Designing a nightscape

The starting point for designing a "night scape" starts with by considering how you intend to use the space. Entertaining?  Walkway lighting?  Patio lighting?  Or to enjoy a beautiful view, from both inside and out? As you press a remote fob as drive up to your home each evening?

Balance

Good nightscaping succeeds in drawing your eye, from one space to another.  It creates a sense of depth and intrigue, has balance, and recognises that less is more.  We manage the view from every window to make sure our design is always integrating lighting with the landscape. There is also the mysterious design maxim that odd numbers of things work best...

Layers

The best scenes always succeed when multiple layers of light are used and distinct areas are cerated, where there is at least one focal point, and when there is more than one texture being highlighted.  The materials that a garden is built with, as well as the nature of larger plants, are often great ways to add texture.   Three layers or types of light - strength, general position or type often work best.

Practical

Wherever possible, we use low voltage (almost battery level) power to supply LED fittings.  This provides aditional safety to garden safe cables we use as well as providing very low running costs  - and very, very long life "bulbs", usually built in.   Many of the lights we use simply "spike"into planting beds and can be easily rotated and moved - by anyone - as planting and seasons change.   Cables are all buried or hidden, and junction boxes are filled with water-proofing gel to negate the risk of moisture ingress in the long term.

Switching can be internal, external or by remote control, movement or light sensors - all today very cost effective.

Fittings can be can be black, stainless steel, copper, bronze, green, white, brown etc.

Lastly, the colour and strength of output from light is almost a science and art in itself.  These days there is a multitude of "whites" from almost yellow to daylight,  each lending themselves to differnet situations and tastes,  and the varying "greens" of plants.