One of the most powerful ways you can enhance the atmosphere of your garden is through lighting. Whether that’s creating a cozy, intimate setting for evening gatherings with your loved ones or highlighting the beauty of your plants, pathways and water features, the right lighting can completely transform your garden.
But with so many different types of lighting available, it might feel a little overwhelming when trying to decide which option, or options, you should go for. But not to worry, we’re here to help!
In this blog, we’ll explore the 6 best garden lighting ideas in 2025, showcasing the latest trends and providing inspiration to help you illuminate your outdoor space in style.
6 of the best garden lighting ideas in 2025 include:
1. Pathway & Decking Lighting
Illuminating your garden paths is an essential element of garden design, enhancing both aesthetics and safety. Picture this: a beautifully lit garden path, guiding you through lush greenery and vibrant flower beds under the night sky.
Beyond pathways, deck lighting is another important aspect of garden illumination. For example, you can install LED strip lights beneath railings or along your decking steps to provide a soft, indirect glow.
Looking to bring your garden lighting vision to life this year? Our expert team at Raine Garden Design are here to help you design and install the perfect lighting solutions for your outdoor space.
Get in touch with us today to start transforming your garden into a beautifully lit sanctuary that you’ll enjoy all year round.
2. Solar Powered Garden Lights
Did you know that solar powered outdoor lights are gaining huge popularity in the UK? In fact, the UK is one of the biggest consumers of solar lights in Europe. This is because they offer several benefits, including energy efficiency, as they harness sunlight to operate, reducing electricity costs.
What Are Solar Garden Lights?
To put it simply, solar garden lights are outdoor lighting fixtures that use energy from the sun to illuminate gardens and other outdoor spaces. They contain solar panels that absorb sunlight during the day, converting it into electricity, which is then stored in rechargeable batteries.
When the sun sets, the stored energy powers LED bulbs, providing a soft and ambient glow without the need for wiring or electricity.
Solar garden lights are eco-friendly, cost-effective, and easy to install, making them a fan favourite for homeowners looking to enhance their outdoor spaces while reducing energy consumption.
Many models also come with built-in sensors, meaning they’ll automatically turn on at dusk and off at dawn, enhancing security and safety.
3. Pond/ Pool Lights
If you have a pond in your garden, adding lights in or around the water feature is a fantastic way to transform it into a stunning focal point, adding both aesthetic appeal and functional illumination to your garden.
The Different Types of Pond Lights
The most common types of pond lights on the market include:
- Submersible LED pond lights – These waterproof lights are especially designed to be placed inside the water, illuminating the pond from within.
- Floating pond lights – As it says in the name, these lights float on the surface of the pond, gently drifting with the water’s movement.
- Underwater fiber optic lighting – This type of lighting involves fiber optic cables transmitting light without electrical components inside the water (making them ultra-safe).
- Spotlights – Spotlights are often used around the pond’s edges, highlighting waterfalls, sculptures, or plants, and many models are adjustable, allowing you to direct light on specific features for a dramatic effect.
4. Tree Lighting
It goes without saying that trees are a stunning natural feature that will take any garden to the next level, and this is especially true when used with lighting.
Tree lighting can elevate your garden to a stunning and enchanting oasis, especially when it comes to large, mature trees or small decorative ones.
One of the most popular and versatile options for tree lighting is string lights, which are wrapped around the trunk and branches, creating a twinkling effect that adds warmth to your garden.
Up lighting is another popular method of illuminating trees, which involves placing lights at the base of the tree and directing them upwards toward the canopy, creating a more dramatic effect.
5. Torch Lighting
If you’re looking for a lighting solution that will add style, function and a little bit of drama to your garden, then torch lighting might just be the one for you!
You can choose between real flame torches or LED flame-effect torches. Real flame torches, as you can guess, burn oil or citronella fuel, creating real flickering flames, whereas LED torches use LED lights to create a realistic flickering flame effect. Unlike real flames, they don’t require any fuel, making them a safer and longer-lasting option for garden lighting.
6. Pergola Lighting
Our last garden lighting idea is pergola lighting.
A pergola is a lovely addition to pretty much any garden, as it offers a sheltered, dedicated space as well as plenty of style and elegance, and they are very much growing in popularity in the UK.
And the great thing about it is that there are a plethora of different ways you can incorporate lighting into your pergola. For example:
- Lantern-style lights on the rafters or beams
- Pendant lights on the ceiling for dining or lounging areas underneath
- Candle holders or lanterns with candles
- Canopy lights along the edges of the canopy (if your pergola has one) for a more cosy feel
- LED rope lights along the edges of the pergola that outlines the structure
How We Can Help
At Raine Garden Design, our award-winning designer, Raine, has over 23 years of experience in landscape design and a comprehensive understanding of the design and construction process.
To learn more about our services at Raine Garden Design, get in touch with our experts at studio@rainegardendesign.co.uk or on 07702042559.
