Landscape lighting can be tricky.
One moment, you’re putting up string lights over your patio deck.
The other, you are kneeling in a contortionists position trying to install lights under your patio steps.
Of course, you totally forgot to light up your fence with the red, warm light for that Halloween mood.
Fret not.
We came up with all the possible ways you could light up your landscapes, and make them stand out while staying safe at the same time.
Energy-efficient, bright ideas only here.
1. Path Lights
These low-level fixtures not only increase safety by eliminating potential trip hazards but also create a warm, inviting atmosphere. Talk about being home, every day — to THIS.
You know what you could really use? You could use solar-powered options for eco-friendly lighting, or opt for LED lights in various styles to complement your landscape design.
But what if you are going for a balanced look? You need to install them in a staggered pattern along your paths, and experiment with different heights to add visual interest.
2. Yard Sign Illumination
With bright yard signs, allow your house to make a statement even after dark by illuminating your address numbers or welcome signs.
Seriously, what’s a yard sign if it doesn’t glow at night, and gather you fame even when you’re fast asleep?
This light will also improve visibility for your visitors (helps a ton if you’re a business) and emergency services (goes without saying) — while screaming class.
Choose from a range of options, including:
- Backlit address plaques for a modern, sleek look
- Spotlights aimed at existing signs
- LED house numbers that glow softly (makes your house look like it’s from the future)
3. Plug-in and Extension Cord Options
Why do people all over the world love yoga? You guessed it. It helps you gain more flexibility, helps you stay young, and other cool things.
Why not give your lights the same flexibility you get with yoga?
You can achieve this with plug-in and extension cord lighting solutions.
Be it for temporary setups or illuminating areas far from built-in power sources, it’s perfect for both.
If you’re in doubt, use it to experiment with different lighting designs before committing to a permanent installation.
Use it as:
- String café lights over a patio or deck (setup takes just minutes)
- LED strip lights to outline garden beds or water features (they’re weatherproof)
- Potlights to highlight art pieces or prized plants (they’re portable)
4. Uplights for Trees and Architectural Features
They say, trees sleep when it’s nighttime. You know, catching some Zs after all that photosynthesis throughout the day.
Just because trees sleep, doesn’t mean your landscape has to. We’ll help you light it up like it’s Christmas any day you want it to be.
Uplights help you achieve a look like the one in the above picture to accentuate trees and architectural elements.
Some tips:
- For trees, position lights at the base, angled slightly outward to capture the full structure
- While warm white light is classic, you can use color-changing LED uplights for special occasions or to create different moods in your landscape.
5. Driveway Lighting
Your driveway is the first thing both your car and your guests see when they arrive. Why not make it shine?
Driveway lights increase your safety and aesthetic value, guiding visitors smoothly to your front door and to everywhere your home’s exterior.
You can optionally line the edges of the driveway with low-profile path lights or install uplights for your architectural features.
6. Underground Lighting
Concealed and out of sight, but definitely not out of mind. That’s how discrete underground lighting can be.
It may be impossible to DIY, so better get us at Lapis Patios as your helping hand?
These discreet fixtures allow you to illuminate your landscape without disrupting the natural paver design.
Tuck them:
- along walkways
- around water features
- beneath shrubs
No more tripping hazards or unsightly wires – just uninterrupted walking.
7. House Facade Lighting
If your home’s exterior is a blank canvas, then facade lighting is the best paintbrush.
Accentuate your house’s features by:
- highlighting bold ceiling lines
- throwing light on interesting textures
Make your home’s presence shine with lights that look like they’re straight out of a Hollywood movie, or turn every friend’s visit into a staring contest.
We don’t make the rules — the light does.
8. Moon lighting Effects
Just because the moon has the night shift, doesn’t mean your landscape has to be left in the dark.
Moonlighting effects are created by installing lights high up in your trees. They will bathe your outdoors in a soft, natural glow that mimics the real thing up there.
Make it the perfect backdrop for late-night entertaining, or simply enjoying the great outdoors.
9. Roof Accent Lighting
The night sky may have the stars, but your roof can have the spotlight — with roof accent landscape lighting.
Use this type of landscape lighting for interesting roof lines with carefully positioned accent lights that make your home’s silhouette pop.
Even when the sun sets.
See a lighting idea you have questions about?
10. Battery-Powered Landscape Lighting Options
Battery-powered lighting solutions give you the freedom to illuminate even the most remote corners of your outdoors.
Go the extra mile with these:
- String up weatherproof LED fairy lights to add a touch of whimsy
- Install motion-activated spotlights for security
- Use rechargeable lanterns to create a cozy outdoor
The possibilities are endless when you’re not tethered to a power source.
At Lapis Patios, we will help you bring your landscape to life, no matter where it may be.
11. Retaining Wall Illumination
Your retaining walls aren’t just functional. They’re perfect for adding depth, and dimension to your landscape.
We can help you strategically place lights directly into the walls themselves, and watch as they go from mere structures into great focal points.
Whether you opt for subtle path lighting or accent pieces, retaining wall illumination will leave your guests in awe.
12. Shrub Lighting
Don’t let your shrubs and bushes get overshadowed when the sun goes down.
Bring them into the spotlight by placing lights (within the pot / grow bag, or behind them), creating a sense of mystery in your landscape.
This way, it shows off the natural textures and shapes of your greenery, making your garden appear to glow from within.
By experimenting with different light temperatures and beam spreads, we’re determined to find the perfect look for your landscape.
13. Walkway Lighting
Your guests may know the way to your front door during the day. But what about when the sun sets?
Walkway lighting will do all of these things:
- guide their way
- ensure safe passage
- extend a warm welcome to all who visit
These subtle, ground-level fixtures light up your paths with a soft, inviting glow, adding to the overall landscape.
When to use what?
- Line garden paths — to define the edges of your driveway
- Entrance paths — journey to your home’s entrance
14. Under-step Lighting
Stairs don’t have to be a mere means of getting from point A to point B.
With under-step lighting, they can become an actually useful feature that adds both function and flair.
These discreet fixtures, installed beneath each tread, create a modern, eye-catching effect that improves visibility and safety.
It works for both:
- grand entryway staircase
- simple garden path with steps
15. Pool Deck Underlighting
Don’t live near the sea? No problem.
By placing lights beneath your pool deck, you’ll create an ethereal glow that reflects off the water’s surface, bathing the entire space in a warm, inviting ambiance.
This technique is perfect for creating a relaxing, resort-inspired atmosphere, whether you’re hosting an evening pool party or simply enjoying a quiet night under the stars.
The options are endless:
- color-changing LED strips
- fiber optic systems
to simulate the reflection of a moon-lit night sky.
16. Palm Tree Highlighting
Don’t want your majestic palm trees to fade into the night? Give them the spotlight they deserve.
Use upward-facing lights that showcase their unique, tropical silhouettes.
This technique bathes the entire tree trunk and fronds in a warm glow. At the end, you will have a stunning focal point that’ll make your landscape the envy of the neighborhood.
Palm tree highlighting is a surefire way to add a touch of chill to your landscape.
17. Flood vs. Spot Lighting Options
When it comes to landscape lighting, you’ve got options – and we’re not just talking about the fixtures themselves.
The type of light you choose can make all the difference in setting the mood and highlighting your outdoor spaces.
Flood lights provide broad, sweeping illumination, basically perfect for bathing large areas in light.
Spotlights, on the other hand, offer a more focused, dramatic effect, drawing the eye to specific features or architectural elements.
18. Fence Line Lighting
Say this with us:
Your fence isn’t just a boundary.
Your fence isn’t just a boundary.
Your fence isn’t just a boundary.
If you place lights along the fence line, you can:
- define the edges of your property
- add security
- create an inviting look
that ties your entire landscape together.
You can opt for discreet path lights, decorative post-mounted fixtures, or even color-changing LED strips.
No more deer trouble, and you still have time left to make that outdoor space pop!
19. Patio Ambient Lighting
Your patio is the heart of your outdoor living space.
If your goala are:
- a truly cozy nook
- an inviting atmosphere
- relaxation + entertainment (even at evening)
then you need patio ambient lighting.
With the right ambient lighting, your patio will become the go-to gathering spot. We’re sorry if your friends and family unwind for the day, and never leave.
This list is exhaustive, but your ideas aren’t!
Chances are: you have more landscape lighting ideas, or you want us to do it for you.