Do you want to make better use of your garden? Would you like to be able to relax outdoors in the kind of atmosphere that is welcoming and beautiful? If so, it may be time to think about how you can incorporate outdoor lighting into your garden landscape and décor, as this allows you to enjoy the outdoors in the evening hours – which is a whole other form of beauty.
To help inspire you and give you the ideas you need, here are some ways in which you can create a relaxing space in your garden with the use of outdoor lighting.
Combine Different Styles of Lighting
The first tip is to get rid of the notion that all the lighting has to be the same. Your garden will be much more unique, beautiful, and functional if you use a variety of lighting styles. It’s all about recognizing what your needs are and where the light will be placed/used. Outdoor lighting ideas can include:
- Rope lighting
- LED strip lighting
- String lights
- Lanterns
- Wall-mounted lights
- Solar lights
- Uplighting
There are of course many more styles, but these are just a few of the more popular ones.
Identify the Key Areas to Light
Expanding on the notion that there will be key areas that you need to light, it’s important to identify what those areas are before you draw up your plan. Lights should always be placed at entrances/exits to the house, the outdoor seating area and any pathways or walkways. Using lights in these areas will ensure your backyard is functional and safe, even when it’s pitch-black outside.
Highlight Unique Features
Another tip is to highlight the unique features of your garden and/or house. It may be that you have some lovely mature trees that are large and beautiful. In this case, uplighting or spotlights in different soft colors will create a gorgeous backdrop. For those who have unique architectural features of their home that are noticeable from the outside, uplighting or wall-mounted lights can help bring them to the forefront.
These are the kinds of features that help your house and garden stand out from the rest, so you want to take full advantage of them.
Pick Lights That Can Change Colours
Besides just the style of the lights and placement, you may also want to pick lights that allow you to adjust and change the color. You can pick the color based on the season or a particular holiday or celebration, or you can just enjoy different colors each evening. It’s all about variety and making the garden feel customized. At the same time, you want to steer clear of lights that are too bright and harsh. This will be too much in the evening hours and take away from the relaxing atmosphere that you are trying to achieve.
Use Light Timers
Light timers are perhaps the most important accessory for homeowners looking to update their exterior lighting. These allow you to program the lights to turn on and off at a specific time. That means the atmosphere will be consistent each night.
Incorporate the Lighting with Greenery
Experts also recommend that you work lighting into the greenery, i.e., shrubs, bushes, trees, and flowers. Placing lights in the garden itself and wrapping them around trees creates a serene effect. Just be sure that if you’re wrapping or hanging lights from trees and bushes, the string is lightweight and you aren’t wrapping the greenery too tight.
Add Candles To Your Seating Area
The final tip is to add some decorative candles to the seating area. While there is nothing wrong with a traditional candle, these can be dangerous if you aren’t watching them. A safer, more convenient option is to use a battery-operated flameless candle. You can find some very realistic-looking flameless candles that even flicker and have a sense of movement.
By using these outdoor lighting tips, you’ll be able to create the kind of garden environment that is beautiful, relaxing, and unique, which is exactly the kind of space you want to spend time in. It will also be perfect for entertaining family and friends.