In the Night Garden: Ambient Lighting Options for your Patio

Posted on: 01/08/2017

The nights are drawing in! Admittedly not by much, but it won’t be long before September rolls around and you find yourself wanting to sit out on the patio after dark. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t continue to enjoy your patio once the sun’s gone down – after all, the paving stones will continue to radiate the warmth they’ve soaked up during the day. Here are some ambient lighting options you might want to consider for your patio. 


Solar Lights


A solar powered lantern amongst flowers in a garden

Solar powered lights – lights that charge a battery during the day that will power the light at night – have vastly improved from the state the technology was in a couple of decades ago. Largely thanks to the use of LEDs, which provide a lot of light for very little energy consumption. They still don’t throw out a lot of light, but they are perfect for marking garden pathways in the dark.


Up-lighting


Coloured up-lighting gives a beautifully spooky effect in a garden. Shine up-lights on trees and garden features such as stone wall or shed. Choose colours such as purple and blue that will give your garden a completely different interplay of light and shadows than the daytime – when the shadows point down and the predominant colour is green. 


Fairy Lights


Outdoor lightbulbs on a string

Not just for Christmas trees! String fairy lights along walls, fences, trellises and sheds to turn your patio into a fairy grotto at night. You can string them around entrance ways or use them to warn of low hanging branches or awnings. Make sure you buy fairy lights that are suitable for outdoor use. 


Patio Heaters


For the dedicated outdoor types – those who want to use their patio all year round – a patio heater will keep them warm and provide a soft orange glow. Modern ones tend to be intermittent to save on energy, so you’ll only get the orange glow when they the thermostat tells them to switch on again. 


Flares, Firepits and Chimeneas


A lit Chimenea

For those who prefer their garden parties to look a little more mediaeval, real flame is the best option. Garden flares that can be staked in the ground and burn citronella oil to keep the mosquitoes away are a great modern alternative to the vampire-hunting flares of old. Firepits and chimeneas can be used for light, heating and you can even cook on them! 


We can include features such as barbecues and firepits in the design of your patio. We are happy to advise on the suitability of lighting and to install appropriate outdoor lighting as part of a landscaping job. Call us on 01603 360548 to arrange a time for Richard Knight to call round to discuss your garden design ideas. Alternatively, you can email any questions to enquiries@knightslandscaping.co.uk.


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