Organising a small garden is quite a challenge. We cannot forget about illuminating our backyards properly with the best garden lights. Without them, gardens “disappear” as soon as it gets dark. It does not mean that we have to use a massive amount of light. Nothing like that! Subtlety is the key. In this guide we will show you many ideas on how to make your garden tastefully illuminated with the best of the best garden lights. Enjoy reading!
Why is illuminating a little garden necessary?
Even a small garden can look pretty. However, we have to carefully plan each part of the garden. We have to think about which place will be our favourite one and where we are going to spend the most time. We need to determine whether we need a bench or a gazebo. Is there enough space for that?
If so, then you have to think about the best possible lighting. Each essential element of the garden needs light. Without outdoor lights, spending time in the garden after sundown would be pointless. The entrance to the garden has to be well illuminated. Even the smallest garden paths and alleys require lighting.
What’s more, thanks to lighting up some parts of plants or different garden objects, we can easily beautify the garden and create an absolutely magical and cosy atmosphere. It becomes possible to accentuate key features in our small gardens. We can illuminate walkways, seating areas and entrances easily. And, what is even more important, we make all those objects visible and we can feel safe. Using the right garden lights can make the small garden seem bigger than it actually is.
What are the best outdoor lights for a small garden?
There are many outdoor lights available on the lighting market – wall lights, solar lights, garlands, ball lights, spotlights and so on. What to pay attention to? It seems obvious that nowadays people are moving away from traditional lighting and they pick LED garden lights. It’s worth choosing the product with protection class IP44, IP54 or IP 65. Also, the ability to control lighting by your phone or tablet is a great convenience. Look for garden lights which provide such a possibility.
Wall lights
One of the most attractive ways to light up a small garden is to use LED wall lights. This is a great solution for gardens which adhere directly to the wall of the house. Wall lamps are modern and, at the same time, they look quite elegant. They will fit into the design of the house. They can shine bright (700 lm) and they allow for reducing your electricity bills. Garden wall lights come in different sizes and forms. They blend in perfectly with the house wall and they are functional.
Solar garden lights
Placing solar lighting in a small garden is a great idea. Gardens have access to sun rays during the day. Solar panels can be directly exposed to the sun and derive energy this way. They convert sunlight into an electrical current. That’s why using solar lights makes sense. This kind of environmentally friendly lighting gives light for eight hours, so it’s possible to enjoy the lighting throughout the night. Thanks to the capacious battery, the charging process takes no longer than five hours. This is a very convenient solution!
If you’re wondering which location would be the best for solar garden lights, we suggest placing them along the paths. This will allow you to walk around your small garden safely in the dark. Another idea is to put solar lights next to the garden bench, if you have any. Such a lovely combination will look magical in the dark.
Garlands with LED bulbs
This kind of outdoor lighting combines the decorative function with comfortable light. We can mix and match different garlands which can illuminate basically any space. And it all looks great! It’s worth using RGB LED garland lights to brighten up the garden and to create a unique atmosphere which is adequate to our current mood.
Fairy lights
We hope to inspire you to consider outdoor string lighting. Just imagine hanging festoon lights overhead. String lights would be the best patio lights for sure. With them, even refreshing your garden furniture would be an awesome idea.
Or maybe you would like to wrap the trees with outdoor fairy lights, not just for Christmas! It’s obvious that we associate fairy lights with winter and Christmas time, but who said that we cannot use them during summer nights?
Modern LED ball lights
An interesting idea is to use outdoor lamps in the shape of a ball, which imitate stones. Consider using them in rockeries or bushes. Instead of using one lamp in this shape, use at least three – small, medium and a big one. They are available in diameters from 20 to even 50 cm. They are offered in a great range of colours so take advantage of it. The result will be worth it!
Spotlights
Small garden will seem much bigger thanks to these brilliant outside lights – spotlights! They can make the smallest garden look huge! It’s a matter of placing them cleverly. You ought to try placing them in areas of shrubbery. They should be hidden behind branches and bushes.
Not only that, they could even be hidden behind shrubs which are against a fence. The effect will be spectacular because the light will be reflected on the flat surface. In this way, the illusion of space is created. It is a game worth playing!
Different ideas for outdoor lighting
We would like to add a few more little ideas before we finish. Let’s think about the front wall of a house. The cornice can be illuminated by spotlights. Using ceiling lamps to light up the area under the balcony and above the garage may be a good idea. Also, the back elevation of a house, and particularly the area over the terrace, can be illuminated with ceiling lamps. The icing on the cake is… a candle! You could place many candles and tealights on a garden table, if you have any, and enjoy the view!