5 Creative Design Ideas for Outdoor Lighting

Achieve a magical look in your yard with these nightscaping suggestions

by This Old House

With the right touch, path lights bring the most charming features of your yard into view, creating a late-night dreamscape. Here are a few bright ideas:

These ethereal globes don’t throw a lot of light, but they do signal a change in elevation in a very bewitching way.

Shown: Land Mount NightOrb, about $400; nightorbs.com

A clever twist From their perch above the stairs, these lamps reveal the path and the beauty of the landscape Similar to shown: Cast Lighting’s CCH1CB Small China Hat Light, about $190; cast-lighting.com amzn_assoc_placement = “adunit0”; amzn_assoc_search_bar = “true”; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = “hisldousent-20”; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = “manual”; amzn_assoc_ad_type = “smart”; amzn_assoc_marketplace = “amazon”; amzn_assoc_region = “US”; amzn_assoc_title = “Similar to shown”; amzn_assoc_linkid = “82e232905f7195f087d4519f943f8f95”; amzn_assoc_asins = “B01GUBAEFI,B06X9ZL8DP,B01M1CJTW2,B00KMIRY2C”; | Photo by Rob Cardillo

Instead of showcasing the property’s concrete work, the fixtures in this layout let the lush greenery beside the walk lead the way. Shown: Kichler 15871 Tannery Bronze Hammered Roof Light, about $145; lightingdirect.com amzn_assoc_placement = “adunit0”; amzn_assoc_search_bar = “true”; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = “hisldousent-20”; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = “manual”; amzn_assoc_ad_type = “smart”; amzn_assoc_marketplace = “amazon”; amzn_assoc_region = “US”; amzn_assoc_title = “Similar to shown”; amzn_assoc_linkid = “82e232905f7195f087d4519f943f8f95”; amzn_assoc_asins = “B01GSJ7RTI,B00A3XGURQ,B000H6Y490,B002RAW5XQ”;

In this case, the lovely brickwork gets a glowing review from a well-placed light. Similar to shown: Hinkley Hardy Island Hooded Step Light, about $65; lightology.com amzn_assoc_placement = “adunit0”; amzn_assoc_search_bar = “true”; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = “hisldousent-20”; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = “manual”; amzn_assoc_ad_type = “smart”; amzn_assoc_marketplace = “amazon”; amzn_assoc_region = “US”; amzn_assoc_title = “Similar to shown”; amzn_assoc_linkid = “82e232905f7195f087d4519f943f8f95”; amzn_assoc_asins = “B01ID27CJI,B010HTTB1W,B073W5SD28,B01DIV23W0”; | Photo by Brian North/GAP Photos

In this case, the lovely brickwork gets a glowing review from a well-placed light. Similar to shown: Hinkley Hardy Island Hooded Step Light, about $65; lightology.com amzn_assoc_placement = “adunit0”; amzn_assoc_search_bar = “true”; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = “hisldousent-20”; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = “manual”; amzn_assoc_ad_type = “smart”; amzn_assoc_marketplace = “amazon”; amzn_assoc_region = “US”; amzn_assoc_title = “Similar to shown”; amzn_assoc_linkid = “82e232905f7195f087d4519f943f8f95”; amzn_assoc_asins = “B071XCB3VL,B073PXFNWD,B0764HTHM6,B01G44QTPK”; PLEASE NOTE: If you use the Amazon shopping links in this post we’ll get a cut of the revenue from your purchase. Proceeds go toward keeping our content free for fans of TOH. Thanks for your support! | Photo by Courtesy of McKay Landscape Lighting