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Modern garden lighting benefits from both form and function alike. It is a chance to make your outdoor living space as comfortable as it is beautiful. In this article, we’ll discuss outdoor LED lighting, as well as provide some helpful garden lighting tips.
What Is the Purpose of Landscape Spike Lighting?
Garden spot spike lights are an easy and beautiful way to enhance the safety and functionality of your garden. Made with convenience in mind, they are designed to be staked right into the ground, giving them their name, “spike” lighting.
One of the biggest perks of spike lighting is its ability to accentuate certain features of your garden. Spike lights for flower beds, shrubs, and trees are a common application of this lighting style, helping you create focal points.
Safety and navigation also come into play with spike lights. They can be used to shine light upon stairs, driveways and footpaths, making it easier to find your way around the garden. This is especially important if you entertain guests; you want them to feel comfortable and safe navigating your outdoor living space.
How to Use LED Garden Spike Lights Along a Pathway
Let’s take a closer look at how LED spike lights can be used around the garden to promote safer navigation.
Before actually installing any lights, be sure that you take a moment to plan out precisely how you want them to sit. Ensure the lights are evenly spaced, somewhere between 1.5 and 2.5 metres apart from one another. Then, angle them in such a way that it does not create glare. This combination of techniques will create even, consistent brightness without being overwhelming.
The best spike lights for gardens are ultimately subjective, and the style you choose will come down to what you personally like. That said, there are a few things to consider when shopping for your spike lights.
- LUMEN COUNT. Choose lights with the right lumen output, somewhere between 100 and 300 lumens for each light.
- COLOUR TEMPERATURE. For a cosy vibe, go for warm white light between 2700K and 3000K. For a more modern atmosphere, opt for cool white light between 4000K and 5000K.
- You will need weatherproof spike lights since they are exposed to the elements constantly. IP67 spike lights are generally recommended for their waterproof nature. However, you can get away with IP65 rated lights as well.
When you’re finally ready to install your new spike lights for pathways, take some time to mark where you intend to place them. Then, loosen the soil at every marked spot in preparation.
Once the garden lighting design has been laid out, you can insert the spikes into the ground. Reconnect the power and test them, then make adjustments as needed.
Common Mistakes When Using Spike Lighting
When illuminating garden features and paths, you want to ensure your work is efficient and does not require redos. Avoid the common issues listed below.
Incorrect Placement
By not placing the light strategically, you won’t be satisfied with the result. If they are spaced too far apart, you run the risk of uneven lighting and unwanted shadows. Conversely, placing them too close can wash out the area and make it bright and glaring. Employ even spacing between 1.5 and 2.5 metres for best results.
Putting Focus on the Wrong Spot
You may think that the more lighting you have everywhere, the better. That is not the case. Try not to over-light areas that are not essential. Avoid casting too much light on the ground as well. This will ensure the illumination is focused on architectural features, pathways, sculptures and anything else you want to draw attention to.
Mixing Colour Temperatures
Ultimately, the colour temperature you choose to go with will come down to preference and the mood you want to set. Whatever you choose, be sure to only choose warm or cool, but not both. Having two different colour temperatures may cause unsightly clashing.
Cheap Light Fixtures
As mentioned, you will need durable lights that can resist the effects of the weather. By not choosing weatherproof lights, you may notice the lights degrade quickly and need to be replaced more often. Get ahead of the issue by choosing IP65 rated lights or higher to begin with.
Tips on Mixing Spike Lights With Other Garden Lighting
Layering your landscape lights is crucial for a well-rounded outdoor space. This involves installing other lights with your landscape spike lighting to achieve a balanced look.
Use spike lights to draw attention to certain areas in the garden or to illuminate a pathway; don’t rely on them to create the ambient light. They work best as accent and task lighting. Instead, install floodlights or soffit lights to create general illumination for larger areas of space. Adding in spotlights or downlights can also help balance out the design.
You can even mix in other types of ground lights to help you light your path. Placing spike lights on the edge of the path and bollard lights toward the inside will stagger illumination beautifully and break up any visual monotony.
You can also pair decorative outdoor lighting with your spike lights. Adorn trees with fairy or string lights to create a whimsical look. All the while, your spike lights can be lighting the path beneath.
How to Use Spike Lighting in Garden Borders
When it comes to LED outdoor lighting ideas for incorporating spike lights, consider what they can do for zoning out the garden. Your spike lights can be used to define the dedicated structure of the garden, all the while accenting certain features.
One way to separate the garden from the rest of the property is to install spike lights around the edge. This way, you can define the edges of your garden with a soft, warm glow that makes the entire space feel more cosy.
Place your spike lights along the edge of the perimeter and space them out evenly. This will create an even streak of light that clearly defines the broader space. Adjustable spike lights work well here, so you can fine tune the exact line of light that your spike fixtures create.
By creating a well-defined garden area, you can make it stand out in a special way against the rest of the property. Create a more dynamic border by shining spike lights up onto trees, walls and other larger features.
Important Considerations When Installing Outdoor Spike Lights
Deciding how and where to install your energy efficient garden lighting is a crucial part of your lighting design. Consider what exactly you want to accent in the garden, and then put your light focus on that. Try to avoid putting lights right under bushes or plants so as not to obstruct the illumination.
The light angle and beam width are also critical. Both of these elements will help determine how many lights you need to fill out your garden paths and borders. Lights that have a broader beam angle will cover more ground, so you’ll typically need fewer of them than you would narrow beams. If possible, choose lights with adjustable angles so you can stay in control of exactly where the light shines.
Another thing to consider is the safety of the installation. Since you will be working with electricity, it’s important to turn the power off before you get started. Use a voltage tester to ensure the power is entirely off before you connect any wires. Conversely, hire a professional electrician to safely get the job done for you.
How to Highlight Garden Features With Spike Lighting
Highlighting garden features is as simple as deciding where you want your focus to be, and placing the lights accordingly. Position the lights around the base of any vertical features and shine the light upwards for a more dramatic effect.
For wall textures, placing a spike light close and shining the light on the wall will help the textures stand out. Use them in conjunction with wall washers to really make the garden wall shine. Similarly, you can place spike lights near the base of any water feature to create a detailed, shimmering effect on the water’s surface.
How to Light an Outdoor Entertaining Area With Spike Lights
Using garden spike lights, you can outline the different zones of the garden. One zone could be your entertainment area. Use spike lights to outline dining areas, sitting areas, outdoor cooking stations and more.
Spike lights along the paths are especially important in entertainment areas. Guests may be milling about as they mingle, or they may want to take a stroll through the garden to admire it. Spike lights on paths ensure they can do so safely.
Make the outdoor area a more pleasant place to be by using the tips above to accent different focal points. Accent lighting also works well as mood lighting, so it can help set a nice tone and atmosphere for your get-together. Choose soft, warm lighting for this effect.
Conclusion
Garden spike lights are a highly versatile way to light your outdoor space. In the article above, we’ve provided some tips and considerations to help get you started.
LED Spike Light Ideas
The LFL016 1 Watt LED 1000mm Tall Black Garden Spike Lights are a beautiful way to zone your garden’s sections and borders. These tall spike lights measure 1000 millimeters in height, making them stand out. They generate 170 lumens of 3000K warm white light each, making them bright without being glaring. It is fashioned out of aluminium and given an IP67 rating for weatherproof protection.
Uplight your favorite garden features with the ODL035 6 Watt LED Black Finish Garden Spike Light. This versatile light generates a total of 420 lumens of 3000K warm white light. It has a tiltable head so you stay in control of where exactly the light shines. This IP67 rated light is fashioned out of durable aluminium and finished in sleek anodized black. It measures 181 millimeters tall, making it easy to incorporate anywhere.
Beautiful as low level lighting, the LSP157 12 Watt LED Black Finish Garden Spike Light can enhance any outdoor living space. This light outputs 900 lumens of 3000K warm white light. Illumination angles can be adjusted by tilting the head up and down. It is built to last from durable aluminium finished in anodized black. This IP67 rated light stays protected against the effects of the elements, and it measures 150 millimeters in height.
