Light up your outdoor space with garden lighting

Written by: Jon Duffy

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Time to read 4 min

Want to make the most of your outdoor space? From perfect patios to glorious gardens, outdoor lighting can help to create a stunning and attractive area for you to enjoy all year round.


Here at Maplin, we’ve put together some ideas to help you get started with garden lighting.

 

Light up your garden

What are the benefits of garden lighting?

Highlight key features

Whether it’s a tree, a wall or a water feature, outdoor lighting can help to highlight your favourite aspects. 


Garden lighting serves as a spotlight for the natural beauty and architectural features within your outdoor space. By strategically illuminating trees, shrubs, sculptures, pathways, and water features, you can accentuate their textures, shapes, and colours, creating captivating focal points that draw the eye and add depth to the landscape. Whether it's a majestic oak tree casting intricate shadows or a serene fountain shimmering in the moonlight, garden lighting celebrates the unique elements that make your outdoor space special.


Choose from our range of wall and ground lights to find the ideal angle to draw everybody’s attention.

Create an atmosphere

Outdoor lighting can also be used to create the perfect atmosphere for your outdoor space. From inviting guests to an evening party to relaxing at home after a long day, finding the right tone and colour can bring your garden to life. You can even enjoy the lights from inside the warmth of your home during the colder months!


Garden lighting has the power to evoke mood, ambiance, and emotion, turning an ordinary garden into an enchanting oasis. Whether you're hosting a soirée under the stars or simply enjoying a quiet evening stroll, the right lighting can set the perfect tone for any occasion. From soft, warm glows to dramatic, accentuated highlights, garden lighting allows you to sculpt and shape the ambiance of your outdoor space, creating a magical atmosphere that beckons you to linger longer.

Safety first

If you’re looking to improve the safety and security of your home, outdoor lighting can be an excellent first step. From highlighting trip hazards to warding off unwanted visitors, the right choice of lighting can have a huge impact on your home.


Well-lit pathways, stairs, and entryways reduce the risk of trips, falls, and accidents, providing peace of mind for residents and guests alike. Additionally, strategically placed lights can deter intruders and enhance visibility around the perimeter of your property, enhancing overall security and surveillance.

Finding the perfect angle

When planning where to use lights in your garden, remember to consider angles. Light also creates shadows, so get creative to find your ideal lighting style. Also, unless you’re using lighting purely for security, try to avoid too much glare!


With the right lighting scheme, your garden can become an extension of your indoor living space, blurring the boundaries between inside and out. Outdoor seating areas, patios and decks can be transformed into inviting havens for relaxation, entertaining, and socializing well into the evening hours. Layered lighting techniques, such as overhead fixtures, wall sconces, and pathway lights, create a cohesive and inviting ambiance that encourages outdoor living year-round.

Powering your lighting

It’s important to think about how you’re going to power your outdoor lights. If they’re solar powered, there’s no need to worry about running cables from a power source or recharging batteries (though you are somewhat at the mercy of the British weather!)


If the light is mains powered, make sure you plan carefully how you are going to provide energy.


When selecting lighting fixtures for your garden, consider factors such as durability, weather resistance, energy efficiency, and aesthetics. LED lights are a popular choice for outdoor lighting due to their energy efficiency, longevity, and versatility. Solar-powered lights offer a sustainable and eco-friendly lighting solution, harnessing the power of the sun to illuminate your garden without the need for electricity or wiring. Path lights, spotlights, floodlights, string lights, and lanterns are just a few options to consider, each offering unique effects and applications to suit your garden's style and needs.

In summary

Garden lighting is more than just illuminating outdoor spaces; it's about creating enchanting experiences, fostering connections with nature, and enhancing the beauty and functionality of your garden. Whether you're looking to create a cozy retreat for intimate gatherings, showcase your garden's natural splendour, or improve safety and security, the art of garden lighting offers endless possibilities for creativity and expression. So, let your garden shine bright and bask in the enchanting glow of outdoor illumination.


Ready to start filling your garden with light? Be sure to check out our Outdoor Lighting range to find everything you need to achieve your dream outdoor space. 


Alternatively, you can explore our full Lighting range to fill your entire home with light! We also have a range of smart LED Bulbs to suit every room.

Highlighting Features: Outdoor lighting accentuates trees, walls, water features, and architectural elements, adding depth and drawing attention to favourite aspects of the outdoor space.

Atmosphere Creation: Lighting sets the mood, from hosting evening parties to quiet relaxation, with options to adjust tone and colour for a lively or tranquil ambiance.

Safety and Security: Well-lit pathways and strategic lighting placements enhance safety, reducing trip hazards and deterring intruders, while also providing added visibility around the property.

Artistic Angles: Careful planning of lighting angles avoids glare and creates desired effects, transforming outdoor spaces into inviting areas for relaxation and entertainment.

Power Consideration: Choose between solar-powered or mains-powered lights, considering factors like durability, weather resistance, energy efficiency, and aesthetics

About the author

Jon Duffy is a Digital Merchandiser at Maplin.

An avid gamer from a young age, Jon has dabbled in gaming journalism and dedicates much of his spare time to this hobby. He also has an interest in music, playing bass guitar in a rock covers band.

Having previously worked as a copywriter with another electronics retailer, he was eager to join Maplin with their new online venture. In addition to writing blogs, Jon also works on many of the website's landing pages and adding new tech to the range.