Once you know about outdoor lighting design, you'll feel more confident to plan your garden lighting schemes. Not just for adding atmosphere, the right outdoor lighting can make a huge difference to the look and feel of your outside space. It can spotlight stunning features, help to visually stretch your patch, let you happily cook, read and entertain as well as safely guide the way. It can also change how often you use your gardens too – letting you stay outside well after sundown, not to mention providing a beautiful backdrop for you to view when you’re tucked up indoors. 

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF OUTDOOR LIGHTING DESIGN?

When it comes to choosing the best outdoor lights for your scheme, task, ambient, security and feature lighting all play a part in good outdoor lighting design. The more we use our outside spaces, the more important each becomes. 

Good task lighting is key to being able to safely cook, read and cater for guests outside, as well as help guide you safely around the garden, picking out potential hazards such as steps and rills. Bright fixed and adjustable spotlights, downlighters, recessed deck lights and inground indicators are made for this job.

Ambient lighting, such as our stunning festoon light ideas, are all about adding atmosphere, introducing pools of soft, warm light into the blackness to encourage guests to linger, relax and unwind. Wall lights with broad beams of light or dual directions will wash the walls with light, while uplighters softened by foliage will cast a warm, cosy glow, perfect behind seating and for lifting, gloomy corners. Outdoor pendants over dining areas and, hung low over coffee tables also create beautiful features for your space.

TAILOR OUTDOOR LIGHTING DESIGN TO SUIT YOUR SPACE

One simple way to do this is to walk around the space and make a list. Your main priority might be including some great patio lighting ideas, but don’t forget to consider the views from inside your home too, as Sally also mentions, ‘Think of lighting a focal point towards the end of your garden such as a tree or sculpture to extend your view. You can also use spiked lights to add a wash of light to the planting surrounding your alfresco dining area or seating areas.’

ZONE YOUR GARDEN WITH CLEVER OUTDOOR LIGHTING DESIGN 

The colour and tone of lighting plays a huge part in how an area feels. Warm tones ranging from a soft, white light through to deeper golden shades encourage you to relax and linger while bold, cooler tones of blues, greens and purples create a sense of drama and mystery. Perfect for artistic effect or, perhaps Halloween, but not really suited to a relaxed alfresco supper. 

HIGHLIGHT KEY FEATURES WITH YOUR GARDEN LIGHTING

If you want to show off a favourite sculpture, tree or wall panel, then light it up. It’s the perfect way to enjoy it 24/7 and view it in a slightly different way too. LED Spike garden spotlights can be pushed into the ground and angled to shine up trees and shrubs. Lights vary in reach (or lumens), beam width and can create very different effects. A single spotlight will do the job, but two or three spotlights positioned at different angles will create a more rounded and elegant result. 

INCLUDE HIDDEN LIGHT FITTINGS TO ADD DRAMA

Low profile strip lighting is a great way to add an extra dimension to your garden steps ideas, as it can sit discreetly under the steps throwing light onto the surface below. This idea works equally well with garden tables and benches too. 

GO FOR SPECIALIST LIGHT FITTINGS FOR WATER FEATURES

There are a wide range of suitable lights to consider. Spotlights with weighted bases are great for sitting under the water, or for tucking behind the arc of falling water. Their powerful beam will illuminate the feature and create a striking focal point. For a calmer effect try a series of smaller uplighters positioned around the pond or rills edge – perfect for a sharp, contemporary look. 

USE INDOOR-STYLE LIGHTS FOR YOUR OUTDOOR LIGHTING DESIGN 

If you have a favourite garden armchair chair opt for a garden floor lamp, just as you would do with an indoor chair. Outdoor pendant lights are now popular and look incredibly pretty hung from a tree, cast beautiful shadows and a warm ambient light.

IMPROVE YOUR HOME’S SECURITY WITH OUTDOOR LIGHTING

Good outdoor lighting can provide reassurance and help deter intruders, providing it’s well-chosen and carefully positioned. There are several different types of security lighting available and the most popular fittings incorporate PIR’s – Passive Infrared sensor which will automatically turn the light on when the sensor detects movement within its range. These lights can be both mains and solar powered. 

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR GARDEN LIGHTING  

There’s something intensely satisfying at being able to control and change your garden lighting remotely. Whether to impress your friends or turn the lights on ready for your return home, more and more products have this capability built in. 

CAN YOU INSTALL OUTDOOR LIGHTING DESIGNS YOURSELF OR DO YOU NEED TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL?

Whether you can self-install outdoor lighting designs or you need to call in a professional largely depends on the overall effect and type of lighting you are after. Battery powered lights and the best solar lights are, of course, cable free – so can simply be put in place with very little fuss – but things do get a little more complex when it comes more permanent, wired installations. 

Fitting a high-voltage lighting system is a professional job and often one that is tricky to retro-fit too, as armoured cables have to be dug at least 50cm into the ground. Run off your existing supply they would need to be fitted and approved by a certified electrician.