Gardening, landscaping and making things nimble with a little love for garden decoration – these are all fun and exciting hobbies that I take seriously. Along the way, I’ve always naturally gotten into the garden lighting aspect, which can create some really amazing “visuals” if you will, in the garden. Using garden lights, one can really enhance the curb appeal of the garden, creating dramatic looking drop shadows and whatnot. It’s really cool to experiment with, and the only way to get started is to do what I did: do some research, then try it out!

Ah, but I will give you an advantage that I did not have; some tips of his, learned from experience.

One of the first things to keep in mind when starting out is that less is more. The trend for beginners is about light things. I admit, it’s easy to do, get caught up in the excitement of what garden lighting can do, next thing you know your garden is glowing. With a little testing, you will see that the ultimate less is more works for garden lighting too.

With that in mind, and following the same kind of thinking, it’s not just about what you turn on, but also what you don’t turn on. The use of garden lighting is all about the juxtaposition between what is lit and what is not. This creates a spectacular image, with lights that illuminate certain aspects of the garden and keep other parts in shadow. The parts that are not illuminated create the contrast we are looking for, and this is an important aspect to consider when setting up your garden lights.

You’ll probably find it visually preferable to hide the light source so that no one is (effortlessly) looking directly at the light, or even able to see directly where the light originates. The easiest way to hide the light is to cast it behind items that are already in your garden, like a good-sized rock or plant. If this is not possible, simply install a glare shield over the light! Don’t forget that LED lights are the modern choice for gardens these days. They have so many advantages and are perfect for garden conditions. They are small, easy to hide, emit a bright light, can be adjusted and programmed, and use much less energy.

Have fun experimenting with all the different garden lighting fixtures like frosted lenses or beam angles. These light modifiers can help create the look you are looking for as well as provide a more unique type of lighting for the garden.

Setting up your garden lighting the way you want it will take a little work, some patience, a lot of experimentation, and a positive attitude. But if you’re a gardener worth your salt, then you already have all of these qualities, in which case, I know you’ll do just fine setting up your new garden lighting!