Garden lights have the power to transform your garden or patio into a friendly and inviting space where you can relax with your loved ones, enjoy drinks and food and during hot summer nights. Not only do these lights create a delightful ambience, but they also ensure safety, proper illumination, and convenience for navigating around your home. If you’re checking garden lights online, you’ll come across many different types such as LED, halogenic, solar, in-ground, or pole lights. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right model.
Different Types of Garden Lights
Enhance Your Garden with LED Lights
If you want to make your garden even more beautiful, LED garden lights are the way to go. These lights are not only energy-efficient but also add a touch of charm to your outdoor space. They are perfect for illuminating pathways and the backyard, creating a welcoming atmosphere for you and your loved ones to enjoy the night. These garden lights can work on both electric and solar energy, and they work well even with low voltage. The best part is that some LED lights come with sensors, so they automatically turn on when the sun sets. Opt for LED lights with motion sensors to light up your path as you walk by. And don’t forget, LED lights are available in various colours, allowing you to create a lovely lighting effect in your front and back yards.
Pillar Lights
If you’re searching for garden lights online, it’s impossible not to come across the famous pillar or pole lights. Pillar garden lights are a fantastic way to add some excitement to your backyard. They have a magical quality to them, reminiscent of the vintage lights that used to decorate your grandparents’ yard. You have the option of choosing simple plastic pillar lights or going for the more sophisticated lights that can be mounted on your house, gazebo, or even shed.
These lights are perfect for illuminating ground areas with high foot traffic, such as pathways, garages, and doors. By installing these lights, you’ll create a safe and well-lit environment that will make you feel comfortable walking around without any fear. Well-lit homes are less likely to be targeted by burglars. These lights are larger and provide illumination for larger areas. Some models even come with motion sensors, so they only turn on when needed.
Deck and Step Lights
Deck and step lights are perfect for gardens that have porches, patios, decks, or even built-in pools. They not only add a touch of beauty but also provide the right amount of illumination, creating a delightful ambience that is perfect for unwinding and enjoying a wonderful evening with some refreshing drinks. You can find these lights in different colours and shapes, such as square or round. They can be installed on the floor, railings, or even on the stair risers.
Sensor Lights
If you want to save on your electricity bills, go for sensor lights. They’ll only light up your front and back yard when there’s movement. Once the movement stops, the sensor will turn off the light. Some sensor kits use microwaves, infrared energy, or sound waves to detect any movement. It can be a bit challenging to figure out if someone is moving, but you can adjust the distance range and limit the field of view with sensor settings. There are plenty of motion sensors available, so make sure to choose the one that suits your needs.
What to Look for In Garden Lights
Light Brightness
When choosing garden lights, it’s important to think about how bright you want your garden to be. Take a look at the light intensity options available, as some lights offer different levels of brightness such as dim, normal, and intense lighting.
Battery Life
The battery life of the lights is another crucial factor to consider. If you opt for battery-powered or solar-powered garden lights, make sure to choose ones that have a longer battery life. This way, you can enjoy using them for a longer period of time.
Motion and Light Sensors
Having a motion sensor in your garden lights can be quite practical. It ensures that the lights only turn on when there is movement, which not only saves energy but also deters potential intruders. Additionally, consider lights with light sensors that automatically detect whether it’s dusk or dawn. This feature will save you the hassle of manually turning on the lights.
IP Rating
When you’re picking out lights for your garden, it’s important to choose ones that are made specifically for outdoor use. Garden lights have something called an “IP rating” that tells you how well they’re protected against water getting inside. For outdoor lights, you’ll want an IP rating of at least 4. If you’re not sure, it’s always a good idea to talk to an expert.
Lighting Effects
Your garden can be transformed with a variety of lighting effects that create different moods and atmospheres. Downlighting is perfect for highlighting doorways, patios, and plants, while smaller downlights can add a subtle glow to low-level hardscaping. Uplighting can create a dramatic effect by illuminating statues or trees from below. Crosslighting can make a feature the centrepiece of your garden by placing spotlights on opposite sides. Spotlighting and garden uplights can make an object stand out by positioning a directional spotlight or uplight some distance away.
Washing can create a soft glow effect over an entire wall or hedge by placing a light at its base. Shadowing can project an interesting feature onto a wall or fence by angling a spotlight at its foot.
Aussie Daily Lifestyle 
Leave a comment