3 Tips For Lighting Your Garden

Well-thought-out garden lighting can do more than brighten up your outdoor space – it can change the entire tone of your garden. From natural elements like trees and shrubs to decorative features like statues, outdoor lighting is the perfect way to highlight your garden. Our expert designers have put together their top garden lighting tips to spark your imagination and the endless possibilities.

Here are three garden lighting tips for making your outdoor landscape shine:

Tip 1: Understand Your Garden Lighting Atmosphere

The lighting in your garden can dramatically change both the look and feel of your backyard. It’s important to think about what you would most like to call attention to, as well as what you think is best left in the shadows. The first thing you want to be aware of when choosing garden lighting is understanding what you want to illuminate. A mix of background, functional, and accent lighting can strike the perfect lightscape balance. Background lighting is important for general illumination, while functional lighting serves to light up pathways and stairs. Accent lighting allows you to call attention to beautiful points in your garden. Utilizing these three foundational lighting types will ensure your garden is perfectly illuminated.

Tip 2: Learn Your Garden Lights

Once you have decided what you want to illuminate, you can decide on what type of lights will best fit your needs. Spotlights are the most common and versatile type of light and can be used in a variety of different ways. Uplights, or spotlights that cast an upward glow, can be great for illuminating a statue or casting artistic shadows. Downlights, spotlights that illuminate downward, are ideal for illuminating a contained area. For garden lighting that calls attention to your plants, spike and bollard lights are two great choices. Both of these are large enough to illuminate your plants, while being inconspicuous enough to not take the attention away from them. For garden lighting that sets a cozy or festive tone, string lights will perfectly suit your needs. Getting comfortable with different lighting types is helpful for finding a combination that perfectly fits your vision.

Tip 3: Mind Your Garden Glow

Just as there are many options for light fixtures, there are also many options for light bulbs. Some bulbs are expensive but highly energy efficient. Others are cheap but require frequent replacement or monitoring. Incandescent, or normal, bulbs are cheap and easy to install. Unfortunately, they also have a short lifespan and require frequent changing. Halogen bulbs are slightly more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs, but also produce a lot of heat. LED bulbs are a good mix of both: they’re extremely energy efficient and last a long time. However, while the price of LEDs have come down in recent years, they can still be a pricier option compared to incandescent and halogen bulbs. Learning about the perks and drawbacks of different bulbs can allow you to choose the garden lighting that’s the best fit for you.

Garden lighting may sound complex, but it doesn’t have to be! With years of experience and hundreds of gardens under our belt, we at Houston Lightscapes would be happy to help you build your dream garden lightscape. Call us at (713) 461-3600 to schedule your free consultation today!