Skip to main content

7 tips for solar landscape lighting design

If you’re looking for a great way to light up your yard or garden, you might be thinking of investing in some solar lighting. Solar lighting, as the name suggests, uses the power of the sun (solar energy) to power lights. Solar lighting isn’t great for every situation, but for outdoor spaces it works like a charm. Since it uses solar power, solar lighting is also an easy, eco-friendly alternative to electric lights. Here are our seven favorite tips to help you get started with solar lights.

Set a budget

Solar lights come in many different sizes, shapes, and prices. Before you decide how many lights you want, what you want them to look like, or even where you’re going to put them, you should decide how much you want to spend. This will help lay the foundation for every other part of your design. There’s nothing worse than meticulously planning outdoor lighting, then realizing that the plan would cost too much and having to scrap it. If you start with your budget, and keep it in mind throughout the planning process, everything will go much smoother.

A line of pathway solar lights

Choose locations before getting the lights

Choosing your locations first may seem like an obvious tip, but it’s still extremely important. It lets you see exactly how large of an area you need lit, which helps you estimate how many lights will be necessary. Choosing your locations also helps when deciding what type of lights to get. There are small pathway lights, wall-mounted flood lights, and even lights disguised to look like rocks or stepping stones, all of which are suited for different types of outdoor areas.

Consider how many lights you want, and how many you need

When designing a space, it’s easy to get swept up in the process and bite off more than you can chew. When talking about how many lights to get, plan for your ideal number of lights, but take note of what the bare minimum would be, as well. That way, even if the rest of your plan falls through or is delayed, you’ll already know how many lights you absolutely need to get to adequately and safely light the area.

An outdoor sitting area with sphere lights surrounding it

Experiment with different shapes and sizes of lights

Solar lighting design is, after all, a type of design. It’s in the name! Different sizes and shapes of lights can create different atmospheres and aesthetics for your outdoor space. Smaller lights can be used to create an intimate feel, while larger lights can feel like a spotlight. You can use shapes to your advantage, too. Take a look at the area you’re lighting, and what shapes are present there. Repeating these shapes in your lighting choices can really tie an area together.

Don’t be afraid to mix and match

Having a matching set can be nice sometimes, but a little bit of intentional dissonance can make you stand out from the crowd. If you’re designing lighting for a seating area, why not have a centerpiece light that’s a bit different? If you’re lighting a walkway, you could use matching lights for the middle and a different set for the ends. Going into the design process planning to mix and match also helps you adapt if there’s an unexpected issue with your plan later down the road, since you’d already be in an adaptable mindset.

A garden sitting area with lights

Take your time

Remember, there’s no rush to complete your design. You can get lights in small bursts and update your design over time. If you have an urgent deadline (say, friends are coming over and you need your outdoor sitting area lit by then), keep tip number three in mind and get the essential lights first. Putting your design together bit by bit is also easier on your budget, and it gives you plenty of opportunities to adjust your design.

Remember to be flexible with your plans

Okay, we may have mentioned this already. Being flexible doesn’t just help when your plan runs into trouble, though! It also opens you up to new, potentially better, options. When you go to get your lights, whether you’re going to a physical store or shopping online, you might come across new lights that weren’t previously available. Of course, it doesn’t pay to be indecisive, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider and carefully weigh all your options before making your final decision.

With these seven tips in your tool belt, you’ll be designing the perfect solar lighting display in no time. Whether you’re looking for something simple and straightforward or planning an intricate masterpiece, you know everything you need to plan your lights. Plus, since they’re solar powered, you can rest assured knowing that your lights are as green as possible.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Cayla Leonard
Cayla Leonard is a writer from North Carolina who is passionate about plants.  She enjoys reading and writing fiction and…
How to install solar lights to save on electricity and protect the planet
illuminated yard light at night

Tired of walking through a dark yard at night? Outdoor solar lights offer an affordable, convenient way to illuminate the landscape without the hassle of wiring. Best of all, DIY installation is beginner-level easy.

We’ve assembled these solar landscape lighting tips to help you decide if this is the best solution for you. Each brand and style of solar yard light differs somewhat on installation details, so it's important to read and follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Just ahead, read the basic steps for installing these lights, along with key considerations as you plan your project.
How to install solar lights
For this project you will need:

Read more
Designing your poolside landscape? Avoid these plants
A professional landscaper laying down grass

Pools are absolute amazing spaces to have during the warmer months, especially if you live in sunnier climates. Of course you’ll want a deck, and probably a privacy fence if you have close neighbors. But what about plants? As we know from growing indoors, plants have the ability to enhance and brighten a space—and the same applies for outdoor landscapes. However, not every plant is suited to being near a pool. Let’s go over how plants can elevate the landscape around your pool and which plants you should avoid.

How landscape design enhances your pool
When planning out what kind of pool you want, you should consider how you want the landscape around it to look. This includes the deck, seating, plants, and more. If you don’t plan it out simultaneously, you may not end up having space for everything you want to include. Landscape design is essential to the atmosphere of the space and allows you to express your personal style while creating an area family and guests love to spend time in.

Read more
6 balcony vegetable gardening tips every new gardener needs
container garden

You've likely seen photos of gorgeous raised garden beds with rows and rows of beautiful vegetable plants. Or a luscious and full flower garden with new blooms all year round. As someone who lives in an apartment, these photos can be discouraging. It can feel like you can't achieve those beautiful green spaces with what you have, but we're here to tell you that you can!

Creating a balcony garden can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. Whether you have a walk-out patio with space for tables and chairs or just a small space to stand, you can transform these spaces into garden sanctuaries. So stop feeling like you have to wait until you have a backyard or more acres; beautiful gardens can come from small spaces too, and here's how you do it.

Read more