Lamp Posts may be used to create a special garden style

How much thought have you given to the style of your garden? It isn’t just the way you plant and combine hard and soft landscaping elements that matters. Lighting can also add its own design element, creating a special ambience at night. For this reason you need to think carefully about the types of light fittings you are going to use. The choice is varied, ranging from small units that add interesting spots of light to elegant lamp posts that will help you to create a special garden style.

It is true that lighting needs to be functional. After all we light up our gardens at night so that we can see where we are going and make sure we can spot intruders. But lighting also has an incredibly decorative effect that should never be overlooked. And landscape lighting isn’t only about being outdoors; it’s also about what the garden looks like from inside looking out. It also isn’t only about the light - because you will also see most light fittings during the day. So where do you start?

The three most important elements to consider when you chose stylish lighting for the garden or patio are:

Landscape lighting specialists identify lights largely by effect. For example they talk about shadow lights that cast a broad beam and so create a shadow; and spotlights that focus on special features or plants. They talk about backlights that we position behind trees and other objects; and moonlights that provide a dim, interesting light from high up, creating soft pools of light on the ground. These lighting types may also be described as accent lights because they may be used to create dramatic effects. In this instance it’s generally the effect of the light that is most important, rather than the lamp posts that are used. But unless you’re hiding the fitting, behind a statue or tree for example, then it would be silly not to choose a post light that is good looking as well. This is where style comes in.

When you design a garden you can, if you wish, identify a particular style, Japanese, English country or cottage, for instance. If this is the case then you need to choose a light fitting or post that will fit in with the style. Traditional lamp posts are gorgeous in many styles of garden, but if you have opted for an Eastern theme, a stone lantern will be more in keeping with the look.

Your next decision is going to be power source, specifically whether you going to link your lighting to the mains electricity supply (the grid) or whether you’re going to look at solar-powered options. Before you make final decisions, look at what’s available in your area, and be sure to weigh up the pros and cons of electric versus solar. Nowadays solar has become immensely more PC than any other form of energy. Even governments are doing all they can to persuade us to take this route. Largely this is because the fossil fuels we’ve been using for electricity have been slowly destroying the environment. But it’s also because energy from the sun is free. And you can forget about the costs of solar panels and other expensive equipment; solar lamp posts incorporate the photovoltaic cells and energy collection and storage systems needed to draw energy from the sun’s rays. It’s a one-in-all unit. More on outdoor solar lights

Furthermore, the good news is that whether you opt for unobtrusive accent lighting or bold and beautiful lamp posts, you can now get a wide range of light fittings that are solar powered. Many solar fittings may also be used to replace old electric lamps that run with outdated technology.

It’s doubtful that anyone will argue it pays to be stylishly solar. More on solar street lamp posts