There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to outdoor lighting. It is a very personal decision that should be driven by your space and goals. Take your time and do research. Explore social media for inspiration, read up on lighting tips or hire a professional to design a lighting plan that will make your house feel welcoming and beautiful at night.
A good way to get a handle on what light levels you need is to clearly define different outdoor “zones.” This will help you understand what kind of lighting fixtures, what type of bulbs and how much energy they will use.
For example, if you want to highlight your stairway in the back garden with lighting, then it’s important to consider the beam angle (the amount of light that a fixture throws into a given direction) so you can ensure you have enough light for safety. Wider beam angles of 90 degrees or more work best for path lighting as they give plenty of light to see, and still allow other features in the garden to be well lit at the same time.
Uplighting is a great way to create drama and atmosphere with your trees and tall structures in the garden. These lights are placed high up and aimed downward, washing the branches and ground below in light, while creating an impressive silhouette of the structure or tree. This can also be used to create a moonlighting effect, where a light is positioned halfway or three-quarters of the way up the tree pointing upward and down, washing the whole tree with light.