Innovative Lighting Ideas for a Sparkling Garden
Conjure up beauty outdoors with strategically placed solar lanterns, twinkle lights and chandeliers
When you’ve put a lot of work into your garden, it’s a shame to let the beauty vanish as the sun goes down – especially since adding the right touch of lighting to your landscape can have a positively magical effect. The twinkle and glow of lights beckon us into the garden, making outdoor gatherings more festive and cozy. Here are nine ideas for enhancing and highlighting your favourite corners of the garden with light.
2. Arbor of light
An arbor, with or without plants growing overhead, is a lovely feature – play it up at night by stringing it with fairy lights. The soft glow provides just the right amount of illumination to make an outdoor gathering feel cozy.
An arbor, with or without plants growing overhead, is a lovely feature – play it up at night by stringing it with fairy lights. The soft glow provides just the right amount of illumination to make an outdoor gathering feel cozy.
3. Submerged lighting
If you’ve invested in a water feature for your garden, such as a pond, waterfall or stream, help it shine after the sun goes down with submerged lighting. The glow of light under burbling water creates a magical effect, softly illuminating the landscape. Lighting designed for water features should be installed by a pro.
If you’ve invested in a water feature for your garden, such as a pond, waterfall or stream, help it shine after the sun goes down with submerged lighting. The glow of light under burbling water creates a magical effect, softly illuminating the landscape. Lighting designed for water features should be installed by a pro.
4. Illuminated fountain
Submerged lighting is not the only way to shine a light on water features. Highlight a beautiful fountain by positioning landscape lighting nearby and pointing the glow in the right direction. Just remember, less is more: Think softly glowing lamp and not glaring spotlight.
Submerged lighting is not the only way to shine a light on water features. Highlight a beautiful fountain by positioning landscape lighting nearby and pointing the glow in the right direction. Just remember, less is more: Think softly glowing lamp and not glaring spotlight.
5. Outdoor chandelier
What could be more romantic than sitting down to dinner in your own private garden, lit by the glow of a chandelier? If you’re willing to invest in outdoor wiring, a chandelier hung over an outdoor dining table is certainly worth the splurge. If you go for it, be sure to have a dimmer switch installed so you can control the ambiance.
Take a look at these must-have garden accessories
What could be more romantic than sitting down to dinner in your own private garden, lit by the glow of a chandelier? If you’re willing to invest in outdoor wiring, a chandelier hung over an outdoor dining table is certainly worth the splurge. If you go for it, be sure to have a dimmer switch installed so you can control the ambiance.
Take a look at these must-have garden accessories
6. A lighted allee of trees
On a larger property, a path lined with trees makes an elegant way to progress from one point to another in the garden or to light the path to your front door. Encourage enchanted evening walks with up-lights positioned at the base of the trees, plus landscape lighting on stakes to light up the path.
On a larger property, a path lined with trees makes an elegant way to progress from one point to another in the garden or to light the path to your front door. Encourage enchanted evening walks with up-lights positioned at the base of the trees, plus landscape lighting on stakes to light up the path.
7. Softly lit path
For a more subtle glow, skip the up-lighting and rely instead on softly lit orbs, or solar stake lights. Lighting like this works beautifully along outdoor stairs, stepping stones and gravel paths.
For a more subtle glow, skip the up-lighting and rely instead on softly lit orbs, or solar stake lights. Lighting like this works beautifully along outdoor stairs, stepping stones and gravel paths.
8. Magic treehouse
Have a treehouse or playhouse in the backyard for the kids? Consider lighting it to extend play time as the days shorten in the fall. This fantastical treehouse even has a sleeping loft, which is sure to appeal just as much to the grownups as the kids.
Have a treehouse or playhouse in the backyard for the kids? Consider lighting it to extend play time as the days shorten in the fall. This fantastical treehouse even has a sleeping loft, which is sure to appeal just as much to the grownups as the kids.
9. Candlelight
Candles are so simple and flexible – you can put them anywhere, and you don’t need to worry about wiring. Best for casting a soft glow around a table or small seating area, look for candleholders or hurricane lanterns that will protect the flame from blowing out in a breeze and don’t be shy about using a lot.
Read more:
Simple Ways to Create a Calming Minimalist Garden
Tell us:
How have you illuminated your garden? Share a photo in the Comments below.
Candles are so simple and flexible – you can put them anywhere, and you don’t need to worry about wiring. Best for casting a soft glow around a table or small seating area, look for candleholders or hurricane lanterns that will protect the flame from blowing out in a breeze and don’t be shy about using a lot.
Read more:
Simple Ways to Create a Calming Minimalist Garden
Tell us:
How have you illuminated your garden? Share a photo in the Comments below.
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A mature tree bedecked with glowing lanterns in an assortment of sizes and shapes creates a majestic focal point in this backyard. A hammock and swing strung from its branches give kids and adults alike good reason to get out there and enjoy the glow.
Tip: If you want to hang electric lights from a tree in your yard, you’ll need to hire an electrician to safely install them. Don’t want the hassle (or cost) of installing electric lighting? Solar-powered lanterns can be a good alternative.
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