Lighting your garden pathways is a simple way to enhance the beauty of your outdoor space after dark. Subtle lighting creates ambience and also makes pathways safer to follow at night. There are many stylish and affordable lighting options that will suit different garden styles.
This article explores 10 beautiful pathway lighting ideas to transform your backyard paths into illuminated walking routes.
Uplight the surrounding trees
Uplighting surrounding trees along your pathway creates a dramatic effect. Tucking uplights at the base of small trees lining the path, such as acers, olives or hollies, will highlight their foliage and forms with pools of light. This approach works well for both natural-looking meandering paths through a wooded section as well as more modern stepped pathways.
The trees will uptake lighting beautifully, adding visual interest along the path without cluttering the space.
Add recessed lights to decked walkways
Recessed lights make a sleek addition to contemporary decked pathways. They don't take up any extra space but discretely illuminate the area. Install them as part of your deck boards or into edging beside paved or decked paths. Recessed lights are also useful for illuminating steps to prevent trip hazards after dark. Opt for energy efficient LED bulbs set to warm white for a welcoming atmosphere.
Create a party vibe with colorful festoons
For a more vibrant and celebratory look, string up multi-colored festoon lights along your pathway. Their joyful bulbs will uplift the space and create a festival atmosphere whether used along fences or hung from hooks along the route. Leave them up all year round for festive illuminated walks even in winter. Warmer-toned festoons also work well for a relaxed industrial vibe.
Go for a calm and contemporary approach
A simple series of bollard lights lined along a path strike the perfect balance for contemporary garden schemes. Choose tough concrete or steel designs that complement a minimalist modern aesthetic and offer soft, warm white illumination without being overpowering. Pair with easy care planting like ferns or ornamental grasses for a stripped-back but elegant look.
Illuminate a fence alongside your path
For paths running beside fences or walls, consider using the barrier to hold the lighting. Pleached trees softened with optional uplighting or festoons on the fence create depth and privacy. Wall lights make a sophisticated addition, casting ambient pools of light onto the path below without being visually intrusive from inside the home.
Try a smart silver style
Shiny galvanized steel path lights infuse a touch of luxury into any space. Opt for durable styles with a flat base for easy ground fixing. Their high-shine finish stands out against gravel or planting, like the dry stone backdrop in this example, for maximum impact after dark.
Add height with post lights
Statement post lights spaced evenly along a path make a dramatic feature. Their upright form casts illumination from on high. Choose designs with contemporary detailing like the caged style shown that references maritime influences without being too literal. Post lights partner well with sleek modern furniture and planting.
Turn up the magic with solar-powered dandelion designs
Enchanting solar dandelion lights dot pathways with a soft glow needing no wires or charging. Their winter white or summer pastel shades fit into any natural planting scheme. Lay them out in early spring and forget about them, letting the lights sparkle automatically after dark. Great for low maintenance solutions.
Pick a color to complement your planting
For lighting that enhances existing planting, select hues to pick out favorite colors already present. The warm copper tones of these lights beautifully offset surrounding purple lavender blooms along this path’s border. Consider foliage, too - silvers work well with greys and whites found in nature.
Line with lanterns
For magical one-off events, line pathways with an assortment of lanterns filled with flameless LED candles rather than open flames. Their varying heights and shapes create intimacy whether gathered casually along a route or deck. Transport guests through the nighttime landscape with their soft illumination.
