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As the seasons change, so, too, should your seasonal outdoor lighting. Exterior LED lighting can go a long way toward transforming your outdoor space and fit the vibe of the time of year.
In this article, we will explore some cosy garden lighting ideas for winter and fall as well as answer some common questions.
Why Seasonal Lighting Matters for Your Garden
As the seasons change, the lighting needs in your garden will as well. Different natural light levels at various times of day mean you need to adjust your outdoor LED lights accordingly.
Proper garden lighting during different times of the year ensures that it is safe and easy to navigate the garden paths while also setting a nice atmospheric tone. It can be the difference between a bare and boring garden and a cosy space with ambient lighting for winter nights.
Shorter days mean you have fewer usable hours in your outdoor living space if you do not compensate with additional lighting. By adding in some exterior wall lamps and outdoor downlights, you can extend the amount of time you can comfortably spend outdoors.
What Are the Challenges with Autumn and Winter Lighting?
Outdoor lighting will always have a unique set of challenges when you compare it to interior lighting. As the colder months come on, those challenges heighten. Understanding such challenges is the first step in moving past them and creating a lovely space for chilly times of year.
Perhaps the largest challenge is the reduction in natural light. Darkness comes on sooner and sooner each week until sunset is in the late afternoon. This means you need to compensate with additional lighting, not just for kerb appeal but to make it safer to walk from your car to the front door.
In autumn and winter, there is also the challenge of fluctuating temperatures, snow and frost. To compensate for this, you need lighting fixtures that have an IP65 rating or higher. Waterproof lights help prevent the fixtures from being damaged by autumnal and winter conditions.
In fall specifically, the falling leaves and overgrown branches can pose an issue. They can obstruct lights, especially in ground lights. When winter comes, the bare trees can offset the visual balance of the garden and may need to be supplemented with other lights.
How to Create a Cosy Ambience with Autumn and Winter Lighting
When the greenery fades away, the garden becomes less lively and is better suited for atmospheric cosiness. With the right garden lighting solutions for autumn and winter, you can create a cosy retreat during colder months.
To do so, begin with warm colour temperatures. Golden colour warm white lights between 2700K and 3300K will soften hard surfaces and harsh hues. It can also flatter winter plants and create a more inviting glow.
It is also recommended that you use indirect, diffused lighting. Harsh, sharp beams can take away from the cosiness you are trying to achieve. Indirect light, on the other hand, can soften the overall look of the garden and reduce the amount of glare.
Instead of trying to light the entire garden, focus on seating areas and create little pockets of warmth. These areas will feel cosy and intentional and can create a natural draw that guests will want to sit down in.
Layer your warm lighting together for a balanced, well-lit effect. Garden bollard lights, outdoor stair step lights, wall lights and even illuminated house number fixtures all work together to create a balanced look.
Why You Should Consider Safety in the Garden When Planning the Scheme
Especially during the winter, safety becomes a bigger concern in the garden. With wet, oftentimes icy surfaces, it becomes more important than ever to be able to navigate the area. Lights strategically placed can help lessen the risks of falls and other accidents.
Outdoor spike lights and other kinds of garden path lights are ideal here. They will reveal changes in elevation and any edges to avoid to make navigation simpler. These will also make it easier to see wet conditions so you can be more careful with each step.
A well-lit garden can also help deter any intruders. Without any shadows for them to easily hide in, unwanted visitors are less likely to try and creep around. Illuminate entryways, pathways and any dark corners to deter criminal activity.
Of course, you will also need to consider electrical safety. Prepare the garden for inclement weather by choosing weatherproof outdoor lights. IP65 outdoor lights will prevent water and debris from getting into the fixture and save you plenty of time and effort on maintenance.
How to Use Lighting for Halloween and Christmas Displays
One of the most popular uses for seasonal lighting comes in the form of decorating for the holidays. Halloween and Christmas are two of the most commonly decorated holidays, with festive lights in the front yard. You can achieve quality lighting for these two occasions with some thoughtful and strategic design.
For Halloween, use shadow and light to create depth, drama and mystery. Low level spotlights across trees and fences, and dramatic uplighting along vertical surfaces, can give you the sort of spooky drama the season calls for. You can add a more theatrical touch with motion activated lighting and flicker-effect bulbs that give the appearance of candlelight.
During the Christmas season, bring warmth and sparkle to the home with string lights along hedges, fences and pergolas. Spike lights can be used to highlight winter planters and evergreen trees just as well. Draw attention to festive features like outdoor Christmas trees and wreaths using spotlights.
Why Lighting Controls Are Important
Being able to control your outdoor lights for autumn and winter is key. Having specific control over each individual fixture, or the ability to set scenes with more than one light at a time, can make all of the difference in the world.
Automated controls can also make it more convenient for you when the days get shorter. Setting them on a timer will allow them to automatically turn on when the sun goes down, and then shut off again as it rises the next day. This reduces energy waste and saves you effort as well.
Smart controls like that will let you control the lights remotely as well. Adjust brightness, colour temperature, and overall mood using an app or voice control. Such control will let you adjust the appearance of the garden lighting on a whim depending on the current conditions any given night.
Lighting controls can also give you greater peace of mind. You can use motion sensor controls that will automatically turn on in certain areas when movement is detected. Not only can this deter intruders, but it can make it safer for guests visiting the property at night.
How to Create Lighting Zones in an Autumn and Winter Outdoor Lighting Install
Lighting zones are different areas in a space that serve various purposes and are visually distinct from one another. You can create these zones by strategic placement of outside lamps around the space.
Zones can be based around the physical layout of the garden, or the functional uses of the different areas. Segmenting out the autumn and winter garden lighting into different zones can help avoid oversaturating the area with light and make it more flexible.
- SEATING AREAS. The seating area benefits from having warm, ambient lighting that is soft and diffused. Black outdoor wall lights that don’t draw attention, festoon strings that bring whimsy and low glare bollard lights are a good way to create this zone.
- NAVIGATION AND PATHWAYS. Safety is key during the longer nights of winter and autumn. Winter and autumn garden lighting should prioritise safety by having step lights and other low level illumination.
- ACCESS POINTS AND ENTRYWAYS. Outdoor porch lights, lights by gates and driveway lights all can create functional lighting zones. Choose wall lights with wide beam angles and motion sensors for these areas for best results.
- ARCHITECTURAL AND PLANT ZONES. Lighting can be used to accent areas of the building and the garden itself. Use spotlights to highlight trees and shrubs, and uplighters to accentuate pillars, columns, statues and other vertical areas.
Why Sightlines from Inside the House Are Important for Night-Time Garden Enjoyment
While outdoor lighting is good for safety and navigation during colder months, it also is there to enhance the visuals of the property. Garden lighting for autumn evenings can be enjoyed not just outdoors, but while inside as well.
Having a clear view of your garden lights for winter and autumn can enhance the overall visual experience of your home. While you can’t be outside constantly to enjoy them, you can still appreciate them from indoors as long as you have proper sightlines.
This creates a feeling of continuity as well. Sightlines help to blur the borders between your interior space and your outdoor one. This technique is especially powerful in a home with an open floor plan; the garden visually becomes an extension of the living area itself.
By lighting up the garden, you can extend the sense of space that it has to offer. Instead of a dark garden disappearing into the dark of night, it will be lit up and beautifully illuminated, creating a cosier feeling. This can contribute to the emotional impact and tone of the room itself from which it is viewed.
How to Future-Proof Your Autumn and Winter Garden Lighting Scheme
Future-proofing your lighting scheme involves creating a light design that surpasses your needs each year. To do so, you should begin with durable fixtures that are made to last. Opt for high quality materials like marine grade stainless steel or even powder coated aluminium fixtures with an IP65 rating or higher.
When choosing those fixtures, go for ones that look good all year round. This will prevent you from having to constantly get new fixtures for each and every season. You can instead just make small adjustments as the seasons change.
Having smart controls from the very beginning will make the entire lighting design better suited for the future. Fixtures that are compatible with app and voice control will help you create a solid foundation that you can build on as the years pass and more modern technology becomes available.
Of course, you should also choose energy efficient lighting. LED bulbs will outlast tens of thousands of hours of use as opposed to the 1,000 hours or so afforded by traditional bulbs. This will prevent you having to constantly buy new lights, saving you time, effort and money each year.
Conclusion
If you are wondering how to light a garden in winter, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we have explored seasonal winter and autumnal lighting, as well as why it is important. Consider the information here as you begin to plan your lighting design for the colder months.
