Outdoor Lighting Ideas: Stylish Ways to Light up Your Garden, Patio or Terrace After Dark
Photo credit: Pooky
Outdoor lights allow you to spend much longer enjoying your exterior spaces - whether it’s sipping cocktails on the terrace, hosting supper parties around a beautifully lit table, or simply relaxing outdoors long after the sun has gone down. Lighting is one of the key elements that can transform your terrace, garden or patio into a magical space you will want to enjoy night after night. Instead of looking out onto darkness, well-planned lighting brings your outdoor area to life, illuminating your dining table, trees, walls, pergola, or flower beds, while also highlighting structural plants or architectural features.
The world of outdoor lighting has changed dramatically. Gone are the days when gardens were awash with glaring floodlights or relying solely on the dull light of uninspiring solar lights and a single lantern at the front of your home. Many lights no longer require an electrician or electrical supply, as rechargeable LED lights and more effective solar-powered lighting have made it easier than ever for us to illuminate our outdoor spaces.
There are now so many stylish outdoor options available, from statement pendants to portable table lamps and attractive lanterns that not only light up your garden but also complete your outdoor scheme, bringing warmth, style and atmosphere to your patio or terrace. Pendant lights can now be hung almost anywhere, thanks to innovations such as Pooky’s rechargeable Genius cell, which fits inside and lights up their striking handwoven pendants pictured here. It’s one of those ideas that literally is genius.
Outdoor lights help blur the lines between indoor and outdoor living, turning your exterior space into an extension of your home. So where do you begin? In this article, I’ve pulled together my favourite outdoor lighting ideas, so you’ll have a good overview of the options available and, hopefully, be inspired to create your own atmospheric outdoor room.
Photo credit: Solar Centre
Layer your outdoor lighting
Outdoor lights can be a real focal point, like the colour-changing shape lights shown here from the Solar Centre, which make a stunning display after dark. Just like you do indoors with ceiling spots, pendants, table lamps and other light sources, the secret to outdoor lighting is diversity and to layer different lights at varying heights. Position spike lights, spotlights or decorative shapes low to the ground. Place lanterns, portable table lamps and faux candles on table-height surfaces, then add pendants or festoon lights overhead. The result is a beautifully lit outdoor space that feels more like a boutique hotel or stylish restaurant rather than a dark, empty terrace or garden.
The image above is a perfect example of layered outdoor lighting. The colour-changing shape lights in blue and lime green create an eye-catching focal point, while festoon lights suspended from a wooden structure cast a warm glow above the seating area. Completing the scheme are the up-and-down wall lights, which illuminate from both the top and bottom of the light fixture, highlighting the wall. The overall look is a well-lit, stylish terrace with the lighting not only functional but an integral part of the outdoor design.
Different types of outdoor light at a glance
Outdoor lighting is as diverse as interior lighting, with lights to suit every space, so before we look at each type in more detail, here is a handy list of the options available.
Pendant lights
Rechargeable table lamps
Ground spike/stake lights
Festoon lights
Lanterns
Outdoor floor lamps
LED candles
Decorative shaped solar lamps
Wall lights
Bring the inside out with portable table lamps
Outdoor living and dining can be every bit as stylish as indoors, and one of the easiest ways to achieve this is with a portable lamp; these are now one of my favourite styling accessories, both for indoors and out. Modern portable lamps are rechargeable by battery or USB and, as there are no cables required, they are super practical too.
These small but beautifully designed lamps from Lights & Lamps pictured here with their dark bronze bases and linen shades, bring a sense of sophistication to any outdoor tablescape. Just like these, many portable lamps are suitable for outside use in dry weather conditions.
What I particularly like about portable lamps is that you can buy them for indoors and add them to your outdoor table during a dry, warm spell; they really are a versatile investment. If you’d like a portable lamp that you can leave out all year, there are also many on the market that are weather-resistant, made of durable materials, and solar-powered.
If you would like more portable lamp ideas, head over to my feature: Portable Lamps - Stylish Cordless Designs to Light Up Your Home.
Photo credit: lights&lamps
Cast light with a standout wall fixture
On a patio or balcony wall, an outdoor wall light can be much more than a practical source of illumination. It can also be a real statement piece, like the stunning wall light featured here by Luxxu, which is more akin to wall décor or a sculpture than simply a light, adding visual interest to an otherwise plain exterior wall.
Wall lights are popular on exterior walls around patios, balconies and also close to entrances where they are both decorative and practical. You’ve already seen the popular up-and-down cylinder light in a previous image. There are many other designs to choose from: contemporary linear LED bars, bulkhead lights, modern or traditional lanterns, and specialised designs like the one shown here.
These lights come in a wide range of finishes with warm or cool white bulbs. Personally, I would always opt for the warmer-toned bulbs as they go a long way in creating a far more atmospheric and inviting outdoor space, as opposed to one that is harshly lit.
Photo credit: Luxxu
Light up your patio with decorative lanterns
Lanterns instantly create a touch of magic. Hung from trees, hooks, pergolas or positioned on a table or the ground, they add an atmospheric glow wherever you place them. There are many different designs to suit every type of outdoor space and individual style, such as column or cage models for contemporary outdoor spaces, and glass jar-style lanterns with rope handles, which are perfect for a more rustic seating area. For that exotic and globally inspired look, there are also decorative Moroccan-style lanterns.
Some lanterns are designed for candles, while others, like the show-stopping designs shown here from Rockett St George, feature a built-in rechargeable battery so they automatically light up at dusk. During daylight, these lanterns with their cut-out whimsical patterns are already statement pieces, but after dark they become quite magical, as they project a lace-like pattern across the patio, wall, fence or table.
Photo credit: Rockett St George
Choose organic shaped lights as statement pieces
I have two pebble-shaped solar floor lights styled next to a palm in a large white planter, creating a striking group of three sculptural objects. They all have the same moulded white polyethylene finish, so they work beautifully together as a display. Every evening they light up, casting a coloured glow depending on the setting I choose. Mine are positioned in the middle of the grass in the garden, but they are also ideal dotted around a swimming pool or on a terrace.
As well as pebbles and stone designs, shape lights come in round globes, cubes and cylinders, like the ones featured at the beginning of this article. The organic-shaped lamps by Ligne Roset pictured here mimic the natural form of a smooth river stone. With their sculptural design, they are perfect for contemporary homes, either indoors or outdoors, for both illumination and as a decorative standout feature.
Photo credit: Ligne Roset
Upgrade your garden design with spikes
You can take your garden design to a whole new level with a pro-look scheme, with lighting like the elegant designs pictured here from Pooky. Made with solid brass and topped with sleek glass tubes, these lights will give your garden that landscaped look. You can pop them in between flowers and grasses, in large planters, or to highlight planting alongside a pathway. These lights come in a set of three and do require mains wiring, but their stunning design and golden glow make them well worth the investment.
When you are choosing spikes, especially ones as sophisticated as these, don't hide them amongst the planting. Regardless of the model, you want the light to be visible, so I would opt for taller models that will stand proudly above your flowers, shrubs and grasses. Not only are they part of the garden design in the summer, but they still look good the rest of the year, whether they are switched on or not.
Photo credit: Pooky
Decorate your outdoor table with festoon lights
Festoon lights are a string of small, warm glowing bulbs that give you that celebratory feel. Whether you’re entertaining a few friends or having a birthday celebration, they cast an ambient glow over the whole table, like in the image here with the festoon lights from Lights4fun. Festoon lights can also be draped across the branches of a tree or fence, hung on a hook, or wound around a pergola to define a seating area.
When styling an outdoor table, layering several forms of light really makes it more special, like in the image here with candles arranged on the table and lanterns hanging from the tree, as well as the festoon lights suspended on a hook. There are even fairy lights in the basket! With these different light sources, the whole look is utterly magical.
Photo credit: Lights4funLtd
Hang a pendant light or three in a covered area
If you’re lucky enough to have an outdoor covered area, a pendant light really brings the indoors out. Pendants work particularly well over a table, defining the space and creating the feel of another room. Natural woven materials, such as rattan and rope, are perfect for outdoor spaces and look just as striking during the day as they do when lit at night. Choose a pendant light that echoes your interior style, like the rattan ones pictured here, to create a seamless and cohesive feel from indoors to out.
Don’t feel you have to stop at just one pendant. At Desert Wild in Joshua Tree, the three pendants pictured here look stylish hung together at varying heights. Although they are a collection, each shade has an irregular shape, giving the lights a more organic feel. They echo the surrounding desert and pair with the saguaro rib ceiling. If you would like to see more ideas from Desert Wild, visit my article Stunning Moroccan-Inspired Desert Home Tour Packed with Styling Ideas.
Photo credit: courtesy of Natalie Saunders at Desert Wild
Create a seating area with an outdoor floor lamp
One of the very first outdoor lights I invested in was a floor lamp, very similar to the one pictured here by Cox & Cox. The difference is this model is far more versatile. It’s lightweight, cordless and comes with a remote control so you can place the lamp wherever you like in the garden.
If your seating area doesn’t have a surface for a table lamp, a floor lamp is the ideal solution. It instantly gives the space the feel of an indoor living room. Even if you don’t have a specific area and prefer to move chairs around to catch the sun or cool off in the shade, pop one of these floor lamps next to the chairs to instantly define an area and create a designated seating spot.
Photo credit: Cox & Cox
Light up your table with candles
Candles create a beautiful atmosphere wherever you place them, even during the day before they are lit, as shown on the summer tablescape here. As dusk falls with their flickering lights, the setting transforms into something truly magical.
Candles look best when displayed at varying heights and grouped together in odd numbers, such as threes or fives. Place them on your dining table, coffee table, other surfaces or even the floor. To make your setting more interesting, you can also place them in lanterns, as shown here.
LED candles now have a realistic wax appearance and flicker just like the real thing, making them a far more practical option for indoor and outdoor use. These TruGlow candles from Lights4fun are designed for outdoor use and are waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about bringing them indoors after every gathering.
Photo credit: Lights4fun Ltd
Solar spikes for around the garden or pool
Solar spikes have been around for a long time but have come a long way in recent years. Better quality models are now brighter, warmer in tone and more reliable, lasting much longer, unlike their predecessors that failed to light up on a cloudy day. They are also one of the most affordable and flexible ways to light up your outdoor space.
Simply push them into the ground and position them in flower beds, around the base of a tree, beside a path, around a pool or in planters on your patio. As they are so easy to move, you can try them in lots of different spots. Many modern designs, like the ones pictured here from Next, offer both solar and USB charging capabilities, so they’re ideal for creating an atmosphere in gardens or on patios and will continue to work during periods of limited sunshine.
Photo credit: Next
LET’S SUM UP
I hope this article has given you plenty of outdoor lighting ideas. If you would like to read more about outdoor ideas in general head over to my Outdoor Living Space Styling Ideas for Patios, Terraces and Gardens or check out the blog posts below on more specific outdoor styling ideas.
Outdoor Rug Ideas to Transform Your Patio, Terrace or Garden
Outdoor Sofa Ideas: The Stylish Centrepiece for your Outdoor Space
Outdoor Cushion Styling Ideas to Elevate Your Patio, Terrace or Garden
I’m Sandra, and this blog is about interior styling for real homes. If you love interiors and want your home to feel stylish, pulled together, yet still personal, you’ve come to the right place. I’ll be sharing styling advice to help you edit, layer, and finish your home with confidence, alongside articles on what’s happening in the interiors world — from design events and colour stories to features on interior gurus - so you get the full picture.
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