A garden is a carefully curated space that looks good by day and night. Whether it’s for visual impact or to increase security, garden lights can bring the space to life after dark and make your home appear more welcoming to visitors. But choosing the right fixtures can be tricky. There are a wide variety of options available, from portable battery-powered lanterns to LED sconces designed to be installed along a fence. The best choices depend on the size of your garden, your budget, and what kind of effect you want to create. To help you navigate the options, we asked nine experts to share their favorite outdoor lighting ideas.
There are two types of garden light: path lights and spotlights. The former consists of canopied lights on one- to two-foot (30 to 60 cm) posts, softly illuminating a low garden bed or set at intervals to mark a path; they’re great for accenting a tree or highlighting a design element such as a fountain or bench. The latter consists of spotlights that throw a wider beam to highlight a particular feature, such as an ornamental plant or sculpture in the garden. The best ones will have some form of glare control to reduce light spillage and direct the beams at specific areas.
For both styles, look for lights with a warm color temperature, ideally around 2,700 Kelvin, and that are dimmable. Also consider the bulb’s color; certain hues have been shown to trigger different growth characteristics in plants, such as blue for vegetative growth and red for flowering. This is especially helpful for commercial growers who need to harvest crops on schedule, but can be used by anyone looking to encourage the blooming of a special crop.