Adding lighting to the garden can take on any design that the homeowner wants. There are many different ideas for garden lights, some designed to create an extended living space beyond the interior of the home and others designed more for safety and security. Still other ideas combine the two to create a safe, warm, outdoor living space for entertaining or simply enjoying in the early evening hours during wind down time.

Solar garden lights are one idea for garden lights that bring the added benefit of saving electricity, which fits in well with the big push to go green and save the environment. Solar lights also allow the homeowner to do the installation without the aid of an electrical contractor while at the same time providing ample lighting and beauty.

Solar lighting is available in many of the same designs as traditional electrical lighting including solar landscape rocks for pathway lighting and solar stake lighting for enhancing garden features and bringing the landscape to life. There are solar hanging lights that can be draped in bushes to bring them alive after the sun goes down.

Water features are greatly enhanced with garden lights. There are both in-water and waterside lights to help bring water features to the forefront of the garden scene. Pools and ponds can be outfitted with underwater colored lights that create amazing shadow dances across and underneath the water. Water fixtures such as fountains can be accented with spotlights or hidden lighting that casts its glow on the piece, making it stand out from the cover of darkness.

If safety and security are the main concern with garden light designs then little more is needed than pathway lighting and possible motion detection lighting for dark corners of the landscape so that intruders will avoid the area. Pathway lighting can be used to line driveways, walkways and other walking areas of the landscape. This type of lighting can vary and be as subtle as landscape rocks with lighting built in or post lighting installed every few feet to light the way to the comforts of home.

Ideas for garden lights are limited only by the imagination and creation of the landscape designer or homeowner. Choose a plan that accents the garden or provides a sense of safety and let the garden be a place of respite and fun to all who visit.