights – but there are other options worth considering. Mains-powered options such as 240v LED strip lights can be a great customisable choice that allows you to light up your outdoor space to meet your exact preferences, while even battery-powered fairy lights have their place in terms of providing a soft glow that isn’t reliant on the sun shining for hours before the lights need to be used.
DON’T… overlook the space footprint for standalone lighting
Some types of garden lights, such as replica Victorian lamp posts, will require floor space in order to function – which is less than ideal if you need that space for garden furniture. If considering lighting that will need to sit on the ground (or a patio, decking, or similar), mark out the footprint of the unit with chalk before you commit to buy, so you know exactly how much floor space you’ll be giving up. If it’s too much space to lose, consider lighting options that don’t require a footprint, such as strip lights.
Do… add lighting beyond your seating area
The seating/dining area of your garden will always be the main focus for lighting, and for good reason – but it’s also helpful to consider lighting options for the rest of your outdoor space, too. Adding a few lights at the bottom of your garden, for example, can really help the space to feel far more relaxing and welcoming after nightfall, while spotlights along the side of paths can help keep people sure-footed when walking.
Don’t… rely solely on lightweight novelty lighting
Cute novelty lighting – be it string lights or decorative battery-lit ornaments – can add a wonderful atmosphere to your garden, but they have a significant downside: they’re fair-weather choices. In a rainstorm or high winds, lightweight novelty items can easily be damaged to the point of malfunctioning, which makes them far from reliable as a long-term lighting choice. Instead, try to use a mix of novelty lighting along with robust, high-quality lighting that can be fixed into place and which you should be able to enjoy the benefits of year after year.
In conclusion
Garden lighting is a fantastic choice that allows you to make use of your outdoor space whatever the weather or time of year. We hope that by following the above “do’s and don’ts”, you and your family should be able to enjoy truly fantastic lighting for yourselves.
*This is a collaborative post
We’ve just added some solar powered lights to our garden and they certainly do make a difference. Looks lovely in the evening when all lit up.