The garden at NIGHT

If you’re in the dark about the lighting in your garden, now’s the chance to let it truly sparkle

- NICOLA STOCKEN

Garden lighting falls into two main categories —functional and decorative. Functional lighting defines different areas of the garden, creating outdoor rooms that can be used safely after dark. Wall lights generally illuminate the areas closest to the house, extending to places for dining, barbecues, fire pits or hot tubs, while recessed fixtures indicate pathways and steps. Finally, when it comes to decorative effects, there are different styles of light to highlight trees, borders, statues, ornaments, garden buildings, pergolas or water features.

STARTING POINTS

The first step in planning an outdoor lighting scheme is to thoroughly research – the process is not so different from interior lighting which becomes an integral part of the overall look. Analyse how you use the space, distinguishing between places for relaxing where ambience is paramount; thoroughfares that link different areas, meaning that safety comes first; and individual features to pluck from the obscurity of the night.

Seek out a style of light that fits best with the existing surroundings — period, contemporary, traditional or cottagey, for example — and decide on the optimum positions for each light.

Many can be fixed to walls or permanent structures, but others may be recessed into flooring. Setting recessed stainless steel lights into a deck or patio is a great way to outline the shape after dusk — soften the effect by choosing those with frosted lenses.