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How to light your garden

Inspiring ideas for illuminating your garden without upsetting the neighbours or the wildlife

Many of us like to use our gardens for as much of the day as possible, including into the twilight hours. Adding lights can be a fun and creative way to extend your garden day, and add something a little bit special, but it should be done sensitively, to allow the wildlife you share your garden with their right to a peaceful existence. 



When it comes to lighting your garden, there is need for caution. Not only should you consider your neighbours, who don’t want to be kept awake at night by spotlights blazing through their windows, but also consider your friendly neighbourhood wildlife. You may never see them, but they are there, trying to go about their nocturnal activities safely and easily.

Important advice on garden lighting

  • The best advice is to not light your garden at all, to minimise disruption to wildlife who depend on darkness 
  • If you need to light your garden for safety reasons, concentrate on steps and pathways 
  • Keep it low, directing light across steps and paths, not up into the wildlife-filled sky 
  • Use warm tones of lighting – red is best but maybe a little harsh, so choose oranges and warm yellows, which are better for wildlife at night 
  • Avoid lighting ponds, as they can attract flying creatures and cause death 

Inspiring ideas for lighting 

More of us use our gardens in the evenings than ever before, with outdoor living providing a relaxing antidote to a busy day. Products for outdoor seating, dining, lounging, and entertaining are everywhere, with every style and taste catered for. This is also true for lighting, with outdoor lighting now a huge market to be explored.

Safety at night

One of the main reasons for including lighting in your garden should be for safety. Paths, steps, and obstacles should be carefully lit to avoid accidents. It’s best to do this with soft warm light that spills across the surface. 

Use warm lighting to spill across steps and create safe pathways
Plants that shine

Think about which plants will look most interesting when they are backlit. Plants with textural surfaces or have movement, such as grasses, bring an extra dimension to the garden at night. Try to hide the source of the light.

Lighting plants such as grasses brings a new dimension to the garden
Similarly, trees with interesting peeling bark, such as birch and cherry, seem to come alive when they are backlit, and the layers appear to glow. Try and keep uplighting trees to a minimum or at low level, to avoid disturbing night-flying wildlife. This also reduces the risk of light shining through your neighbour’s windows. 

Use lighting at low level and backlight plants to create interest, without disturbing the neighbours

Light up the shade

By day, some areas of your garden may be in shade but at night you can transform them into something magical using low lights, turning plant shapes into sculptural artworks. 

Light up shady areas of your garden at night for a complete tranformation
Alternatively, take artwork itself to a whole new level using downlighters to show off favourite art pieces, seen here on one of the Container gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024.

Shine a spotlight on your favourite pieces of artwork

Balcony chic

Elevate the style of your balcony or courtyard with a funky light, such as this glass ball seen on one of the Balcony gardens at RHS Chelsea in 2024. Remember to turn lights off at night to prevent deaths of nocturnal wildlife. 

Up the street cred of your balcony with creative lights, just remember to turn them off, when you turn in

Houseplant haven

Don’t forget houseplants, lighting these can also make wonderful nighttime spaces. Play with the positioning to create interesting shadows. You can go to town on the lighting here as it won’t disturb either the wildlife or your neighbours! 

Create your own nighttime jungle using lighting amongst houseplants

Lanterns ahoy

Use stylish lanterns with tealights inside, such a simple but beautiful vision that you can make yourself or create from charity shop treasure. 

Any container can become a lantern and the simplicity of this look is just perfect

Keep it simple

Often the simplest ideas are the best, and the cheapest. Nothing says romance like candles, and you don’t need posh holders, just use recycled empty bottles. Take care to place them on a stable surface where they won’t risk falling and causing a fire. 

Nothing says romance like simple candles
Lighting installation 

If you are using off-the-shelf lighting such as festoon lights, you will need to plug them into a safe electrical system with a circuit breaker. This cuts power if there is damage to the wiring. Check with your local electrican about what you need for your home. Solar powered lighting is ideal as you simply position the lights where they can charge in daylight and usally there is a stake to push into the ground.

If you are having something more elaborate in your garden, such as taking power to a garden office, it is worth taking advice from a lighting specialist or a garden designer. 

About the author - Natalie Ashbee

Natalie grew up on an arable farm in North Cornwall. She was a primary school teacher, then started a gardening business, moving into garden and planting design. She spent several years in Bristol, where she was a horticulturist for garden TV programmes. She now lives and gardens in West Cornwall.

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