The Lighting Blog

Step 1

Choose lighting for safety. You should be able to see your way clearly from the garden entrance to your front door. If there are any steps that are difficult to navigate safely in the dark, good lighting will greatly reduce the risk of accidents. However, do not install intense, isolated lights, such as spotlights, at potential accident spots. As you move from an area of bright light into sudden darkness, your eyes cannot make the adjustment quickly. Such areas need a broad spread of light.

Stelios Outdoor Wall Lantern

 Step 2

Choose lighting for increased security. Strong illumination around the home is a proven deterrent to intruders.

Solar Powered Halogen Motion Detector

Step 3

Choose lighting to extend outdoor space use. When daylight hours grow shorter, there is no need to curtail the pleasures of patio living. Provide adequate light so that cooking and food preparation can continue comfortably, and you will find that outdoor entertaining can start earlier in the year and continue well into the fall.

Gryphon Outdoor Wall Lantern - Nautical

Be selective with lights in entertaining areas. This may be as simple as a spotlight above the barbecue and lanterns around the table, or a more sophisticated arrangement of permanent lighting throughout the garden.

MacKay Wall Sconce

Step 5

Choose lighting for effect. This lighting for added mood is not the same as functional lighting.

Fiesta Color Changing Solar Path Light

Step 6

To accent a garden feature.

Fritz Wall Mount

Step 7

Avoid over lighting. Less attractive features can be left darkened to recede into the shadows. Too many decorative features in a garden can fight for attention and if you have too many different types of lights it, can give a disjointed appearance.

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