Best in class: Nine brilliant ways to light up your garden

Lanterns

Using lanterns outside is not new. It is a decorative trope that is centuries old and has been much used in recent years in home decor. But when done right it still conjures up an amazing atmosphere as you can see at Arijiju, a retreat set in the 32,000 acre Borana Conservancy in the savanna grasslands of the Ewaso ecosystem on the Laikipia Plateau in Kenya.

Designed by Michaelis Boyd the lanterns on the pool terrace look more than the sum of their parts because they have been used effectively as footlights drawing your eye to the feature. Next sells two sizes, small, €28 and large, €53 while home grown brand Mindy Brownes sells a more upscale Amber style, €119.95. michaelisboyd.com; mindybrownes.com; next.ie/en

Clever lighting scheme

When the weather is warm you just don't ever want the day to end but as dusk falls, far earlier on our east coast than on the west coast, a clever lighting scheme will keep everyone outdoors way into the wee hours. Furniture firm Neptune has illuminated its Harmondsworth teak rectangular table, from €2,060 for a six-seat size, Arundel bench, from €570 and matching bench cushions, from €250 with a Garrick chandelier in an aged bronze finish, price €480. But it is the addition of Kate hanging tealight holders, in different shapes; round, €18, teardrop €11, and cup €16, in addition to strings of carousel lights that turns this space into something really special. neptune.com

LED pendants

Add a candy crush fizz to your space with extravagant use of the solar-powered Solvinden LED pendants from Ikea. You can bedeck your deck in candy stripes, polka dots and florals in the form of bands of raspberry, 70cm in diameter, €25 and 22cm in diameter, €6; blueberry, 30cm wide, €8 or banana, 30cm, €8; banana, 70cm or raspberry polka dots or floral prints in sunny yellow, 465cm, €10. These will add cheer, even during the day, when not illuminated. There's also a rather chic Mullbacka LED floor lamp, €100, and sister table light version that costs €40, to help create a real outdoor room vibe. ikea.com/ie

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Industry-style lighting

This Crown Heights brownstone in Brooklyn, New York, features cool industrial style lighting on its terrace and balconies above. Designed by Barker Associates Architecture Office, formerly BFDO Architects, the lighting scheme was created and sourced from US-based Innermost Lighting with the same industrial style powder-coated pendants used on each floor. baaostudio.com; innermost.net

Pathway lighting

If you have pathways that you'd like to map out, than Otto, a design by Federica Farina for Oluce, has a soft, beguiling shape that comes in an earthy Indian brown powder coated steel colour that looks at one with the plant beds. Standing 66cm high its cylindrical stem gives way to an adjustable LED-lit semi-sphere that can direct the strip of light in various directions to highlight whatever is currently in bloom. Each costs about €912, ex delivery, from Dutch-based Questo Design. questodesign.com

Arch lighting

If your garden or exterior features arches then Eclipse, a range of spherical outdoor lights by Spanish lighting firm Bover, might be just the thing. The polyethylene sphere ceiling pendant, which has brass, iron and aluminium detailing, has been designed by Alex Fernandez Camps and Gonzalo Mila and offers a soft glow, especially the PF/50, pictured, its form here echoing the arches in the walkway. Rocky Wall of Wink Lighting says it is proving very popular with Irish homeowners. It comes in two sizes. The small, 30cm diameter costs €405 while the large, 50cm diameter costs €476, from Wink Lighting. wink.ie

Strip lighting

The Courtyard at the refurbished Morgan Hotel includes a vertical wall of faux greenery, installed by Barcelona-based Concoral as well as some stylish use of LED strip lighting, installed by the establishment's electrical contractor Nesco. Most electrical supply stockists sell these but be sure to go with a warm-white option so that your terrace or balcony can be bathed in a lighting tone that flatters the face. Some also offer colour changing options should you wish to amp up the outdoor mood. themorgan.com; concoral.es; nescoe.ie

Electric heating

The Outdoor Scene stocks a range of electric heating that almost doubles as an ambient form of outdoor lighting and is designed to look like smart floor lamps and ceiling pendants. The Sunred Artix Corda standing heater costs €495 while there are two sizes in the ceiling mounted version. The smaller comes with a taupe coloured shade, measures 60cm by 60cm by 30cm and costs €339 while the larger is sold with an anthracite-coloured shade, measures 74cm by 74cm by 32cm and costs €379. Outdoor.ie.

Gold lantern

If you fancy something far more affordable and immediate you can take this battery-operated LED bulb gold lantern anywhere from an impromptu picnic, beachside lounging or a table at home to keep everyone outside once the light goes. It costs €19.95 from Home Focus at Hickeys. homefocus.ie