The summer changes things completely and means that when the sun goes in, you still don’t want to go inside. So, with the correct sort of lighting, you can ensure that you enjoy your outdoors to their fullest, whether it’s dark, bright or otherwise.
Fortunately, nowadays there are all sorts of wonderful lights on offer and everything from flood lights, to tikki torches can be used to add not only light, but also character and atmosphere to your garden area. So, we’ve got some great tips for your outdoor lighting.
Choosing
The exterior lighting approach should be something similar to that of the outdoor lighting approach. Different areas and different moods require different sorts of lighting. If you want an ambient or task form of lighting - then you will need to use different sorts of lights to create either. Light is both practical and also offers aesthetic and decorative value and so the lights you choose need to reflect this.
Entertainment
Decorative lighting can work wonders for an outdoor area as it can be encased within all sorts of interesting shapes, sizes and areas. From stepping stones, to underneath trees, to along patio umbrellas creating a glow for decorative purposes is quite easy and allows you to transform an open space into a wonderful area for entertaining guests.
Down Lighting
Down lighting creates that soft lighting and illumination that can really soften an area. A lot of people like to place a down light up in a tree by using some sort of low level access. This sort of lighting brightens up the paths, yet casts moon like shadows across an area. Ideally, we’d suggest position lights pointing down the base of the tree from high up for this effect to be created.
Up lighting
This is of course, the exact opposite of down lighting and is similar to accent lighting inside the house. This sort of lighting illuminates the object and provides a form of emphasis on the tree trunk and the leaves above. It’s also ideal behind plants or on landscape art and creates wonderful shadows and silhouettes, or illuminates fences or walls too. It looks fantastic with ivy and other plants that grow on structures and can really add to the garden.
Area Lights
This is very similar to ambient light indoors and this sort of floodlight washes across big spaces in a large glow. It’s wonderful on wide areas such as hedges and patios, or lawns and looks great on approach to an area.
If you want to specify an area, then position down lights along the outside of the area or walk on alternating sides. This will ensure that the area is well light out and that people can see where they are going at all times.
Light brings a lot to a garden or an outdoor area and creates something from what otherwise would not be seen. It’s the perfect addition to a summer outdoor area and encourages you to sit outside long into those warm evenings.
Mark Jakobs is a home interior designer and also has an eye for outdoor lighting too. He is a long time lover of the great outdoors.
