Outdoor Lighting
Lighting outdoors can really turn the mundane into something really special. It also can enable you to make use of outdoor areas for longer. Out of all the area you are lighting this is definitely one where you can have the biggest effects.
It is also one of the hardest. Unlike inside you have to contend with different weathers and seasons. By like most areas there areas there are some good rules to follow
- Don't blind people by hiding lights from direct view
- Add to the safety of the garden by highlighting any dangers
- Look for the exciting bits of the garden, that tree, pot, fountain or wall and use light to draw focus there
- Be mindful of your neighbors and try not to let the light from your garden spill into others
Of course, since you are working in all weather you need to choose all sturdy, weatherproof and made to last.
Lighting Trees
Tree provide a great deal of textures and colors that are accentuated by lights. They can also change during the seasons making the a great focus of the season at hand,  new growth in the spring, flowers in the summer, colors of falling leaves in the autumn and bare branches of the winter. Depending on the tree and position there are a few nice ideas to try:
- Light from the base of the trunk: tungsten halogens are the best for this but they are strong so you may to hide them from direct view.
- Light from the branches: Above head hight hide the lights from direct view and shine the up each of the main branches.
- Shadows: Focus a light a distance from the tree so it's shadow is played against a near by wall.
- Leaves: Away from the trunk shine lights directly up showing the canopy of the tree. This creates a lovely almost outdoor rom feeling.
- Fairy Lights: Run them along the branches to create a lovely starry effect.
Lighting Flowerbeds and Rockeries
Because they are so low to the ground these can be a tricky. You need to stop light from shining into peoples eyes but you also don't want to night up the dirt. A lot of companies now produce little mushroom shaped lights that are perfect for this purpose.
Lighting Fountains and Pools
Water and light are the perfect partner. Narrow beams under the water or broad beams played across fountains work great. As a little hint, if you lighting somewhere you are going to be swimming, add a dimer switch.
Safety
While water and light look so good together, however water and electricity are poor companions so you need to be careful
- Only use waterproof fixtures
- Keep you main switches indoors
- Keep any fixtures and wires clean
- Perhaps use lower voltages outside
- Get a professional to do the work
- Make sure you clearly mark and keep wires out of the way (You don't want to mow them or clip them with the rest of the garden)
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