Good garden lighting turns a patio into a space you use every evening, not just on sunny afternoons. It also makes paths and steps safer and gives the house a finished look from inside. Here are some of our recent garden lighting installations, along with what goes into doing the electrics properly.
LED strip lighting under walls and steps
Hidden LED strip, tucked under the coping of a wall, a bench or a step, gives a soft glow that washes down onto the paving. On the curved patio wall above, it picks out the texture of the stone and doubles as low-level safety lighting.
The keys to strip lighting that lasts outdoors:
- a fully weatherproof (IP-rated) strip in an aluminium channel or under a protective lip
- a properly housed driver, kept dry and accessible for maintenance
- a warm white colour, usually around 2700K to 3000K, so it feels inviting rather than clinical
Colour-changing and feature lighting
Colour-changing (RGB) uplighters can wash a fence, a slatted screen or planting in a colour of your choice, and change it for parties or seasons. In the photo above, green uplighting on the trellis and planting contrasts with warm white on the patio, all controlled from a phone.
Uplighting trees and planting
Small spike lights at the base of trees and shrubs throw light up through the branches, creating depth after dark. Lighting the far edges of a garden makes it feel bigger and draws the eye away from the house.
Spike lights are usually low voltage, run from a transformer, so the cables in the borders carry a safe, low voltage. They’re also easy to move as planting grows.
Pergolas, heaters and seating areas
A covered seating area works best with layered lighting: soft feature lighting at eye level, and enough light to see the table. In this pergola, we wired:
- lights in the living wall behind the sofa
- wall-mounted infrared heaters on the pergola frame, so the space is usable on cooler evenings
- switching and controls placed where you need them, not back in the house
Infrared heaters are a significant electrical load. They need a suitable dedicated circuit and weatherproof controls, so plan them in from the start.
Outdoor kitchens
Outdoor kitchens need more than lighting. This one needed power for a drinks fridge, plus weatherproof sockets and festoon lighting along the fence. For outdoor kitchens we plan:
- dedicated, RCD-protected circuits for fridges, appliances and sockets
- weatherproof outdoor sockets with covers, positioned away from where water collects
- task lighting over the cooking and prep areas, not just ambient lighting
Doing the electrics safely
Garden electrics face rain, frost, soil, roots, spades and lawnmowers, so they need to be installed to a higher standard than indoor wiring:
- RCD protection on every outdoor circuit
- suitable cable, such as armoured (SWA) cable for mains circuits run underground, laid at the right depth and route
- IP-rated fittings and junction boxes suited to their position. Our outdoor lighting guide explains IP ratings.
- a clear layout recorded for you, so you know where cables run before you dig
- certification for the new circuits, with notification to Building Control where required
Plan lighting before the landscaping
The best time to install garden lighting is before the patio is laid and the planting goes in. Ducting and cables can then be run under paving and through beds, with no trenches through a finished garden later. If you’re working with a landscaper, bring us in at the design stage.
Get a quote
We design and install garden lighting, outdoor power, heaters and outdoor kitchen electrics across London and Essex. Send us a few photos of your garden and the look you’re after, and we’ll suggest options. Call 020 8227 0035 or request a quote. See our electrical services and smart home lighting.
We cover London and Essex, with our own engineers working every day across Chigwell, Loughton, Buckhurst Hill, Woodford, Ilford, Romford, Brentwood and Epping.