Indirect lighting in the garden is not only attractive at Christmas time. With special lights and tips that are easy to implement, you can make your garden shine all year round.
Indirect lighting creates cosiness and is therefore an integral part of almost every living area. This homely atmosphere can also be implemented in the garden if you know how indirect lighting works and what to look out for outdoors.
Indirect lighting - briefly explained
Whereas direct light is emitted into space, indirect light is first reflected off an “object” or surface before being emitted again. The best example is a lamp that first shines on the ceiling, reflects the light there and then emits it back into the room.
Plan first - then start
Before you can start with indirect lighting in the garden, you should consider which areas of the garden should be illuminated. Good planning saves later retrofitting. Even if there are already many garden lamps that are powered by solar power, most lights need a power supply.
Indirect lighting of shrubs and perennials
For dense shrubs you need to consider that there may not be enough light to shine through the branches. The garden light should therefore have enough power - at least 6 watts are recommended. Well suited are spherical lamps, which also illuminate broad shrubs with their large-area light cone.
Did you know…
that you can save around 80 percent of your electricity consumption by replacing light bulbs with LED lamps?
Source: wemag. com
By the way: The more garden lighting you install, the higher your electricity consumption will be. In general, you should only use LED garden systems so that you don't fall out of the clouds with the next billing. This is easy on the wallet, but does not affect the quality of the light output. You can also be sure that everything fits together, from the cable to the lamp, and that you end up with a coherent lighting concept in the garden.
» Tip: If you want to give your garden a special ambience at Christmas time, you can cover your spotlights and spotlights with special colored foils - a dark red is particularly good in this case.
Magic stones through indirect lighting
Stones are particularly popular for designing the front yard. Whether small and subtle in white, or large boulder - stones get a magical touch with indirect light. Since the lights here, unlike perennials and shrubs, cannot be easily hidden, the spotlight should also look good. In this case, I always recommend stainless steel models for a modern garden concept, or an antique version for a rustic or Mediterranean garden.
The best and most expensive light sources will not bring the desired effect in the garden if they are not arranged correctly. You get the best benefit from the latest technology in combination with economical light sources and optimal illumination. Also make sure that the lamps are positioned in the line of vision so that they do not dazzle you or others.» Read also: Lighting in the garden should not disturb neighbors
Indirect lighting for ornamental grasses
Ornamental grasses, the sometimes underestimated beauties of the garden, still enchant us when other perennials have already finished flowering. Ornamental grasses are an eye-catcher in the garden, especially in winter - a good reason to give them even more charm with indirect lighting. Spots embedded in the ground or spotlights hidden between the grass are suitable for this.
Scene trees
While a tree exudes naturalness during the day, it can sometimes appear a bit spooky in the dark. If trees are illuminated from below, this effect disappears again. For trees with a lush crown, the spotlight can be chosen a little larger so that the light is not "swallowed".
Another possibility to illuminate trees indirectly are suitable rope lights for outdoor use. Once attached and positioned correctly, these light sources can stay in the tree all year round. Operated with a timer or a remote control, you decide when your tree should turn into a jewel at dusk.
Lighting the garden wall
Whether it's the remains of an old wall or a modern screen made of gabions, a garden wall never has to look dreary, especially not in the dark. You decide whether the wall ofbelow, by spotlights embedded in the ground, or the light comes from above and is reflected from the ground. In any case, the right lighting turns a "normal" garden wall into a decorative garden element.
Indirect lighting on the garden house
I dedicate my last idea for indirect lighting in the garden to the garden house. Sometimes equipment storage and often outdoor living area - the garden house should not be forgotten in the lighting design. Similar to the garden wall, you have two options here as well. If space permits, the garden shed can be illuminated using one or more ground LED floodlights or a row of many small ground spike LED lamps - but be careful not to create any tripping hazards.
The second option is from above. Here the ground again serves as a source of reflection. Ceiling spotlights can be attached under the roof channel, which, depending on the model, can also be charged via a solar panel - the self-generated energy can then be used elsewhere in the garden.
I hope these ideas have given you some ideas on how to indirectly illuminate your garden. However, it is important that you do not forget the functional lighting of garden paths, stairs, entrance areas and near the pond, because this ensures your safety.