Garden Lighting
What are your golden nuggets of wisdom? Don’t overdo it. Many homeowners go for the biggest and brightest outdoor lights they can find, believing it might increase safety and security. But having a bright floodlight shine in your eyes is not a pleasant arrival for guests (nor for your neighbours) and can affect your night vision, making it harder to see. Avoid using floodlights in entrances or entertaining spaces as they are extremely bright.
How can I boost convenience? Timers and sensors are a great addition to your outdoor lighting set-up – they allow lights to turn on and off automatically at pre-set times or provide illumination when it’s needed, such as when a guest (or you) approaches your home. As they only come on when required, they also help cut your energy costs – not to mention boost security. I recommend installing a sensor front-door light recessed into the ceiling that comes on when someone approaches (while providing a clean finish). Also consider using a timer to control the on/off times of your garden lighting for spotlights and up/down lights, and connect bunker and bollard lights to sensors that turn on only when someone approaches.
Deck lights: Great for setting a warm, welcoming mood on your decked area for entertaining; they’ll also help guests move about the space comfortably. For a sleek contemporary look, seek out styles that sit flush with your deck, verandah or entrance. Step lights: If you have steps outdoors, these lights are a must for safety. I’d recommend wall-mounted step lights that cast a gentle downwards light onto the step. LED spotlights: Use these to illuminate water features, trees, plants and sculptures. Sensor floodlights: These are great for lighting large areas, such as driveways, when you or a guest approach.
Which types of lights do I need? Path lights: These will help guests travel safely from your front gate to the front door or move around your garden at night. Bollard lights are my pick for path lighting – they’re great for illuminating walkways and uneven surfaces, and they give your pavers or tiles a lovely glow. Up/down lights: These luminaires produce a narrow beam of light and when installed on the exterior of your home, they’re a great way to showcase its architectural features, your house number, or a beautiful arrangement of pot plants. Ceiling lights: Outdoor ceiling lights help illuminate undercover alfresco areas at night. Front-door light: These help guests navigate their way to your front door and create a welcoming vibe. A front-door light will also make it easier to find your keys at night.
The key to a great garden and deck lighting scheme is to combine different light sources. You want a layered lighting set-up with lights that perform different roles. This will provide practical illumination so guests can move comfortably around your garden and deck, and it will also add depth and intrigue to the space. Your lighting scheme might include a mix of uplights, downlights or up/down lights to highlight architectural features or your favourite plants; bollard lights to illuminate a path; recessed deck lights so guests can travel about the area safely; and spotlights to provide a gentle wash of light to your outdoor space and draw the eye to its best features.
Line a pathway with paper lanterns Welcome guests to your home this year with an enchanting walkway lined with glowing luminarias lanterns or small paper bags weighed down with sand and illuminated with LED candles. Get the look: You can purchase lanterns or make your own using paper bags with a handful of sand at the bottom to weigh them down. If you’re thinking of a large display, gather some helpers to place LED-operated tea light candles in each one and light them just before guests arrive.
Keep lights such as garden spikes and pond lighting hidden as much as possible – you want them to highlight your garden gems, not be a visual feature themselves. Don’t put in too many path lights or the area will look cluttered and overly lit. Less is more; place lights periodically along a pathway.
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