Glow your own!
Stylish exterior lighting is the bright way to get the very best from your plot
LAST summer, a friend hosted a barbecue for his birthday. The party kicked off in late afternoon and was in full swing as the sun set. Even though the weather was balmy, he suddenly called time on the revelry – it was so dark that it was impossible to see anything clearly.
It seemed like such a shame to have to move indoors early, but his decision was completely understandable given the only light was coming from the dying embers of the barbecue charcoal. Of course, things would have been completely different if he’d fitted out his space with some exterior lighting.
Adding some lights will make a big difference to any garden. Apart from ensuring that outdoor parties, barbecues and laid-back meals can be extended long into the evening, clever use of lighting will help to set the perfect mood, whether
you’re looking for something relaxed or a little more romantic.
As a garden design tool, they are perfect for helping to define a garden, visually dividing into areas for relaxing, dining and cooking. They can be used to direct people through a space, while individual lights will draw attention to architectural plants or a dramatic feature.
Available at the flick of a switch, electric powered lights are safe and durable. On the downside, they tend to be expensive and are best installed at the early stages of creating a garden to avoid the sight of cables. These are usually buried within a flexible plastic conduit to prevent digging accidents.
Either hard-wire lights into watertight junction boxes fitted to an outside wall, or plug into outdoor sockets. Make sure you stay within building regulations by only hiring a registered, competent electrician to ensure safe installation of any new sockets or electrical systems.
The other option is to go for something more portable, such as candles or lights powered by rechargeable batteries, gas or oil. Solar lights are a popular option, providing up to eight hours of shine time. These need at least four hours of direct sunshine to charge, so are obviously less effective following an overcast day.
You can divide a garden into different zones with lights. One way of doing this is to install ground-level LEDs around a deck or patio used for outdoor eating or relaxing, and to use wall-mounted downlights to provide the brightness necessary in food preparation areas, such as the place where you barbecue. Nobody wants to be in the spotlight when eating, so keep lighting subdued around dining spaces.
The natural glow from a row of candles in hurricane vases running down a table will create a cosy atmosphere, while a simple string of fairy lights draped over a pergola or tree will certainly add a magical touch.
Make the most of outdoor seating areas by introducing plants that come into their own when darkness descends. There are many with silvery leaves or pale flowers that reflect any chink of available light, helping them to stand out. Plenty of them carry a heady perfume that is more intense at night.
Brighten up beds and borders by marking their outline with post lights, which are available in a range of styles, heights and materials. For lower-level lighting, try stone-effect, polyethylene globe lights – these look like decorative balls of natural stone by day but give off a lovely glow after dark thanks to an inner LED bulb.
It is possible to create some dramatic effects by angling groundlevel spotlights upwards to cast light on trees, shrubs or plants with an architectural form, such as palms and topiary.
To ensure there is good interplay between shadows and illuminated areas, set lights about 6ft to 8ft apart in displays.
The key to using lights successfully in the garden is to take a lessis-more approach. Overdo it and your space may have the subtlety of the Blackpool Illuminations.
Fairy lights hung over a tree will add a magical touch
Suppliers: Stone Globe Lights (stoneglobelights.co.uk); Exterior Lights UK (exteriorlightsuk.co.uk); John Lewis (johnlewis.com).