How to Plan Outdoor Lighting for Your Garden, Patio or Entryway

When the sun sets, your outdoor area shouldn’t disappear. Whether you're entertaining on the patio, walking up the driveway, or simply admiring your garden from inside, a well-designed outdoor lighting plan can change everything. Here’s how to use different indoor/outdoor lighting fixtures to bring out the best in your home’s exterior, from ambient landscape lighting to practical security solutions.

Light Up Entryways with Outdoor Wall Lights

Your entryway sets the tone for your home, and the right lighting makes it safer and more inviting. Use outdoor wall lights to frame your front door, gate, or porch. These fixtures add direct light that makes keyholes easier to find and stairs easier to navigate.

Look for energy-efficient LED lights with a warm colour temperature to add a welcoming glow. For a cohesive feel, match your wall light finishes to your door hardware or house numbers.

An outdoor light is essential to light up the entryway to your home.

Define Pathways and Garden Beds with Inground Lights

Outdoor inground lights are a sleek solution for illuminating walkways, driveways, and garden edges without visible bulk. These low-profile fixtures create an ambient glow and can double as accent lighting when placed near water features, trees, or textured landscaping.

Want to highlight a particular path or landscape feature? Use a combination of uplighting and pathway lights to guide the eye and improve safety after dark.

These inground lights from Telbix offer a subtle and beautiful path illumination.

Add Ambience to Patios and Alfresco Areas

Lighting an outdoor entertaining area is about layering – think overhead lights, wall-mounted fixtures, and accent lighting working together. Start with versatile indoor/outdoor lights for covered patios or outdoor rooms. These dual-use lighting fixtures give you flexibility while maintaining style.

Add spotlights for general lighting, and use dimmers or timers to shift the mood throughout the evening. Need more depth? Try uplighting landscape features like planters or timber screens to enhance the ambience.

Maximise Safety with Flood Lights and Sensors

If security is a priority, flood lights offer broad illumination for driveways, side paths, and outdoor storage zones. Choose models with motion sensors or set timers for peace of mind after dark.

Peace of mind never looked so good. Shop our flood lights range.

Look for LED options with high lumen output and a wide beam angle to ensure maximum coverage without consuming excess energy. These types of lights are often low voltage and easy for an electrician to install.

Explore Buildmat’s Outdoor Lighting Range

From patios to pathways, Buildmat has the lighting solutions to bring your garden, entryway and alfresco areas to life. Shop indoor/outdoor lighting, outdoor wall lights, inground lights, and flood lights to get started.

Planning Outdoor Lighting FAQs

What’s the difference between landscape and garden lighting?

Landscape lighting refers to the broader lighting design across your yard, while garden lighting focuses on specific features like plants or garden beds.

Are LED lights good for outdoor spaces?

Yes. LED lights are energy-efficient, long-lasting, and available in different brightness levels (lumens) and colour temperatures for every type of outdoor area.

What are the best lights for walkways and steps?

Inground lights, path lights and step lights work well. Look for warm, direct light that increases visibility without harsh glare.

Do I need an electrician for outdoor lighting?

For anything hardwired – like floodlights or low-voltage transformers – yes. For plug-in or solar options, most homeowners can handle installation themselves.

How do I create a layered outdoor lighting plan?

Mix ambient lighting (like wall lights and downlights) with accent lighting (spotlights, uplights) and task lighting (floodlights, step lights) for a balanced result.