Fantastical Landscape Lighting: Kindle a Fanciful Night Garden

Thanks to the broad range of lighting options, the sky's the limit for landscape lighting. Once you've mastered basics, you're ready for the fun stuff—playful, artsy, unique. Here's a sampling of imaginative applications of everyday lighting, dramatic and inexpensive DIY light "art" that looks like a million bucks, and a few cutting-edge products. Build on these ideas to inspire your inner artist, then create your landscape lighting magnum opus. The pleasures of the night garden await.

Backlit Panels

Find an interesting panel and wash it with light from behind. Repeat. Reap rewards of Dumpster diving—"holey" steel plates are manufacturing offcasts. Mounted, framed, and backlit, they make a dramatic, playful statement night or day. Not into Dumpster diving? Purchase interesting panels to mount and backlight.

I love laser-cut Parasoleil panels. To make this wall art, the panel was framed with ipe wood, LED lights attached to the back, and mounted on stucco. Stunning by day, drop-dead gorgeous at night with soft wash of light through patterned openings.

Any panel that light passes through making an interesting pattern is a candidate. Prefab woven fence panels work too—similar panels available in various materials and patterns.

Light Strings

Tried and true; inexpensive. Light strings à la Italian piazza—swag, swoop, zigzag, string on a grid. Look for interesting variations on standard strings. Add color, drama, movement, character, whimsy with wide range of styles. Possibilities endless.

See more string lighting ideas

Laser Light Projectors and Disco Balls

Rig up a laser light projector or disco ball for a lively evening soiree. Look closely—projected/reflected dots of green light dancing through night air.

Unique Applications of Everyday Lighting Techniques

Look for uncommon ways to use standard techniques. Need illumination along a path? Dot with pathlights, add eyebrow lights to a wall, or make a bigger design statement. Artfully placed strip lights provide movement and interest—plus light the route to the front door.

Give it a twist: use flexible LED light tape or light rope for sweeping lines inset in a wall, patio, or pool decking. Fashion a cover from glass tiles, metal screen, custom-cut polycarbonate, or tuck light source under a built-in lip. Don't limit to strip lighting—dream up alternate uses of downlights, uplights. Cut a pattern in sheet metal, place over an uplight to project shadow patterns on a wall. Ditto for downlights—pattern dances on floor.

Caution: When modifying any light fixture, ensure it doesn't overheat and cause fire hazard.

Light Fixtures as Art

Need light? Want style and a pop of color? These bad boys have both in spades. Look for creative light fixtures, then feature them as you would art in the garden. Place in clusters, vary distances, set at different heights.

Make Your Own Light Sculpture

Unique light sculptures loaded with personality. Make your own using string lights and an appealing 3-D form: trellises, bent/woven willow, arches, hoops, spirals suspended from tree limbs, sinuous dry-laid stone wall. Varied lengths of steel posts with random cutouts, flat black paint, and LED lights make a stunning art installation—night and day.

Design with Shadows

This light fixture illuminates night but adds artistic panache by day and shadow patterns after dark.

Try tricked-out water jets in a pond or pool. Air bubbles removed before water sent aloft; light follows water stream for glam effect.

Solar-powered orbs add playful note to still night water. Leave to float free or tether. Vary sizes and colors for different effects. Play with placement: multiple orbs tethered in a sweeping line; orb in middle of fountain nozzle held by water force; orbs submerged below surface; orbs tethered on water plus suspended at varying heights above from tree limbs; "clutches" of orbs dotting landscape; orbs tucked into tree crooks.

Experiment with Color

Not a one-size-fits-all color wheel. RGB (red, green, blue) LED lights can cycle through spectrum or be set for single color. Change programmed color to fit mood. Feeling blue? Program pure blue, turn up intensity. Want chill? Program golden light, dial down soft and low.

Tip: RGB LEDs come in many forms—light tape, rope light, orbs, light strings. Quick Internet search reveals options and gets creative juices flowing.

More:
Spectacular Landscape Lights Dazzle in the Dark
10 Creative and Colorful Outdoor Lights
The 3 Top Ways to Light Up Your Landscape