Garden Bollard Lights

There are many ways that you can use exterior bollard lights. Some of them include:

• Positioned around the border of a garden to light up its edges and plants

• Along either side of a driveway to help see where to park at night

• Alongside pathways

• On top of posts found at the end of a driveway

• In commercial car park areas to provide illumination without hurting anyone’s eyes at night

• In hotel entrance areas or gardens

Generally speaking, LED lights have a long life with a minimum 20,000 hour rating. This is also true of the LED bulbs that are used in exterior lighting such as bollard lights. High quality OSRAM and Cree bulbs will last even longer due to their quality, so you won’t have to constantly be replacing them as you might with a standard halogen bulb.

For example, if you have illuminated bollards operating for six hours a night, you can reasonably expect that the light will last for around a minimum of 10 years. This is due to the fact that LED lights are so energy efficient; they require much less power to run, therefore saving that power and using it more slowly over time.

Compare that to an incandescent bulb that only has a 1,000 hour rated life or a halogen bulb that is only rated for 5,000 hours. Even a CFL lamp is only rated for 15,000 hours, meaning that LEDs outlast all of the above. Turning off the lights when they’re not in use can also obviously extend the lifespan of the light even longer.

Of course, certain other factors may affect and shorten their lifespans, including:

• Hot surrounding temperatures

• Electrical stress of running a bulb on a higher current

Factors that can fight back against shortened lives include:

• Heat sinks

• Constant current chips fitted well into the light

LED bollard light fittings are as bright as any other kind of LED light. Generally speaking, one watt of LED light is the equivalent of 80-100 lumens.

• A 3 watt LED shines a light that is equivalent to a 25-30 watt halogen light bulb
• A 5 watt LED shines a light that is equivalent to a 45-50 watt halogen light bulb
• A 9 watt LED shines a light that is equivalent to a 60 watt halogen light bulb

It is important to choose a light wattage that is compatible with what you want to use it for. For instance, if you want to light a garden at night, you’d want to choose a lower wattage for a softer light. On the other hand, lights installed in a car park may necessitate brighter lights with a higher wattage to light up more of a space.

IP ratings, or ingress protection ratings, indicate the level of protection that certain lights have against damaging outside factors. This refers to debris like dust and moisture. The first digit in an IP rating refers to protection against solid objects, while the second digit refers to protection from liquids.

Because they are exposed to the elements, garden lighting needs a minimum rating of IP44. Different locations experience different types of weather, and your light’s protection should reflect that. Even so, if you can, try to find lights that are IP65/IP67 rated, as the waterproof nature will provide you with peace of mind.

• Level 1 – this level offers protection against dripping water
• Level 2 – this level offers protection against dripping water when it is tilted at 15 degrees
• Level 3 – this level offers protection against any spraying water
• Level 4 – this level offers protection against any water splashes
• Level 5 – this level offers protection against water jets
• Level 6 – this level offers protection against powerful water jets
• Level 7 – this level offers protection against immersion as deep as one meter
• Level 8 – this level offers protection against immersion at depths deeper than a meter

Bollard lights, like any other light, requires working with electricity. Because of this, it is unsafe to try and install them yourself. Enlist the help of a professional electrician to ensure proper installation and avoid any risk of bodily harm.

LED bollard lights are lights that are upright and stout, shining illumination from the tops and sides. They are used for decoration as often as they are for practical purposes, such as security. Above, we outlined the uses of bollard lights as well as how to place them outside your home or business.

Garden bollard lights offer many perks beyond simply lighting up the immediate area. There are many reasons to use outdoor bollard lights, some of which include:

• SAFETY. A well-placed bollard lamp can do wonders in making a space feel safer. Bollard lighting can provide efficient lighting for walkways to make them safer to navigate.

By clearly defining where the pathways are, you and your guests can see edges on paths. Landscape pathway illumination such as this can help prevent trips, falls and other accidents.

• SECURITY. In a similar vein, illuminated bollards may also improve the overall safety of an area. This works by increasing the visibility in an outdoor space, which will deter intruders from coming onto the property. The more shadows there are for them to hide in, the more likely they are to try and sneak up.

• EXTENDED LIVING SPACE. By incorporating garden bollard lights into your property, you can make the most of your outdoor area. With bollard lights, outdoor living spaces become usable in the evening, making them perfect for entertainment areas.

• GUIDANCE AND ZONING. Driveway bollard lights, bollard pathway lights and bollard lights near seating areas can section off the outdoor space into various zones of functionality. Clear distinctions like this allow bollard lights to also more clearly guide guests towards the entrance of a given place. Driveway bollard lights also serve this sort of purpose.

• WAYFINDING. Help guide guests around paths by using ambient lighting for pathways. These lights will help direct people on where to go to make it easier to navigate unfamiliar outdoor areas.

Car park bollard lights are also good for this purpose. They can indicate where parking areas are while also marking the paths for driving between the lanes.

• ACCESSIBILITY. Garden bollard lights can help those with mobility issues more easily navigate outdoor spaces. They can also benefit those who may have vision impairments by making the areas brighter and easier to see.

• APPEARANCE AND AESTHETICS. Decorative LED bollards can bring a sophisticated look and feel to your outdoor space. Bollard landscape lighting enhances the area by providing sleek, elegant posts of light scattered across the property.

Bollards can be used to create atmosphere, set a mood or highlight certain features outdoors. Since they come in many designs and styles, you can use them to complement the existing style of outdoor space.

• DURABILITY. Like any outdoor light fixture, LED bollard light fixtures need to be able to withstand the wear and tear of outdoor use. Using bollard light fixtures as bright and durable pathway lights will help illuminate your outdoor area without fear of damage.

• LOW MAINTENANCE. Due to their durability and long lifespan, you’ll spend far less time maintaining the lights and will replace them less frequently.

• ENERGY EFFICIENT. If you’re looking for green space lighting ideas, LED bollards are the way to go. Low power consumption bollard lights are gentler on the environment. This can help you lower your overall environmental impact. This is especially true if you choose solar garden post lights, which require no electrical energy consumption whatsoever. Using less energy also translates to lower electricity costs, which can save you a good deal of money in the long run.

• COST EFFECTIVE. If you’re looking for inexpensive LED lighting solutions for exteriors, bollard lights are the way to go. They provide plenty of illumination without using too much energy and running up your electric bill. They are also long lasting, so you won’t have to constantly spend time and money to replace them.

• BRANDING. Commercial bollard lights can contribute to the overall branding and visibility of your property. It makes for a professional and inviting area that customers and clients alike feel good about approaching.

Whether you are incorporating domestic or commercial bollard lights, you can follow some basic guidelines to make sure they fit in well.

• CONSIDER THE LAYOUT OF THE GARDEN – Identify areas of the garden that you want to illuminate, such as pathways, focal points, entryways, landscaping elements and seating areas. You can also plan the different lighting zones of the garden.

• THINK ABOUT LIGHTING OBJECTIVES – Once you know the types of areas you want to light, you can consider what purpose you want those lights to serve. This includes features like safety, atmosphere, ambience, or task lighting. Knowing this will help you choose the right kinds of bollard lights for your space, as well as their placement.

• CHOOSE THE BOLLARD LIGHT – From short bollard lights that sit low to the ground to taller ones with a greater presence, there are a variety of bollard lights to choose from. Choose one based on the style, materials, and finishes that will work best with the appearance of your outdoor space.

• THINK ABOUT LIGHTING ANGLES – Determine where you want the light to shine and where to place the bollard light in order to achieve the desired effect.

• INSTALL THE LIGHTS – Follow the guidelines from the manufacturer and install the lights accordingly. Consider that you may need to do things like burying cables, anchoring the lights and other tasks that may be better performed by a qualified electrician.

• CHOOSE THE CONTROLS – You can have your bollard lights set on a smart system to turn on and off at certain times, such as dawn and dusk. Motion and light sensors are another common way to control your outdoor lighting to make operation more convenient.

• DEFINE THE LIGHTING AREAS BEFOREHAND. During the planning process, take note of what and where exactly you want to illuminate. Think about the purpose of the lighting itself. Do you want it for aesthetic reasons, security or to create an atmosphere?

• MAKE A PLAN. Break up the lighting into layers and figure out how you want to use your bollard lights for garden. Figure out the main entrances and pathways first and foremost. Then, figure out any garden features you want to accentuate and plan your landscaping illumination around those.

• ZONE AND LAYER. Separate different areas in the garden into different zones that you can outline with small bollard lights. Zone out functional areas, focal points, pathways and seating areas. Each zone should get its own bollard style to clearly set them apart.

Then, be sure to combine your bollard post lights with other lighting sources. Spotlights, garden lights, soffit lights and other illumination sources will create a layered, well-balanced look.

• WIRING. It is recommended that you have a professional electrician come and install your outdoor path lights and other garden lighting fixtures. This will reduce the risk of electrical shock while also ensuring your lights are up to code.

• WORK WITH PLANT LIFE. When filling out your garden, choose plants that visually complement the lighting design. By choosing low-growing plants, you can prevent the foliage from obstructing your contemporary bollard lights.

You can also use bollards to uplight shrubs and trees. This will draw attention to the natural details of the garden while also creating visual interest.

• GET CREATIVE. Black bollard lights, metallic fixtures and varying heights allow you to customise the outdoor living space to your preferences. Take advantage of all of the different styles that modern bollard lights offer to really up the personality of your outdoor area.

Bollard lights make excellent choices for pathway illumination due in part to their 360-degree lighting. They can illuminate not only the path but also the areas around them for maximum illumination and visibility.

Placing bollard lights on either side of pathways will create a look of visual balance while ensuring there are no shadows cast on the paths. This will make it safer and easier for your guests to navigate the areas.

In order to make it look balanced and subtle, you can stagger or zigzag the lights instead of placing them directly across from one another. This will also create a natural sort of movement to guide your guests along the path.

When preparing to position the lights, be sure they are spaced correctly. It is generally recommended that they are placed around 1.8 to 2.4 meters apart from one another.

If you have trees along the pathway, you can create pathway bollard lights by integrating those. Shine path lights up into a tree to create an uplighting effect. This will not only cast a soft, pleasant glow around the path but will also generally enhance the look of the space.

Beyond bollard lights, you can also light up pathways using other styles of ground lights. Recessed ground lights are a common choice and are usually integrated on either side of the pathway. Walkover recessed lights can be placed on the paths themselves to create more interesting walkways through the garden.

If you have a garden wall, you’ll have many opportunities for path lighting. Placing spotlights behind trees facing the wall will make a beautiful silhouette. Similarly, you can place spotlights close to the wall to graze it, showcasing the textures of the wall itself.

In locations that get a lot of sun, solar-powered lights can be a nice addition. These require no wiring and use no electricity, making them simple to use, convenient to place and good for the environment.

Commercial outdoor illumination benefits greatly from the inclusion of bollard lights. From the entryway to the car park, these post lights add to the functionality and aesthetics of the space.

Unlike domestic lighting, there will be some unique factors to consider when using bollards in commercial lighting. Keep in mind design elements such as visibility, safety, branding and aesthetics to create a welcoming area in front of the business.

To promote branding, be sure you choose lights that work well with the existing design styles of the building. Opt for bollard lights that work well with the personality of the brand, such as contemporary or minimalist.

These general guidelines considered, commercial lighting may look different depending on the location in which they are placed.

Car Park Lighting

Car park lighting benefits most from uniform illumination to ensure clear visibility. Keep bollard lights installed at regular intervals to ensure balanced lighting without any dark spots or shadows. You can avoid glare in car parks with a lot of light by using bollards with downward-facing illumination.

Placing bollard lights near the entryway and exits can not only make it easier to find the way in and out. It could also enhance the security of the car park. Deter intruders from trying to break into cars by ensuring the entire car park is well-lit.

Similarly, placing bollard lights along the driving lanes and pedestrian pathways will make it easier to see where one should be driving. Lighting at intersections in the car park may also prevent accidents.

Hotel Lighting

Hotel lighting plays a huge role in the guest experience. With nice outdoor lighting, you can give a great first impression.

Light the pathways and entrance to the hotel to guide guests toward the door. Doing so can instantly make your property more welcoming. Similarly, make guests feel welcomed and relaxed by adding bollard lights around outdoor dining and lounge areas.

If you have any unique landscaping or architecture on the property, bollard lights can show them off. Place them along garden beds, hotel courtyards and under trees to create areas of visual interest.

Shopping Centre Lighting

Shopping centres are busy places and need to be well-lit. Bollards are there to help. Illuminate pathways such as sidewalks to help customers navigate to the entrances at night. Lighting up the storefront this way may also make customers feel safer, especially if your store is in a darker or less frequently travelled location.

Accentuate the storefront and show off some personality when you include bollards in unique formations and designs. This makes your property more visually appealing and may attract more potential customers towards it.

Parks and Gardens 

Gardens and parks are a canvas for beautiful lighting. Add bollard lights to the greenery to accent the trees and shrubs in the area to show off the natural appeal of the space. If there are any fountains or sculptures, bollard lights can also show them off.

Of course, you can make the parks easier to stroll in the evenings by lining the pathways with bollard lights. Soft, warm lighting here will provide enough illumination to see without detracting from the overall outdoorsy feel.

If there are recreation areas in the park, place some bollard lights near them. Playgrounds, picnic areas, benches and other such features could always use a little extra lighting.

To ensure your outdoor bollard lights are working properly, it is important that you take the time to maintain them.

Routine Cleaning

You should regularly wipe down the fixtures to remove any dust or debris from their surfaces. Do so by using a dry, soft cloth or a can of compressed air. If you notice any stubborn stains or caked-on debris, using mild soap and a non-abrasive sponge may be more effective.

Look for Damage

When you’re doing your cleaning, stop and look for any discoloration, cracks or other visible damage. Seek out signs of wear and tear, and remedy any issues you may see.

Now is also a good time to check that the lights are working as intended. Keep an eye out for flickering or dim lights.

Fixing Common Problems

Dim or flickering lights could be caused by faulty connections or wiring. It could also be an issue with the bulbs. Look for the source and take care of it right away by replacing the broken elements and getting an electrician out to look at the bulbs if in doubt.

Keep an eye out for water in the fixture in the form of condensation. To take extra measures to prevent this, seal up any gaps using waterproofing materials.

Prevent corrosion altogether by choosing lights with rust-resistant materials and further protect them with anti-corrosive sprays. This is especially important in humid or salty coastal environments.

Long-Term Maintenance 

On occasion, you’ll want to lubricate the moving parts like joints or hinges. This will prevent stiffness which could ultimately lead to cracks. Lubricate fixtures using silicone-based formulas for best results.

If the painted surfaces are beginning to fade, give them a fresh coat. Outdoor-rated paints will last longer, so you should only have to do this every so often.

Seasonal Care

In the wintertime, you can protect lights from frost by using anti-frosting agents. You should also be sure the lights have proper drainage so that no melting snow or ice causes damage.

In the summer, try to protect the lights from glaring intense sunlight. This will prevent overheating. Similarly, ensure the lights have proper ventilation to evenly disperse the heat.