Light Your Garden This Autumn: Solar and Decorative Lighting Ideas

Adding lighting to your garden transforms it, allowing you to enjoy it at any time of year. Whether you are relaxing under a canopy in autumn rain, sitting outside on a late summer evening, or admiring the view from indoors during winter, well-placed lighting can make all the difference.

Solar lights: simple and flexible

Solar lights are an easy and effective way to illuminate your garden. They use the sun’s energy to charge a battery that powers LEDs at night. No electrician is required, and you can move them around to experiment with different effects. With solar lighting, you can create a personalised design that brings your garden to life.

Planning your garden lighting

Before installing lights, take a walk around your garden and view it from inside your home. Decide which areas you want to highlight, perhaps a seating area, a pathway, a tree or a decorative feature. Also think about what you’d like to keep in shadow; careful use of darkness can hide less attractive spots like compost bins or recycling areas.

Types of solar lighting

Using a combination of lights can create depth and atmosphere:

• Path lights: Direct light downwards to illuminate walkways, patios or garden edges.

• Spotlights: Produce a focused beam to highlight statues, trees or pots. Adjustable spotlights allow you to get the angle just right. They usually consume more power than other lights.

• Accent lights: Cast a gentle glow over a wider area, ideal for seating spaces. They use less energy and can remain on longer than spotlights.

• Fairy lights: String lights can be draped along fences, pergolas or branches to add sparkle and a festive touch.

Tips for garden lighting

• Gradually guide the eye to a focal point by using accent lights leading up to it, rather than shining a single light directly on a tree or statue.

• Position spotlights on either side of a feature to make it stand out.

• Use shadows creatively: an angled light at the base of a tree or sculpture can project striking patterns on nearby walls.

• Highlight the natural form of a tree by wrapping fairy lights around its branches, turning it into a living sculpture.

Our centre offers a wide range of garden lighting options, from solar and LED lights to decorative strings, so come in and find inspiration for your own autumn lighting scheme.