Garden Lighting

Lighting also acts as a highlighting tool, drawing attention to specific features or planting in the garden and hiding things that we do not necessarily want to see. Neil explains, “When working on this type of project, we only light what we want people to see, and this makes it easy to hide unsightly objects which are seen during the day. Even the most mundane areas within a garden can be transformed after dark, and it is sometimes better to focus on these areas and light them well, rather than attempting to provide a comprehensive lighting design across a much larger garden, especially if there is a limited budget.”

Looking at products, Neil suggests, “The workhorse of any lighting design is typically the ground-based spike or fixed uplight, which should use a combination of external glare guards and internal hex louvres to reduce unwanted glare. Similarly, the same type of product, but with a different mounting option, can be used to provide downlighting, which offers a visual connection to the ground plane that links the vertical elements and helps create a stable composition.”

With no two garden spaces the same, using a combination of lighting solutions can help create the desired effect for the customer. Neil says, “We are fortunate enough to have a plethora of luminaire styles to employ in gardens, creating moods that range from party to private and personal, with step lights, bistro sets, and festoon sets, as well as decorative wall sconces and pendants, all readily available. Rechargeable table or stand-alone lamps can also be utilised primarily in areas where it is difficult to place an electrical supply. Using different combinations of these lighting types (including varying colour temperatures) will dictate the overall feel of the space.”