Garden Lighting Ideas To Upgrade Your Outdoor Space

Adding some garden lighting is an easy way to spruce up your yard. You can give your home a unique look while improving safety at the same time. Adding lights where there may be trip hazards keeps your friends and loved ones safe. There are solar LED garden lights, firefly garden lights, lanterns and string lights. There are just about as many different garden light fixtures and models as there are grains of sand in the Sahara desert!

If you have begun to look around, you might be overwhelmed by the possibilities. Don’t worry. I’m here to help. Let’s look at a few popular garden lighting ideas you may want to consider:

• some are intended to draw the eye to a plant you are particularly proud of
• others provide a background that frames or shades your flowers and shrubs

We will look at a wide range of models and features so you can choose some that are perfect for your unique situation.

Fun Garden Lighting Ideas

Garden lighting ideas for cookouts

Inviting the neighbors over for a cookout sounds like a good idea. Unfortunately, you might not really be happy with how your grill and patio are lighted. You want your outdoor entertainment area to be welcoming and warm. There’s no reason to expose your guests to tripping over something they can’t see. On the other hand, you don’t want to install brilliant floodlights that make everyone feel like they are being interrogated.

[Upgraded] AMIR Solar Powered String Lights, 100 LED Copper Wire Lights, Fairy Lights, Indoor/ Outdoor Waterproof Solar Decoration Lights for Gardens, Home, Dancing, Party, Christmas (Warm White) This is the perfect situation for string lights. They are just what they sound like, a string of lights. This is garden lighting simplicity. With a staple gun or a little string, you can install these ropes of light just about anywhere:

• • they work great lining the tops of wooden planters

 

• you can run them up the sides of trees and bushes
• wrap them around your porch

You can get really long string lights without spending much money, and that’s always nice. The bulbs are small and individually they don’t put out much light. Strung together, they illuminate well without overpowering an area.

There are plenty of other garden lighting ideas that make perfect sense for string lights. You can run them along all your walkways. This makes even the most boring and plain paths safe and elegant looking.

You can move them whenever you like, since they are not stationary. Some have black wires, some are dark green and there are other colors. This allows you to choose the right color for your particular situation. There aren’t too many outdoor garden lighting problems that string lights can’t fix.

Lanterns are versatile outdoor garden lights

Lanterns have been used to illuminate and light the way for thousands of years. As a form of garden lighting, lanterns have a lot of applications. There are models that hang, and those that are stationary and sit at the top of a tall pole. Some use candles to provide light. Many are electric. You can find lanterns that are understated and models that are visually stimulating.

Use them to add a splash of color to an otherwise dull outdoor area. Place colored lanterns near green shrubs and bushes to add light to the subject while blending in at the same time. You may choose to place a few portable lanterns in your outdoor entertainment area. You can move them as needed, and your guests can use them to light the way as they walk.

Lanterns are an outdoor gardening hit in gazebos or pergolas. You can hang them from tree limbs and just about anywhere. Large lanterns strategically placed can light up a big area. Whether you want to entertain or just enjoy your backyard yourself, lanterns are versatile garden lighting solutions.

Retro Hanging Solar Lantern with HandleWaterproof LED Decorative Solar Hanging Lantern Solar Lantern Lights for Garden Patio

Where to use a solar powered garden light

One popular garden lighting practice is to let the sun do all the work. A solar powered garden light spends its day absorbing the sun’s ultraviolet rays. The heat and light the sun generates is collected by small, photovoltaic cells. The energy is stored for later use. When a sensor notices it is beginning to get dark outside, the stored energy is released. It powers one or more light bulbs that switch on automatically.

The sun provides the power, and your light bill doesn’t go up.

There are a few places a solar powered garden light makes sense. They are often used to line walkways. The most common variety is stuck into the ground. Since there are no wires to run, you can place these lights anywhere. It doesn’t cost a lot of money to manufacture solar power garden lights. This means you can get several for very little money, and put them wherever your heart desires.

One strategy for harnessing the power of the sun to light your yard is to experiment. Place a few solar powered garden light fixtures where you think they will look good. Then wait for night to fall. Check out your handiwork. If you don’t like what you see, it is super simple to place the lights somewhere else and try again. Garden lighting  doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult to install. Solar powered garden lighting is neither of those things.

Solar Path LightsLED Color Changing Solar Stake LightsGarden Solar Lights – Moon Crackle Glass Globe Outdoor Garden Bubble Solar Lights

Choosing garden light fixtures

String lights, lanterns and solar powered lights are portable. These garden lighting ideas can be attractive financially as well.

Sometimes you might want a fixed solution. There are probably places on your property, in your garden and around your home that could benefit from a permanent light. That’s when you need to consider which garden light fixtures you are going to use.

Most fixtures are not going anywhere after you install them. They are intended to stick around for a while. You place them where you need a good amount of light. They may be mounted on tall poles or on the side of your home.

These garden light fixtures are sometimes flexible. In other words, you can change the direction in which they shine whenever you like. There are a wide variety of bulb types, features, prices and finishes to choose from. Just remember that this is garden lighting option usually has to tie into your electrical supply.

Designers Fountain 1161-BK Value Collection Wall Lanterns, BlackGlobe Electric 44165 Sebastien Outdoor Wall Sconce, Black Finish, 2-Pack,One-Light Outdoor Wall Fixture, Textured Black and Barnwood Finish with Clear Glass

Does LED garden lighting make sense?

You sometimes find LED garden lighting when you choose a solar powered product. We discussed solar LED garden lights earlier. LED stands for light emitting diode, and this is just one type of light bulb. There are different kinds of bulbs used in different garden lighting products. LED Garden lighting is attractive for a lot of reasons, so let’s take a closer look.

First off, LED bulbs use a lot less electricity than traditional light bulbs. This is nice for your wallet when it comes time to pay the light bill. Secondly, a large bank of LED lights can provide some serious illumination. You can alternately decide to use smaller models for soft lighting.

Sometimes the price of LED garden lighting seems a good bit more than other kinds of lights. What you have to remember are the long-term savings because you are using less electricity than you otherwise would. Also, LED bulbs last a long time. They will almost always outlive traditional light bulbs, in some cases for several years. This is another money-saving feature of LED garden lighting you should consider.

Low Voltage LED Deck lights kit LED Landscape Lights

Popular landscape lights

Landscape lights are popular garden lighting choices. They usually have a spike base which sticks in the ground and a light at the top of the base. They often have moving heads. This allows you to change the focus of the light from time to time. There are low-voltage and high-voltage models. Generally speaking, landscape lights are used as spotlights or to illuminate pathways.

Spotlights allow you to highlight a specific area of your garden or yard. Pathway lights are decorative safety measures. Whatever type of landscape lights you get, you’re going to have to choose between a solar powered garden light and traditional electric power. If you don’t feel like running a bunch of wires, solar powered garden lighting makes sense. However, landscape lights that are powered by your home’s electrical supply are usually better quality.

They are intended to last for years and years. Usually a lot sturdier and more well-built than less expensive, solar powered options, these are just a few garden lighting ideas that can help you beautify your home. Outdoor garden lighting also adds a level of safety and class, and you can usually do so without breaking the bank.

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