Lighting structure & sculpture

Lighting Structure & Sculpture

Outdoor spaces might have specific structures and sculptures that require light, and these can often be the starting point when planning an exterior lighting scheme.

The sculpture in my garden

I used four 1 watt small spike lights to create an even flood from all four sides. This really turns it into a focal point that can be enjoyed from a variety of angles in my garden.

Tips for lighting structure and sculpture

• Consider how the material of a sculpture will interact with light. Does it give reflections? Does it refract and bounce light in different directions? Or is it a solid shade that provides strong shadows?
• A garden changes throughout the year, so you will likely need to move any spike lights around to illuminate different parts of planting as it comes into season.
• If you are planning to move spike lights around, I would recommend keeping an area fixed, such as around the trees or a terrace, to provide constant structure.

Steps

Steps are important to light, not only from a visual point of view but also from one of safety.

• I like to use the Hampton 25 spike lights to give a soft glow to the steps as well as the nearby planting.
• Alternatively, if you have walls on either side of your steps, you could install Lucca step lights that glance across the step and light the walls too.
• Another choice you have is whether you light every step, or every other step. This depends on whether you have an even or odd amount of steps.
• A contemporary way to light steps is to recess an LED strip such as the Contour within a groove to provide a soft, linear light. Make sure the output of the LED is low and is on a dimmer, otherwise it will overpower the space.

Pergolas

Whether they are traditional, or more contemporary in design - a pergola is a popular way to add some structure to your garden.

• Use uplights to illuminate each of the vertical columns or posts. These could either be recessed Lucca uplight or if there is planting at the base of the pergola, you could use a spiked Kew 25 or Kew 40.
• Consider using spotlights or a pendant at a higher level to flood light onto the table beneath, and conceal the wiring above the pergola.

Water

If you're lucky enough to have an element of water within your garden, it can look particularly stunning when lit with consideration.

• For a fountain, opt for a small light source beside the water jet so that it travels through the water for a shimmering effect.
• If you have a channel of water, such as a water rill, it could be interesting to light underneath any stepping stones.
• Fiber Optics in the base of a pool gives the effect of stars twinkling underwater.
• You may choose to avoid lighting the water at all, and instead lighting the elements around it to create intriguing reflections.