LED OUTDOOR LIGHTING BUYERS GUIDE
Get more out of your garden with brilliant exterior lighting fixtures
There are many benefits to illuminating your garden and outdoor spaces, it will add greater security to your home as well as allow you to enjoy your garden late into a summer evening.
A good lighting scheme should provide a nice amount of ambient light as well as accent various garden features such landscaping, plants and flower beds. Task lighting is also an important consideration in the practical areas of your garden such as patios, walkways and BBQs, ensuring these are well lit will make your garden safe to use all night long.
Fortunately there are plenty of exterior lighting options available on the market to help you achieve your desired effect, most of which are supplied as low voltage which makes them safer to use in the garden but will require a transformer lowering the mains voltage to 12v or 24v.
Typically you will need the following to get started
Transformer (power pack)
This will supply electricity from the mains in the house to the garden at a safe 12/24 volts, transformers often come supplied with an automatic timer allowing you assign a schedule for your lights to come on and off
Low Voltage Cable
Specific cable is required for use outside, this is self sealed and weather resistant ensuring it will be safe to use for many years. Cable is available in several gauges depending on how much length is required and the total number of watts needed to power the attached lamps.
Low Voltage Lights (lamps)
The lamps will illuminate the garden and come in variety of brightnesses from 4 watts to 50 watts. Below we'll look at the different styles available on the market.
We offer several garden lighting kits which include all of the above components needed for a working lighting scheme. If you are looking for a custom lighting scheme we recommend consulting professional to plan and install the components or for further advice feel free to get in touch here.
Outdoor Lighting Styles
There are many different styles available on the market, take a look and decide which is best for your needs.
Wall / Sconce Outdoor Lights
Wall lights are the most common form of exterior lighting, they're generally fitted against the wall of the house or the perimeter wall of the garden. They come in many shapes and sizes such as lanterns and contemporary blocks.
Spike Outdoor Lights
Illuminating outdoor walkways is relatively easy with spike lighting kits which can be simply pushed into the earth. Spike lights with adjustable heads can also be used accent garden features such as flower beds, trees and bushes.
Outdoor Path Lighting and Bollards
Path lights can be recessed into the path to provide subtle late night illumination along garden path and walkways, if more light is required then consider installing lighting bollards along the pathways.
Lamp Post Exterior Lights
Often in traditional styles these lights are fitted to a fixed floor or deck and wired directly from the mains, posts can range from 5ft - 7 ft and will provide significant light which means they are a good ambient lighting option for a patio or decking.
Outdoor Flood Lights and Security Lights
Security lights are an excellent security option and provide a real deterrent to would be burglars, the bright focused light also serves well as a great task lighting option for your patio or alley walkway. Typically installed against a wall they are wired directly to the mains.
When fitting a floodlight or security light aim to fit it at least 9 feet above the ground, this will ensure the greatest spread of light and stop burglars tampering with them, if you are considering a motion sensor then remember to install an on/off override switch so the lamp can double as task lighting during evening parties.
Step and Deck Lighting
Flush mounted step and deck lights are recessed into patios and decking providing a great subtle ambient lighting look.
Well Outdoor Lighting
Well lights are fitted from the ground and face their light upwards creating a sense of depth on their subject, they can create excellent silhouette effects and walls shadows when placed in front of objects.
For more exterior lighting inspiration take a look our led outdoor lighting range.