How we planned the lighting in our garden
We wanted to enjoy the garden after dark too: to see some of the plants, light the fence and bring out the trees. We have chosen lots of smaller lights and tried to keep the same warm colour temperature throughout the garden.
Lots of small lights
Our main aim has been to keep the lighting soft and unobtrusive. We want to see the garden without having lights shining straight into our eyes.
Most of our lights are fairly inexpensive, but we have chosen fittings that are not made of plastic. We have also tried to match their colour temperature. It is easy to fall for an individual light, but it needs to work with the rest as well.
If you are planning something similar, a good starting point is to think about what actually needs lighting. Where do you walk? What would you like to see from the house? Is there a plant or tree you particularly love? That makes it easier to choose where the lights should go.
Look from the places you spend time
A light can work well from one direction and shine straight at you from another. It is worth checking the lighting from the path, from a chair on the patio and from inside the house.
Before buying more lights, you may only need to change the direction or position of those you already have, where the fitting and installation allow it. Take one part of the garden at a time and see how it feels in the evening.
Along paths and steps, the lighting also needs to help us see the ground. The Swedish Energy Agency emphasises the importance of positioning lights so that we can see where we are walking.
We would like to do more with the trees
Lighting the trees creates a different atmosphere from lights closer to the ground. It adds drama, and it is something we would like to develop further.
That does not mean every tree needs a light. One carefully chosen tree can make a big difference. Try different angles to see which part you want to bring out, and check that the light does not continue straight towards a window or a neighbour.
Keep the controls simple
We control the lighting with an astronomical timer through Plejd. It works well for us, and we can also programme the lights to switch off during the night. That is something we may do later.
When planning the lighting, think about timing too. Which lights are needed if someone comes home late? Which would you mainly like on while sitting outside or looking at the garden from the house? Include this when planning the installation and controls.
What can you do yourself in Sweden?
We can plan the lighting ourselves, but in Sweden fixed electrical installations must be left to a registered electrical installation company. This includes installing a new outdoor socket. The Swedish Electrical Safety Authority explains that, with few exceptions, fixed outdoor lighting installations require such a company.
Ready-made products that plug into an existing suitable socket are a different matter. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and check that the whole product, including accessories, is suitable for its outdoor location. Check that cables and plugs are undamaged too. The Swedish Electrical Safety Authority recommends a residual current device (RCD) for outdoor lighting.
There are still things we would like to develop, especially around the trees. But we want to keep the same basic idea: a warm colour temperature, plenty of gentle points of light and as little direct glare as possible.
