Make your garden glow

Amp up the wow factor in your backyard and extend your living after sunset

Lighting is something we sometimes forget about in our outdoor spaces, unless the lights sit under the roofline of the house and are already integrated with the wiring system. Sometimes covered structures have lighting included, but the rest of the garden usually gets overlooked, which means homeowners miss out on the benefits of illumination at the night.

Now, more and more people are finding that architectural and landscape lighting allows them to extend the enjoyment of their garden into the evening hours. Since I started my landscape lighting business more than 20 years ago, appreciation for what outdoor lighting can do has continued to expand. Outdoor lighting can be applied to any type of home and garden, with tremendous results.  Plus, a carefully planned system can add value to your property.

Whether you're building from scratch or you already have an established garden, it's worth giving proper consideration to lighting-you'll be surprised to see how the right solution can make a really big difference. Not just a practical step to maximise entertaining into the night, the right lighting can elevate mood and create an inviting ambience year-round the perfect upgrade to your lifestyle. Here are my tips for making your garden glow.

DO SOME PLANNING

In all things, planning should be your best friend. Start to create a lighting plan by taking into account the size of your garden and the area you want to light up, making notes about the features you'd like to highlight, as well as how you use the space and what the ideal lighting solution might be. Generally speaking, it's easier to plan an outdoor lighting concept before any construction work begins. Ideally, the lighting designer should be involved in the planning process once the initial garden layout has been drafted, but a lighting system can be retrofitted, too.

UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE