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New Build Garden Lighting Ideas

Kellie Cade

Aug 8, 2024

Once you’ve created your dream new build garden, you can enjoy long summer nights and cosy autumn evenings outside – but, of course, you want to be able to see your lovely new garden.

Garden lighting ideas are often last on the list when it comes to garden planning and landscaping, but if you’re planning garden lighting for a new build then you have the benefit of a blank canvas to work from.

Whether you’ve filled your garden with trees and flowers or installed a modern patio or a hot tub for entertaining guests, there are tons of options and ideas for modern garden lighting. From twinkling fairy lights to sleek uplighting or Wifi-enabled smart systems, here are some of the best outdoor lighting ideas for new build gardens.

Solar garden lights

Create modern garden lighting looks while saving on your bills and helping the planet with solar lighting! Most kinds of garden lighting are available with solar power, from lawn stakes to string lights. Good-quality solar lights will glow for hours, even during those often-gloomy British autumns and winter.

Smart lighting systems

Smart lighting systems are ideal for anyone who spends a lot of time in the garden, especially in the evening. You can control your garden lights remotely via a smartphone app using Wifi-connected systems like Philips Hue or Google Home.

Pick the lights you want, and you can turn them on, off, or even adjust the brightness, colour, and timing of your lights from anywhere. No need to get out of the hot tub, move from your comfy spot in the sun, or worry that you left the lights on when you’re on holiday. It also helps to make sure that your eco-friendly garden will always be beautifully lit without wasting energy.

LED strip lights

If you want to really highlight some of your favourite garden features, then LED strip lighting is a great option. From underlighting paths to installing them at the edges of patios for a dramatic up-lit effect, LED strip lights are ideal for a contemporary style garden with warm or cool lighting.

Make sure that the strips you pick are waterproof, and install them under benches, along fences, or around planters to create a subtle modern glow. And, as mentioned, these can be added to smart lighting systems or even run off solar power, giving you plenty of options for your modern garden lighting.

Seating area and patio lighting

As we covered in our guide to new build garden ideas, a seating area or patio makes a great addition to any garden as a space for dining, entertaining, or just relaxing in your lovely new garden. You might have comfy sofas, or even a hot tub!

But naturally, you need some patio lighting to make it safe and welcoming after dark – and the right lighting really does make your seating area a cosier, homier feel. Here are some of our favourite options for patio and seating lighting ideas so you can eat, chat, and relax well into the evening.

String lights and festoon lighting

String lights instantly bring warmth and a little bit of magic to any garden. For a subtle look, you can wrap twinkling strings of fairy lights around pillars, or weave them carefully through foliage to create a warm glow.

If you need brighter lighting – or if you prefer more modern outdoor garden lighting ideas - then you might prefer strings of festoon lighting. Usually, this means strings of industrial-chic Edison bulbs or simple round bulbs draped overhead or hung between pillars and pergolas to light up your patio or seating area.

Fairy lights and festoon lighting look especially lovely hung over a hot tub, as they add lots of ambient light – important for safety when there’s water around – but they’re softer and warmer than spotlights for when you’re trying to relax in the tub.

Outdoor lanterns

Dotting lanterns around your patio is a nice way to add an extra special touch, creating warm, twinkling lighting – but bear in mind that your lighting will probably be a bit less consistent, so make sure that walkways and steps are well-lit with extra lanterns or extra lighting options.

The nice thing about lanterns is that there are tons of different styles available, from minimalist modern designs to pretty paper lanterns that give a soft, diffused glow. You have plenty of freedom with where you put them, too, as they can easily be moved around to change your patio’s style. You can hang lanterns alone from hooks, string them up, or cluster them on tables – then change things up whenever you fancy.

Recessed patio lighting

If you’re planning a modern-style patio where you know you’ll be spending tons of time, then adding some recessed patio lighting is a great idea. Recessed lights are installed flush with the surface of your patio.

While they might not add as much light as overhead patio lighting, recessed lights do give consistent ambient lighting, ideal for highlighting the edges of your patio decking and especially useful for safety. If your patio has steps or raised edges, recessed lighting is really great for making sure everyone can safely see their way in the dark.

Pathway garden lighting ideas

When you’ve gone to the effort of installing paths or creating walkways in your new build garden, then you want to show them off – and that’s where pathway lighting comes in. Add a soft glow and light up your whole garden with illuminated pathways, so you can admire your garden oasis and navigate it safely at night.

While a lot of modern garden pathway lights have a clear or translucent bulb to add soft ambient lighting in every direction, you can also get lights with a directional spotlight for specifically lighting certain areas in detail. You might want to add softer ambient lighting along your pathways, and then highlight your favourite parts of your garden, patio, or feature areas with directional lighting to show them off.

Bollard lights

Bollard lights are sturdy fixtures, usually spaced evenly along pathways to add focused illumination. They come in all kinds of designs, from modern chrome to smart brushed matt-black metal, with an enclosed bulb to make them weatherproof.

Because these are permanent fixtures, they’ll need to be installed with access to mains power, so they can be a bit trickier or more expensive to install. You’ll need to know what sections of your pathway need lighting – see our guide on planning a new build garden from scratch for more help on zoning your garden.

Stake lights

An alternative to bollard lights, stake lights are more lightweight and can often be cheaper. They’re usually either solar-powered, run off cables via a transformer, or use battery power.

Stake lights are easy to install and move, so they’re a versatile option if you think you might change your mind about your lighting or want to switch things up every so often. However, the trade-off is that they’re a little less sturdy – though they’re stably pushed into the ground, very high winds or bad weather can cause them to shift.

In-ground lights

Like recessed patio lighting, in-ground lights lie flush with the surface of the pathway, either in the path itself or dug into your lawn or garden surface. They’re a more minimalist option and give a smart and professional look to a garden – keeping your garden uncluttered while keeping your walkways illuminated.

However, it’s worth bearing in mind that unless they’re solar powered, like bollard lighting, in-ground lights will often need to be installed with care or by a professional to connect them up to the mains power, and you’ll need to keep grass trimmed back and brush away any fallen leaves to make sure their light is visible.