Outdoor garden lighting

Garden outdoor lights are chosen by zone: low, directed light along the path, diffuse light above the table, light bounced back onto the facade. The IP rating, mounting height and light colour decide the result before style does.

Which garden outdoor light should you choose for each corner of the garden?

Garden outdoor lights are chosen according to the zone to be lit: a path needs low, directed light, a terrace needs diffuse, non-glaring light, a facade needs light bounced back onto the wall. The mounting type, the IP rating and the fixing height matter more than style.

Garden outdoor lighting: lighting a path without glare

A path is read from top to bottom: the source stays close to the ground and the light goes towards the paving, never towards the eye of the person walking. Space the points a few steps apart to avoid a continuous ribbon, and choose the recessed light family, discreet by day and precise at night.

Garden lights: terrace and dining area

Above a table, the light should come down without dazzling seated guests. A source hung in the centre, completed by a low point near the wall, gives relief to faces and to the facade. See the pendants designed for outdoor use.

Facade and gate: what to install for coming home in the evening?

On a facade, a wall light placed about two metres from the ground, or a little higher depending on the wall height, projects a cone of light that draws out the stone and lights the threshold. Near the gate, aim at the passage, not the street. White models stand out well on a dark wall.

How do you read the IP rating of an outdoor light?

The IP rating gives the level of protection against dust and water. An IP44 resists splashes, an IP65 water jets, which matters near a pool or under watering. A light simply sheltered under an awning is fine with a more modest rating.

IP44, IP65: what exactly does this rating protect against?

The first digit concerns solids, the second liquids. An IP44 stands up to splashes and sideways rain under cover; an IP65 withstands the jet of a pressure washer or a watering can. For comparison, what an IP44 protects against and how to read an IP65 follow the same logic in damp indoor rooms.

Does an IP65 outdoor light belong at the edge of the pool?

Watertightness is not enough: the source must also be kept out of the area where people walk barefoot and away from direct splashes into the pool. A low model with grazing light works better than a spotlight that reflects in the water. Look at poolside lighting before making your choice.

What light for the garden in the evening: warm white or neutral white?

A warm white, around 2700 to 3000 K, gives an end-of-day light that flatters foliage and wood; a neutral white, around 4000 K, lights a path more sharply. The result also depends on the height of the light and the direction of the beam.

Colour temperature: warm, neutral, what effect in the garden?

Warm light brings materials closer and makes the garden welcoming after dinner. Neutral keeps colours accurate on a path or a work area, but hardens foliage and tires the eye if the whole terrace uses it. Mix the two uses rather than making everything uniform.

Living room light colour: keeping the same warmth inside and out

The patio door puts both spaces side by side. A terrace at 3000 K and a living room at 4000 K create a visible break as soon as night falls. Match the outdoor shade to your living room light colour, and the transition happens without a break.

Freestanding, hanging or recessed: which fixing for which use?

A freestanding light can be moved and follows the needs of a terrace; a pendant is fixed under an awning or a pergola and lights the table; a ground recessed light marks a path without cluttering it. The fixing is decided before purchase, according to the walls and floor available.

Freestanding outdoor lights: where should they go?

At the end of a table, near a bed or at the corner of a terrace, a freestanding model moves when the layout changes and can be stored in winter. Plan a protected socket or a dedicated connection before choosing it. See the freestanding lamps and bollards.

Outdoor pendant: under which awning should it go?

You need a sound support, clear height above the table and a fixing point able to bear the weight. Allow about 75 cm between the tabletop and the shade so as not to bother guests. Indoor pendants give a useful reference for proportions.

Ground recessed: what to check before digging

Check the slab, the drainage and the routing of the conduits: a poorly drained recessed light holds water under the housing. Aim the light at the ground or the wall, never at a window. Original pieces also exist in in-ground versions, to be reserved for areas without vehicle traffic.

Which material and colour for a garden light that ages well?

Aluminium and stainless steel withstand damp and wipe clean with a cloth; resin is lighter, wood needs more attention. Colour matters just as much: white stands out and structures a facade, green and black blend into beds and hedges.

White, black or green: which colour for an outdoor light?

White underlines a wall or terrace line and is noticed when switched off, which may be the desired effect. Black disappears on a dark support. Green lights for beds fade into the foliage and let the plant take the stage.

Material: what stands up outdoors without rusting

Near the coast, salt attacks the finest finishes: prefer treated aluminium or stainless steel, and rinse with clean water at the end of the season. Wood needs regular oiling. An exceptional piece is also chosen for how its finish holds up over time.

How do you install and maintain a garden light?

Switch off the power before any connection, check that the gasket and cable gland are in place, then fix the light to a sound support. For maintenance, cleaning with clean water and checking the seals before winter are enough to extend its life.

How do you install an outdoor light without mistakes?

Locate the power supply, check that the support is flat and that there is an earth screw before drilling. A plug-in model connects on its own; a recessed light or an underground line requires a professional. Garage lights follow the same rules for out-of-reach fixing.

What should you check on a garden light before winter?

Remove the leaves resting on the housing, as they hold moisture. Check the cover gasket and that the cable gland is tight, then wipe away limescale marks with clean water. A light left outside all year holds up if its IP rating matches its actual exposure.

Designer or original outdoor lights: how do you move beyond the standard model?

A designer outdoor light stands out for its shape, its material or the way it diffuses light, not for its size. Choosing an original piece for a terrace means accepting that it will be seen by day as well as by night, and first checking that its format fits the space.

Original lights: when the object is seen by day

A strong shape placed as a focal point, near an entrance or at the foot of a tree, structures the eye; repeated, it clutters. Look at outdoor lighting with a bold design and imagine the model switched off, in broad daylight, before deciding.

Design, modern or exceptional piece: which level of style?

Modern relies on clean lines and a discreet presence, design on an identifiable drawing, the exceptional piece on a unique object. The budget is smoothed by adding light points over the seasons, rather than watching for a clearance sale that says nothing about product quality. Compare with modern outdoor lights.

How do you match garden lighting with the house?

Keep the same colour temperature inside and out, and reuse a material already present indoors, wood, black or white metal, so that the terrace extends the living room or kitchen. A garden lit like the house is crossed without a break.

Modern kitchen decor and garden: extending the materials

If your kitchen opens onto the terrace, reuse its metal or wood in the wall lights and bollards. This continuity of material matters more than unity of shape. Browse our modern kitchen decor to find the same finishes.

Kitchen decoration: the same light colour?

The finish of a splashback or a worktop can be extended onto the terrace wall lights: the same brushed metal or a matt shade links the two spaces. Our selection of kitchen decoration gives finish references, and all our lights let you compare the families. Outdoors, check the IP rating: IP44 under an awning, IP65 in full wind.

One last point before ordering: note the zone, the fixing height and the available support for each light point. This list avoids back-and-forth, and our selection of lights can then be browsed by style. Secure payment, tracked delivery, returns and Designix customer service support you from choice to installation.

Frequently asked questions