Right, let’s talk about lights. Garden lights. Not the flashy ones that make your garden look like Blackpool at Christmas, but the ones that make you want to sit out there with a cuppa and a blanket, even if it’s just 14 degrees and a bit breezy. That kind of cosy.
I’ve always believed that lighting’s one of the easiest ways to make a garden feel like an extra room of your house. Doesn’t need to be expensive, and definitely doesn’t need to be fancy. Just enough to make the space feel inviting once the sun dips.
Fairy lights are a winner.
Always. Whether they’re strung along a fence, wrapped around a pergola, or draped across a shed like bunting ! they do the trick. You can go solar (because, well, bills) or plug-in if you’ve got an outdoor socket and you’re feeling posh. I’ve even seen battery-powered ones stuck inside old jam jars – honestly looks lovely on a little table or hanging from a branch.
Then you’ve got lanterns.
Metal ones, paper ones, those big Moroccan-style ones you find in garden centres or even charity shops if you’re lucky. Stick a tea light in and boom – atmosphere. Just keep an eye on the wind, yeah? We’re in the UK after all.
Spotlights can work too – I’m not talking football stadium vibes, just something subtle aimed at a tree, water feature or one of those garden gnomes that people pretend they hate but secretly love.
If you’ve got a little spot to sit and chill, a bit of light above or next to it makes all the difference.
Thing is, the light itself is only half the job. Anyone can chuck in a load of bright white bulbs – the trick is getting that light to bounce off a leaf, reflect gently, and make everything feel warmer. That’s your new party trick after reading this.
Not perfect, but from now on, always think about how to bounce light around instead of blasting it right in your face.
You know those darker pubs, where the light hits a lampshade or a table or wall just right? That’s the vibe you want …. lit up but still proper comfy!
