Installing solar garden lights is similar to many home improvement projects in that the likelihood of a successful end result is related to how well the objectives are defined in the first place. So consider what it is you’re trying to achieve – courtesy lighting for yourself and visitors, security lighting to deter intruders, a place to entertain or simply bringing the garden to life at night?

There’s a good chance of course that your answer will include some, all or more than these possibilities. The problem is then one of balancing these different requirements on your outdoor solar lighting. But by at least identifying the requirements in advance it becomes much easier to separate the lighting into distinct zones and types of light fitting.

Solar Lights

Solar deck lights for example won’t deter many intruders (though these highly versatile little devices will function very well in many situations such as path or drive markers). Equally you probably don’t want bright floodlights on your entertaining areas, and while low level coloured lights look lovely as decorative features in the garden they won’t help your guests see what they’re eating or drinking.

Functional (or “task”) lighting as distinct from decorative lighting tends to be relatively easy to get right for the simple reason that it is usually obvious whether or not it performs the intended task. Driveway lighting should allow you to easily navigate the drive, security lighting should switch on in response to movement – such things are simple to test.

Solar garden lighting whose purpose is simply to look attractive might not have to pass any specific “tests” but that doesn’t let it entirely off the hook where guidelines and best practice are concerned. The first point to consider is that solar lighting depends on getting a daily charge from the sun and so they (or their separate solar panel in some systems) need to be positioned in a bright spot.

Second, because solar powered lights have to last many hour on a single charge from a battery they cannot afford to burn as brightly as mains powered lights. Modern high efficiency LED bulbs that use vastly less power greatly help, but even these are still usually less bright. But this characteristic is not necessarily a weakness and it is possible to obtain effects with solar garden lights that mains powered versions cannot manage.

Third, a great benefit with outside solar lighting is that it is not only supremely simple to install, but also just as simple to modify; meaning that you can figure out ideal placements by trial and error rather than hoping to get it right first time. Simply pick units up and reposition them until you hit on an arrangement that you especially like.

Lastly, always remember whose garden it is – yours. There is absolutely nothing to stop you indulging in whatever whimsy takes your fancy. It is all but impossible to make a garden look worse with outdoor solar lighting and the truth is that almost any type of garden lighting always looks way better than not having any at all.

If you found this interesting then be sure to check out this additional article that looks at solar powered garden lights in more detail.