light up your life

Illuminate the landscape and enhance the look of your outdoor living space.

Great garden design should look as spectacular after dark as it does in the full light of day. However, without adequate illumination, outdoor spaces end up being overlooked or completely ignored at night.

Incorporating light into your garden layout not only increases the time you spend outdoors – effectively maximising both living and entertaining spaces – but also adds an appealing dynamic to the property. What’s the point of putting all that effort into the garden when you can’t see it once the sun has set?

Low voltage garden lights, which are traditionally fashioned from copper, brass, bronze, stainless steel and powder-coated aluminium, have evolved from a simple backyard spotlight to a sophisticated element of landscape design. Uplights, downlights, remote control Light Emitting Diodes (LED) and flush-mounted step lights are just some of the models now available to gardeners wanting to add style and substance to their surroundings.

Not only do outdoor lights effectively enhance the landscape but also they help integrate your living, entertaining and relaxation areas. Just imagine sitting in the lounge room, or out on the back patio at night, and in the distance seeing a soft glow radiating around your rose garden. Wouldn’t that be lovely?

To get the most from your garden lighting, there are a number of factors to consider:

1. Create visual harmony by matching the overall lighting design with the theme or personality of your garden
2. Direct lights towards garden hotspots such as water features, special design elements, your favourite plants and other areas of personal interest
3. Less is more so only illuminate key features
4. Ensure there is a balance of light and shadow in the garden
5. For added safety and security place lights along pathways, driveways, decking and steps
6. Replace spotlights with more subtle forms of illumination
7. Conceal the light source where possible
8. Consult a qualified electrician if adjustments need to be made (like extra power outlets)

Ideally, it is much easier to devise a lighting plan for your garden before plants are put into place

A GLOSSARY TO GARDEN LIGHTING

• Uplights

  are positioned at the bottom of a plant and angled in the air. Great for illuminating tree trunks, stacked-stone feature walls and tall shrubs

• Downlights

  are placed at the top and angled downwards for effect. Ideal for illuminating a particular plant, paving and pathways

• Shadowing

  is when you place the light in front of the plant or object you’d like to illuminate. Looks impressive when shadow is cast on a feature wall or fence

• Silhouettes

  are achieved when you place a light behind architectural-style plants, rock features or sculptures

• Crosslights

  create a great effect when an object is illuminated simultaneously from opposite directions

ZENBU LANTERN

These lights have been designed to emit a warm gentle light. Use in entertainment areas to create ambience

MIAMI INGROUND LIGHT

These lights accentuate pathways, courtyard edges and stairways to increase security, safety and visibility at night. May be used to enhance the colours of foliage and textures of the landscape

EDO LIGHT

Ideal for illuminating low lying shrubs, these lights create a focal point in your garden and entertainment areas

NEWPORT BOLLARD

These lights have white LED’s and emit a gentle light suitable for accentuating pathways and other features in your garden for safety and security.

(By Veda Dante, www.vedadante.com)

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