We understand that not every garden project is carefully planned at the same time. Often, it’s only certain areas or particularly lights which are needed for an upgrade, which then raises the question of whether all your outdoor lights should match. This is what we recommend.
Match One Characteristic
Whilst lights don’t have to completely match in overall style, we do think there are ways in which they can be matched. It’s important not to get too excited and start making bad decisions that could lead to a tasteless looking exterior you may end up regretting. We do think that one of the simple ways you can mix and match different lights is to make sure they’re sharing a characteristic. For example, when illuminating your patio, look for light fixtures that share the same style, finish, or glass type. This will enable an area to look cohesive and the space well decorated.
Have a Centrepiece
You can use a centrepiece or focal point to really capture the viewer’s eye, helping to create a space that’s interesting and striking to look at. By having a central point in your garden’s lighting, it means distraction is taken away from your other exterior lights. For example, when lighting up a large tree, choose something big like a large floodlight to illuminate it and add smaller fixtures to complement. A focal point helps to stop you overdoing it and aids in taking the focus off less attractive areas of your garden.
Don’t Make Areas Too Busy
At Lighting for Gardens, we have a tremendous selection of high-quality professional lighting fixtures to choose from, coming in a range of different finishes and styles, but we don’t recommend using too many in the same area. This is mainly because you want to avoid spaces from appearing too cluttered, which will prevent you from creating that focal point.
It’s important not to try all the lights all the time and rather pick one or two of your favourite options. For example, uplights, floodlights, recessed lights and mushroom lights are all great options, but you shouldn’t use all of them. Having a small amount will make it easier to create the right ambience.
What Colour is your Home?
To get the most out of your outdoor lights, they need to match their surroundings and in particular the colour of your home. For example, if the outside of your home is painted in natural colours, it makes sense to choose lighting fixtures which come in lighter or darker shades to suit. Playing with colours is a great way to mix and match outdoor lights, even when the styles are different, and it allows you to be able to make your lighting fixtures look more cohesive.
Think About the Size and Location of your Space
One of the most important things to consider when it comes to choosing your outdoor lighting fixtures is making sure they’re the right size. Whilst smaller lights aren’t as noticeable, larger ones can be overpowering for the rest of your garden if not used properly. Make sure all fixtures fit in with the scale of your garden so fixtures are serving a purpose.
Be Careful About Mixing Styles
Adding various kinds of lighting fixtures to your garden is a good idea and will make it look more appealing but make sure not to overdo it. Too many styles will prevent you from creating the right tone and atmosphere. We recommend a maximum of no more than two styles, so it doesn’t end up looking unorganised.
Consider Different Metals
Due to their rise in popularity, different types of metal finishes are now available. In addition, they’re usually resistant to scratches and chips, whilst you’re not often having to worry about damages following long term use.
Think About Buying From One Place
Buying your lighting products from the same place will ensure some consistency and will save you time shopping around from different brands. At Lighting for Gardens, you will find everything you need from a huge collection of professional lighting products from the market leading Elipta brand.