Guides

Garden Lighting Tips, Ideas & Guide

Lighting Ideas for your Garden

If you are looking at creating a magical space where you and your family can spend some extra time or simply create a place where you can relax, lighting your garden is a great consideration. However, with a great variance in lighting products, it can be confusing and challenging on which ones to settle for.

After landscaping your garden and the vegetation and flowers are in place, lighting may just be the only missing concept to complete your project. The following are some garden lighting tips, ideas, and guide to help you turn your garden into a lavish, exciting, and lively part of your home.

Why consider Garden Lighting

Garden lighting serves two key purposes. These include both decorative and functional. In reference to their functional purpose, lighting ensures you can see through your garden. The lighting also boosts security. In reference to decorative purposes, garden lighting leaves a pleasant sight especially after the sun goes down. It leaves the beauty of your garden visible. The result is a chic and beautiful garden no matter the time of the day.

It adds to the beauty of your garden
It boosts visibility in the absence of natural lighting
It complements the rest of your landscaping
It serves as a source of safety/security

Ideal Garden Lighting Areas

Traditionally, many homes had one security light facing the entire back yard. Currently there are several options for lighting. These include walls, pathways, and stairs, on and under trees, as well as on the ground. All areas have a varying impact and they will create varying results.

Walls – Lighting on the walls play different roles. They not only mark the boundary for your garden but they also reflect light so you can always see what is surrounding the given area. When lighting the walls it is important that you avoid very bright lighting.

Trees – Trees add a touch of nature to your garden considering that they are probably the largest and most visible part of your garden. Do not overdo lighting here. Light it sparingly as you are not trying blow people away.

Stairs – Some added features when landscaping gardens include the addition of stairs. Lighting the stairs is a great idea to illuminate part of your garden. Keep it dim and add some color.

Ground and Pathways – When lighting your garden, you have the option to light the pathways by either lighting from underground or simply placing lighting along a path. It adds a sense of class as well as marks a given direction.

Garden Lighting Ideas

In an effort to bring out the best of your garden, it is best that you consider the possible lighting ideas that can accommodate your garden’s landscape. Some outstanding ideas to accommodate include:

Use of fairy lights – If you are looking to add a touch of sparkle, fairy lights will meet this objective. Fairy lights come in different sizes and designs depending on how large your garden is as well as the overall design of the garden.

Using woven material – The idea of using woven material comes in handy if you are looking to add some texture to your lighting concept. During good weather, woven material is great. However, ensure that they are portable so you can move them to the patio or deck. In addition, woven material tends to create shadows that complement pathways.

Choosing your lamping options – Lamps are a modern source of lighting and it gets better with the different designs and color combinations. The following are great options to consider depending on your needs and preferences.

LED
Halogen
Incandescent
Fluorescent

Ability to customize – If you are looking to avoid all the hype and repetition, you may opt to avoid purchasing your equipment from shops. Alternatively, you may purchase the necessary items and seek to customize them to create a difference.

Garden Lighting Tips

While you may have quality lighting and everything in place, the following tips are ideal to help you make the best of your plan.

Use of color coordinating lighting options – This tip is ideal especially if you are looking to leave a reflection of the plants and flowers. For example, if your color choice for your garden includes red and yellow, why not consider lanterns of similar colors. This will camouflage into your landscape and leave an outstanding reflection.

Use uplighters – Uplighters are a great idea if your key objective is to capture people’s eye. They are ideal when looking to create coziness on wall hangings.

Layer your lighting – When lighting your garden, it is important that you consider lighting in different levels. Create a balance between ground, mid-range, as well as ceiling lights.

Ground lighting – This is great on pathway lighting as well as simple floor bed lighting.

Ceiling lighting – Many may assume that gardens do not come with ceilings. However, this is not the case. You can have ceiling lighting on trees and on other structures surrounding your garden.

Mid-range lighting – This can be tricky but you can incorporate low hanging pendants.

Do not overdo it

Garden lighting should not be too bright or too dim. Keep in mind that you are looking to meet functional and decorative purposes. In addition, do not light up everywhere. Even distribution of lighting is best recommended.

Adopt a specific theme

Working with a theme leads to an easier process of completing your landscape. For example, you may choose to consider working with a circular theme. In this, your lanterns can be circular as the rest of the décor takes a similar shape. You can also choose a specific color to or color combination to employ as opposed to simply purchasing what impresses you.

Consider consulting an expert

It is not in every situation that every plan will fall into place. It is therefore important that you consult it an expert so you can be sure that your objectives are met. They will also provide work force that have a better understanding of garden lighting. Keep in mind that you may have a great idea but you will also need the right team to implement it.

Outdoor Lighting Designs/ Style

Outdoor lighting designs are dependent on individual preference, needs, and wants. Though ideas are changing overtime due to the advancement in technology, the following ideas are bound to serve you in the long-term.

Use of DIY paper lanterns on pathways

You may opt to light your pathway with lanterns. While you may buy readymade lanterns in shops, a great design would be to customize your own lanterns. By lighting your pathways, the design is simple yet classic. In addition, they provide a safety especially when you opt to have a party in the night as they guide your guests on which direction to follow. You can play around with the color choice by opting for patterns and prints of different choices. They do not necessarily have to be similar.

Contemporary garden light

Many perceive that contemporary lighting is best for a living room. This is not the case. You can employ contemporary lighting in your garden to leave a classy look and outstanding feel.

Garden Spotlights

Depending on the placement of this light as well as its strength, you can leave a thrilling effect. It is also applicable even in damp environments without the worry of an electrocution. You may opt to use it to illuminate a path, as well as create an outstanding backdrop.

Garden flood lights

These are designed to illuminate large areas where you have the option of choosing between clear or colored lenses. The colored lenses will add a decorative touch that is appealing. These are ideal for meeting both functional as well as decorative purposes.

Garden post and pedestal lights

This style of garden lighting is ideal for individuals looking for a vintage kind of theme. They are recommended for illuminating plants and other garden décor. They come with sculptured shades from materials that can withstand the outdoors such as copper. These lights are recommended for use on paths as well as near doorways. In addition, if your walls come with openings, you can place them in walls considering that they are free standing.

Garden candles and lanterns

This garden lighting style functions by leaving a glow that that directs you along a path or adds to the beauty of a patio. If you love to relax outside, you can place your candle on a table. While they meet the purpose of as well as leave a warm feeling, it is important that you constantly monitor them to prevent the risk of a fire.

Garden string lights

Draping outdoor string lights is gaining popularity. They are ideal for use around the yard placing them on trees of around the garden to provide ceiling lighting. They are recommended for use along an entryway as well. It is important that you select the right string lights that are designed for outdoor use to prevent damaging them from weather changes. This style can also be used on patios to create a romantic feel.

Factors to consider before garden lighting
When visiting different gardens, you will notice different styles, concepts, as well as designs. Different factors determine what to go for. The factors differ in various ways in an effort to meet the different needs, wants, likes, and preferences of different individuals. These may include:

Size of the garden

An individual with a small garden may not light as much as one with a large garden. There is so much one can do with a larger garden as opposed to a small garden. This is because you cannot squeeze different styles and designs into a small garden. However, this does not mean that you cannot make the best of a small garden.
For example, you can adopt more than one style when working with a large garden. It is however, recommended that you work with one style for small gardens to avoid clutter.

Source of energy

The main power sources will include electricity and solar powering. Depending on your source, you will be making the decision on how much you can light. Even when you are relying on electricity, you will need to factor in the wiring process.

Purpose of lighting

Garden lighting is both functional as well as decorative. In an effort to meet these two key objectives, it is best that you understand your overall garden layout and design so you can decide which design is best for your home.
Some individuals solely think of lighting as a way of decorating and improving their outdoor appearance. On the other hand, some will add one or two lights to make things visible. If you are looking to meet both purposes, it is best that you consider the different colors and styles offered in the industry.

Cost implications

Lighting involves expenditure and it is important that you work within your budget. Your budget will determine the quality as well as the quantity of what you can implement in your ideas. Avoid being extravagant as it will only dig into your finances without creating the ideal effect you are looking for. However, even on a low budget, you should not compromise on quality so you can sustain the functionality and beauty of your garden in the long-term.

In many instances, making it simple is a great way of lighting your garden. While there are several options and styles you can adopt, you do not have to overdo things. Try to adopt a given theme so that it makes the entire garden an eye-catching sight. You can turn your garden into a relaxing and comfortable arena even when natural lighting is low thanks to the above garden lighting guide.