No decent outdoor scheme is complete without some illumination. A set of well-chosen garden lights work to improve your home's outdoor space in two ways. First, they'll ensure you can enjoy sitting outside long into the evening, and give the place a twinkly aesthetic boost. So, once you've got your bistro set or rattan garden furniture in situ, it's time to sort the lighting.
There are two main types of garden lighting: Car Roof Tent
Mains-powered lights tend to be stronger and brighter than solar counterparts. Dot a few of these around your furniture set, so you can see what you're doing once the sun's faded. You'll need some wall-mounted lamps on your outside wall at a minimum. If you have a canopy or pergola, there are ceiling suspended options. There are also plenty of floor lamps that tick off the indoor-outdoor living vibe nicely, adding extra mood lighting and some chicness at the same time.
Solar powered lights aren't as bright but create a pleasing ambience without adding to your monthly energy bills. Use to stake out pathways and add some charm to flowerbeds and trees. You can be more creative with where you use solar garden lights as they don't need to be near a power source and won't trail wires across your lawn. They also tend to be cheaper than electric versions.
Hard Top Truck Tent A fully-realised garden lighting scheme will include both solar and electric lights, so we've included a mix of both here (along with some battery-powered and smart options, for those into that). Here's our picks of the best outdoor garden lights for 2023, including solar, mains-powered, smart and battery options.