Selecting lighting for your garden is just as important as selecting lighting for your indoor space. There are many possibilities now due to the fact that there is more choice than ever before with options such as solar table and floor lamps and battery operated or solar pendant lights to name a few. I know that there are some practical factors that should be considered here however if you are anything like me then the over riding thought is always going to be ‘is it stylish’, ‘does it look good’, ‘does it match the rest of my garden’. I have noticed that there are more and more stylish options being produced each summer and I am pleased to finally see a better assortment of solar lights for creating that outdoor lounge aesthetic that I am obsessed with.
Any practical factors can tend to be overcome with solar lighting :
- They do not need an electric supply so can be placed anywhere ( as long as they can receive some sun at some point in the day for a solar panel option)
- They are usually relatively inexpensive
- Solar lighting is improving in terms of brightness and robustness
- Stylish options are increasing
- Cheap to run ( doesn't require an electrical supply )
- More environmentally friendly
- There is lots of choice and they are readily available
So what options do we have available ?
1) Festoon/String Lights
Probably one of the most popular types of solar lighting that creates impact and ambience in an outdoor space. I always think they create a cosy, romantic vibe and have been very on trend over the last couple of years. I don’t think this is likely to change any time soon.
Festoon lights are particularly popular for parties, festivals, weddings or purely for entertaining at home. That said my garden is mostly used by just myself and my husband and we love to have the garden lit up around us. There are no rules. I also think they look equally good in a small courtyard garden or in a larger lawned garden and with the huge variety of lengths available the options are endless.
2) Lanterns
These can take the form of a glass, wood, wire or plastic lantern that can be hung from a tree, hook or even placed on the floor or a table. They might also take the form of a solar paper lantern that can be hung amongst the trees.
This is probably the solar lighting with the most options in terms of different styling as well as size options. This type of solar light has been around for awhile and therefore there is a huge amount of choice over a wide variety of retail outlets.
I think this will come down to personal taste and even budget choices here. The great thing about lanterns is that you can mix and match and I don’t think you can ever have too many.
A good lantern should look pretty during the day as well as provide the right kind of mood lighting to suit come dusk. If you have a country garden then you might choose an antique effect metal lantern, a modern contemporary garden might suit a wooden or black metal lantern whereas if you are tyring to create a whimsical effect then you might choose Chinese style paper lanterns.
3) Pendant Lights
( If you like this light please visit my outdoor pendant light hack blog , this is actually a food cover from a selection at Home Bargains with a solar bulb)
I find these quite exciting as this really brings the indoors outside and I have been waiting for this to take off for the garden. I have noticed a lot more options around this spring. I love being able to style a garden living or dining area as I would inside my home.
I am still waiting for more choice of shades but there is now a small amount of metal and rattan styles around that can be hung low over a dining table or from a tree or bracket on a wall. They look great grouped in a cluster and at all different heights for added interest.
Outdoor pendant lightbulbs can be charged from solar panels or maybe battery operated.
4) Floor & Table Lamps
These are relatively new to the range of outdoor solar lighting and I have found the range to be fairly limited. I do suspect this will quickly change however.
These can make an outdoor seating/ lounge area feel super cosy and almost like you are sitting indoors! They can provide very handy lighting for some late night conversations around the sofa. The great thing about this type of lighting is that you don’t need a tree or bracket to hang them off and so they can literally be placed anywhere in the garden.
They have some great bargain options in Home Bargains and B&M.
5) Path/ Border Lights
I think we are all familiar with the many solar stake lights on offer for lighting up a path, border, steps or even to highlight particular foliage or garden ornament.
Some of these options can be poor quality and perhaps look a little on the cheap side. However if you spend time looking for the right style then these can be a great addition to your garden and really bring the whole of your garden to life after dark.
I would really recommend spending the time to place them at the perfect spot so as to enhance your borders or take the opportunity to highlight a statue or ornament at night.
If it is a pathway that you wish to highlight and guide your visitor along then you could consider using solar lanterns at regular intervals for an inviting and romantic feel.
6) Spotlights/Floodlights
Much the same as the border and pathway lights, these are often used to highlight specific features in the garden such as trees, shrubs, statues, architectural elements or even artwork. They provide focused and directional lighting.
These are often not the prettiest options and are more a practicality rather than anything else. The main purpose really is for them to light up something else and therefore the focus is not on the light itself.
There are a selection of wall or fence downlighters and these would be perfect above a piece of garden artwork ( refer to my section of original garden artwork in my shop )
7) Wall-Mounted Lights
Wall-mounted lights are installed on exterior walls or fences to provide ambient lighting and enhance the overall aesthetics of the garden. They come in various designs, including lantern-style fixtures, sconces and up/down lights.
There is quite a generous choice of solar wall lighting on offer and again it can range in style and price. If your aim is to light up an outside porch or particular area of your garden then a pretty lantern style wall light might be a good choice.
Alternatively if you wish to provide some light to a fence on the outer borders of your garden or want to distribute some general light around the garden then a more discreet black metal or plastic light might be more favourable.
There are so many options available that there will surely be one to suit the overall style of any garden.
NB – wall mounted lights could include lanterns hung from a bracket fixed to the fence or wall.
Nb the fairy lights wrapped around the posts in the picture above also look effective wrapped around the trunk of a tree or perhaps scattered amongst the leaves and branches of a tree to make your garden your own piece of paradise.
Whatever lights you end up choosing, the most important thing is to have fun looking and creating your own style in your outdoor space. We can afford to be abit more reckless with design when it comes to the garden as uniformity is often thrown out the window. Do choose lighting in a style you love and do give consideration as to the various lighting effects you are hoping to achieve and then just go with it.
With the sunnier and warmer weather now on the horizon I am ready for those long lazy evenings in the garden with a glass of wine, some music and a warm glow around me……. I hope you are too.
