Here at Moonlight Design, we like to think there is a skill to lighting design which comes from years of education and working in the field.
However, there are elements to look for when considering how to light a garden
This could be just one effect — for instance, navigational lighting to illuminate drives, paths, and steps. These are very important areas that should be lit, as safety should always come first. However, the trick is to make these areas attractive at the same time, so you get two benefits from one application.
If you have a small garden, it might be a case of focusing on one particular area (like the example below) where we cross-lit this decorative bench. In this instance, the bench was the focal point, and lighting it softly is a great way of not only enjoying the garden but also sitting out during a warm summer evening.
Budget is the most important factor. If you have a small one, then keep it simple. Be sensible, and at some stage, get a registered electrician involved. It’s against regulations for anyone who is not qualified to install electrics outside. At the very least, have an electrician install an outdoor socket. Once you have this, you can plug in party lights and use them all year round — this can be a really nice effect without breaking the bank.
By lighting the extremities of your plot (a few specimen trees or shrubs around the perimeter), it will look much longer and wider. Instead of getting a reflection of yourself at night, suddenly the garden will appear!
It may seem obvious, but we’ve seen many lighting installations where the light is incorrectly placed. This usually results in the subject being poorly illuminated and lots of glare.
Choose warm white lighting (measured in Kelvins — e.g. 2700K is considered warm white) as this is the best way to illuminate plants without making the garden look cold or harsh.
Try not to install too many lights — you don’t want Wembley or Blackpool Illuminations in your garden. Colour-changing lights also need to be considered carefully. This isn’t a lighting style that works well everywhere.
Switching is another important factor. With today’s technology and ease of installation, it’s worth considering using a remote control. You will need an electrician to install this type of switching, but once installed it has many benefits:
