A well-designed outdoor lighting plan should create mood as well as safe illumination, says landscape designer Erin Farrow. A successful lighting design will not only illuminate steps and corners but will also be strong enough to make some beautiful shadows and intense highlights, whilst not being so strong as to make you feel as if you are indoors.

 

Lighting for pleasure as well as purpose

 

Path lighting not only provides safety in your garden it can also enhance a space, but planning is essential: too little light and the function is lost; too much and your path becomes a runway.

Entrance lighting is a great way to make a first impression to your visitors but it should also highlight clearly where the front door is.

Illuminating any steps will prevent trips and falls, but it can also create interesting shadows and light spaces.

An outdoor dining area can be a beautiful space to use whether you have guests or not. A bit of creative lighting can enhance the area as well as creating a relaxed atmosphere for you to enjoy.

Architectural features can be lit up to create ambience or purely to show off the features of your house.

 

Lights used in a home’s outdoor space are most effective when they are either invisible, or they are in sync with the architectural design of the house: is your home a traditional cottage, miner’s home or farmhouse; or is it a modern structure with harsh corners, no corners or unusual shapes? What materials have been used in the construction of your home? Do you want your outdoor space to compliment you home or stand out against it?

Not sure where to start? We can design your outdoor lighting for you! We will do a site visit and talk to you about what you would like to achieve in your outdoor space so that we can give recommendations and ideas before drawing up a lighting plan for you. Contact us today to arrange a visit.

 

With Cornwall maintaining the UK’s highest year-round average temperatures and Winter temperatures rarely falling below freezing (0°C) - the mean January temperature in Cornwall is actually similar to such Mediterranean resorts as Benidorm, Nice, Naples and Corfu! – it is worth thinking about being able to enjoy your outside space all year round! So what can you do when it gets cold? How about a cosy fire pit to sit around: either a stand-alone which you can move for convenience; or you could construct a more permanent pit as a focal point in your garden! Want something more modern? How about an infra-red lamp or patio heater? Remember, just because you want to enjoy your outside space in the colder months doesn’t mean you can’t be warm!