Ideas for festive lighting

As a rule, ice-white lights are blue-ish and provide a modern, contemporary look, while warm-white lights are yellow-toned, creating a more traditional feel.

Solar-powered lights have improved in recent years and most perform well in low winter light levels, although their glow will be a little dimmer than a battery or mains-powered product. Candle-lit lanterns are great for a fast transformation of a party space. As winter nights draw in, lighting gives your garden seasonal sparkle and atmosphere.

As a rule, ice-white lights are blue-ish and provide a modern, contemporary look, while warm-white lights are yellow-toned, creating a more traditional feel. Multi-coloured lights are guaranteed to create a sense of fun – just take your pick. If you’re worried about the electricity bill, follow our advice to ensure your lights are as cost-effective as possible, and use our handy hints to ensure Christmas displays are simple to create.

More festive ideas:

• Making a traditional Christmas wreath
• How to make glass jar lanterns
• Five pots for Christmas colour
• Christmas plant guide

Browse our suggestions for festive lighting, below.

Use lanterns

Candlelit lanterns are an easy and cost-efficient way to add a touch of drama to the garden on winter evenings. Moroccan-style lanterns have metal lattice work, which will prevent the candles from blowing out.

Wrap lights around a tree

Transform a tree with a string of LED lights. Simply attach them to an outdoor extension cord and then wrap the lights around the trunk of the tree at the base, working upwards. Aim for uniform spacing between each wraparound.

Use a spotlight

Use a spotlight to set off the best features of a shrub or ornamental grass, which can also be used to throw soft light onto a nearby border or path. Fitted to a spike, you simply plunge the light into the ground and direct the beam of light towards the plant you want to highlight. Both mains-powered and solar-powered options are available.

Illuminate pathways

For a large-scale version of using candle lanterns, repurpose terracotta strawberry pots by popping large candles inside them. Three or four placed along a pathway will cast a gentle glow without an upward glare.

Enhance a door display

Use outdoor fairy lights to enhance seasonal foliage and seedheads, home-made wreaths and other front door displays. Battery powered packs are available – simply hide the battery back at the back of the display.

Use topiary

Work some creative magic into existing topiary structures with a string of outdoor fairy lights. As with the front-door display, use battery-powered fairy lights and conceal the battery pack among the foliage.