Garden Lights Guide

When I decided to put some lights in our garden to provide a beautiful, ambient effect at night, I was surprised with the number of selections and varieties available.  I wanted a specific look, but when I saw the samples of garden lights available, I got a little confused.  It was a good thing that the sales clerk assisting me was really helpful in explaining the different types of garden lighting that I had to choose from!  If you're looking for a unique way to spruce up your outdoor spaces with stylish garden lights, read on to learn more about the choices and how they can give a unique and lovely look to your garden!

Deck lights are the type of garden lighting that are used to illuminate or create a pattern.  They have different models as well, from standing to mounted lights.  Deck lights are normally low powered; they can be placed near steps or placed in small trees – depending on the need as well as the effect that you want.

Linear lighting would be an effect wherein the garden lights are placed to outline a shape or a structure.  This is popular during Christmas when lights are placed around a Christmas tree or just about any plant available in the garden.  The type of garden light used for this specific purpose will come in different sizes - from the smallest type that can be strung up with potted plants, to medium and bigger sizes that we normally see in huge Christmas trees (think Rockefeller Center)!

With colored garden lighting, it is actually the shade that is colored, and not the lighting itself.  The shade would change the color of the original light bulb, and would give out the shade of that particular color.  These types of garden lights are used to provide soft, ambient lighting.  I have an area in my garden where we just use a regular fluorescent light and a blue shade to cover it, and it looks really eye catching!

Bollard lights are a type of garden lighting popularly known as "lights in a stick".  These are standing garden lights and can also be considered as a type of deck light.  They are normally placed near pathways and steps.

If I decide to put a small pond in my garden, I would definitely get underwater lighting.  These are specially designed lights that can be placed in ponds to give our that zen effect – normally seen in koi ponds and even in swimming pools.

Tree spotlights are garden lights placed on trees to help light the higher places on your lawn and in your garden.  This can be found near terraces, or sometimes in the terrace to illuminate tress – they can be used both ways!  These types of lights are normally mounted on walls or directly in the trees for a dazzling effect.

Hanging lights would be popular near the porch or even as a porch light itself.  As the name would have it, these lights are designed to be hung in specific areas in the garden.  They have both decorative and practical purposes. 

Solar garden lighting got my attention as they are is designed to absorb solar power in the morning and then in turn use that power at night to illuminate your garden.  They do not have any wiring, and the solar panels are hidden discreetly so your garden would still look like a oasis and not a solar research facility!

In shopping for garden lights, it is important to be well informed.  You can seek help from landscape artists, if you know any - or easier still – there's always the world wide web.  Happy shopping!