Summer is coming and so are the evenings outdoors, barbecues, chats under the moon. To enjoy all of this, however, you need adequate lighting. You need powerful, practical garden lights that respect the style of your home, perhaps at a good price. All this without forgetting safety, with products that are therefore designed to be outdoors. It is possible
Let’s find out together how to illuminate the garden at a low cost and in a safe way . With a little imagination, you can find many design solutions that are also economical. An apparently impossible mission, which instead is really within everyone’s reach. What characteristics should the garden lights
Leoutdoor lights change according to the environment to be illuminated: facade, entrance door, driveway. In this case we focus on garden lights, therefore designed for outdoor environments with plants and animals. To work for a long time and not to cause unpleasant accidents, they must have the following characteristics .
- Waterproofing of the casing, which must withstand rain and morning humidity.
- Resistance to atmospheric agents and thermal shocks.
- Adequate protection against impact and dust.
- Energy efficiency .
For example, the lamp you keep in the living room does not have a casing that protects the components against the penetration of liquids. Placed in the rain, it risks at least getting damaged and causing a short circuit. Trivial as it may sound, keep this in mind when using DIY to light up the garden.
Energy efficiency is not strictly necessary, but it is a must in certain cases. For example, if you want to keep the driveway lit up all night, you should use lamps that consume little . Otherwise, you risk that lighting the garden will cost you very dearly. Lamps for modern garden lighting
If you are looking for how to illuminate the garden on a budget, remember first of all that there is no need to light everything up. Modern lighting pays close attention to waste and also to environmental well-being. Too much light risks disturbing chlorophyll photosynthesis and creates the so-called “light pollution”. It is therefore preferable to use solutions aimed at the effect you want to achieve.
You have these main types of garden lights available .
- Garden lampposts . They project a 180 ° or 360 ° cone of light, depending on the shape they have. The size of the illuminated area varies according to the power of the lamp and its height. They are the most classic solution to illuminate paths and benches.
- Garden spotlights . Recessed ones are a type of modern and discreet, albeit subtle, garden lighting . They allow you to illuminate steps or uneven areas as well, but you have to be careful where you put them. If there are children and very lively animals, you risk that they will take too hard a blow and break.
- Garden ceiling lights . They must be installed on the facade or on the ceiling of the terrace. While they are comfortable, they are limiting when looking for garden lights suitable for a large room.
DIY ideas for lighting the garden
In some cases, you can do it yourself . If you’re planning a barbecue party or party , fixed lighting may not be enough. On the other hand, having new lamps installed for the occasion may be too much: it is better to think of some low cost alternatives.
Before imitating the designer garden lighting seen in the newspapers, check that:
- the bulbs are certified to be outdoors ;
- any candles are on a stable surface , well away from dry grass and flammable materials. If you don’t trust them, replace them with small battery-operated LED lamps.
Once this is done, you can get to work on these ideas. Hula-hop chandelier
For these garden lights you will need:
- 1 hula-hop;
- 1 string of outdoor LED lights ;
- white ribbon or the color of your choice.
Cover the entire perimeter of the hula-hop with tape and secure it with a knot or a little glue. Tie three strings of ribbon of the same length to form a triangle and tie them together at the top. Roll up the string of lights on the hula-hop and hang the whole thing by the strings of ribbon. You can place it under a gazebo or a tree . Flaming bottles of wine (or beer)
If you plan to have children, it’s best to avoid this DIY technique to light up the garden . Otherwise, gather your friends and empty a few bottles of beer or wine in company. Then get:
- 2 cm of Teflon;
- 1cm x 1.2cm copper joint;
- wick for candles about 2 cm;
- torch oil, possibly with lemongrass.
Wrap the copper joint with Teflon, then insert the wick into the joint. Thanks to Teflon, it will stay tidy and won’t fall into the bottle. Fill the bottle with oil, put the wick in the bottle and wait a few minutes for it to soak properly. Now find a stable place to put your new garden light and turn it on. Garden lamps with glass or tin cans
For a result worthy of a design garden lighting , get some tin cans. Those of peeled tomatoes or canned fruit are fine. Also get:
- drill;
- bushings;
- outdoor hanging bulbs;
- spray paint.
Wash the jars well and use tongs to flatten the sharp edge of the tin cans . Use the drill to make a hole in the center of the bottom and, if you want, paint both the inside and the outside in the color of your choice. If you want, use stencils to further decorate the jars. Once dry, mount the bushings and slide the outdoor bulbs into them. Here are your lamps ready to hang! Mesh
jars Glass jars are the most classic homemade garden lights. Just wash them and put a candle in them, fixing it with a few drops of hot wax on the bottom. Alternatively, use battery-powered LED lamps. To hang them and create a striking DIY garden lighting , place them in a mesh bag.Designer garden lighting has to be warm or cold
Garden lights can be hot or cold, depending on the type of bulbs you choose. Which of the two solutions is better
It depends on the ultimate effect you want to achieve and also on the purpose of the lighting .
To illuminate the garden with DIY , it is better to use warm lights . They infuse the environment with a comfortable atmosphere, which facilitates conviviality and does not disturb the view. In general, warm lights are great for the porch and for all those areas of the garden that you want to experience in the evening.
Cold light is best if you have to furnish with lampsor illuminate areas permanently or almost. It is good for the lampposts on the side of the path, or to enhance certain structural elements of the house.
