Lighting your Water Feature
Since we spend many hours outdoors in summer it makes sense touse lighting in your garden. In the contemporary garden the useof lighting has become increasingly important where, whenapplied correctly, it has the ability to create a whole newworld once night falls. Outdoor lighting can be used to newcreate new dimensions and dramatic effects anywhere in yourgarden. This is especially so when lighting is used toilluminate moving water, the resulting effect can be stunning.While recognising the need to apply lighting to their waterfeature, many people struggle with how to position the lighting.Take into consideration that when it comes to creating yournight-time wonderland that less really is more! Creating a senseof theatre through creating silhouettes and shadows ispreferable to indiscriminately flood lighting an area. Althoughthere are no hard and fast rules to the application of lightingto your feature, here we will guide you through some importantconsiderations.
Electricity Supply
Since you probably already have a pump installed it is likelythat you already have an outdoor power-point. All submersiblelighting is low voltage but you will still need somewhere toplug in your transformer. If you do not have an outdoor powersource contact a suitably licensed electrician who isexperienced with outdoor fittings.
Maintenance
Just as you need to change your light bulbs inside your home youwill occasionally need to replace them in your garden. Make surethat your light fittings are easily accessible to ensureperforming routine maintenance is as easy as possible.
Colour
White light is most effective with outdoor lighting. Althoughmany coloured lenses are often available they have a tendency tolook positively garish in a residential setting. White light isalso brighter than coloured lenses and is effective in creatingshadows and silhouettes. Coloured lenses are best left to largecommercial fountains with vibrant water displays.
Submersible or Dry Mounted Lighting?
When deciding whether to install submersible or dry mountedlighting fixtures, it is important to consider your waterquality. If your water is full of algae or muddy then the effectof lighting from inside the water will be lost and the state ofyour water will be on show.
Clear water can benefit significantly from submersible lighting.Many different effects can be achieved from lighting from withinyour feature. Lighting Effects Still Water
Often is it best to use light fixtures to illuminate surroundingplants and features rather than lighting up the water itself.Lighting from above angled down will create mirrored reflectionson the water's surface. The darker the water is the better thiseffect can be achieved.
Submersible lighting can also be used to create a soft glowacross the surface of the water. This is very effective whenwater lilies are present on the water's surface.
Fountains
To effectively light a fountain the light source must come fromwithin the water angled up at the fountain. This way the lightwill catch the air bubbles caused by turbulent water making themglow.
Waterfalls
To achieve the best outcome when illuminating a waterfall thelight source should be placed behind the waterfall, backlightingit. This creates an entire new look and a sense of drama foryour waterfall as evening falls.
Alternatively you could achieve a lovely effect through nondirectional lighting. Washing a rocky waterfall with light,highlighting the surrounding rocks and plant life rather thanthe water also provides an excellent look.
Features
There are a few lighting options for features these include:Lighting the feature from above - this effect is best whenlighting is placed in a nearby tree and is at least 3 metershigh angled down at the feature, either in front or behind.
Backlighting the feature - this effect creates a silhouette ofthe feature and allows the feature to take on a whole new lookat night.
Spotlighting the feature - one or two spotlights can bedry-mounted in front of the features and angled up effectivelyilluminating it. Underwater light fittings - Submersible lightfixtures can be placed either in front or behind the feature (orboth) to create a dramatic effect. This is especially so whenthe water has movement causing the light to ripple over thefeature.
Water Walls
Where your water wall clings to the surface of the wall the bestoption here is to light from within the water. A submersiblelight angled at the wall here will create a mesmerising effectas it ripples on the water against the surface of the wall.
If your water projects out away from the wall backlighting thesheet of water provides a distinctive effect. Take Time toExperiment
Before racing out to purchase your lighting it is worth takingthe time to test how various lighting techniques will look whenapplied to your garden. The best way to achieve this is to use awater-proof torch and experiment with it. Shine the torch fromabove, behind, in front and below the surface of the water untilyou get the effect you desire.
Tip
Avoid glare! Glare can be annoying when unaddressed. Take timeto view your lighting set-up from all angles to ensure glare isminimised.
Since we spend many hours outdoors in summer it makes sense touse lighting in your garden. In the contemporary garden the useof lighting has become increasingly important where, whenapplied correctly, it has the ability to create a whole newworld once night falls. Outdoor lighting can be used to newcreate new dimensions and dramatic effects anywhere in yourgarden. This is especially so when lighting is used toilluminate moving water, the resulting effect can be stunning.While recognising the need to apply lighting to their waterfeature, many people struggle with how to position the lighting.Take into consideration that when it comes to creating yournight-time wonderland that less really is more! Creating a senseof theatre through creating silhouettes and shadows ispreferable to indiscriminately flood lighting an area. Althoughthere are no hard and fast rules to the application of lightingto your feature, here we will guide you through some importantconsiderations.
Electricity Supply
Since you probably already have a pump installed it is likelythat you already have an outdoor power-point. All submersiblelighting is low voltage but you will still need somewhere toplug in your transformer. If you do not have an outdoor powersource contact a suitably licensed electrician who isexperienced with outdoor fittings.
Maintenance
Just as you need to change your light bulbs inside your home youwill occasionally need to replace them in your garden. Make surethat your light fittings are easily accessible to ensureperforming routine maintenance is as easy as possible.
Colour
White light is most effective with outdoor lighting. Althoughmany coloured lenses are often available they have a tendency tolook positively garish in a residential setting. White light isalso brighter than coloured lenses and is effective in creatingshadows and silhouettes. Coloured lenses are best left to largecommercial fountains with vibrant water displays.
Submersible or Dry Mounted Lighting?
When deciding whether to install submersible or dry mountedlighting fixtures, it is important to consider your waterquality. If your water is full of algae or muddy then the effectof lighting from inside the water will be lost and the state ofyour water will be on show.
Clear water can benefit significantly from submersible lighting.Many different effects can be achieved from lighting from withinyour feature. Lighting Effects Still Water
Often is it best to use light fixtures to illuminate surroundingplants and features rather than lighting up the water itself.Lighting from above angled down will create mirrored reflectionson the water's surface. The darker the water is the better thiseffect can be achieved.
Submersible lighting can also be used to create a soft glowacross the surface of the water. This is very effective whenwater lilies are present on the water's surface.
Fountains
To effectively light a fountain the light source must come fromwithin the water angled up at the fountain. This way the lightwill catch the air bubbles caused by turbulent water making themglow.
Waterfalls
To achieve the best outcome when illuminating a waterfall thelight source should be placed behind the waterfall, backlightingit. This creates an entire new look and a sense of drama foryour waterfall as evening falls.
Alternatively you could achieve a lovely effect through nondirectional lighting. Washing a rocky waterfall with light,highlighting the surrounding rocks and plant life rather thanthe water also provides an excellent look.
Features
There are a few lighting options for features these include:Lighting the feature from above - this effect is best whenlighting is placed in a nearby tree and is at least 3 metershigh angled down at the feature, either in front or behind.
Backlighting the feature - this effect creates a silhouette ofthe feature and allows the feature to take on a whole new lookat night.
Spotlighting the feature - one or two spotlights can bedry-mounted in front of the features and angled up effectivelyilluminating it. Underwater light fittings - Submersible lightfixtures can be placed either in front or behind the feature (orboth) to create a dramatic effect. This is especially so whenthe water has movement causing the light to ripple over thefeature.
Water Walls
Where your water wall clings to the surface of the wall the bestoption here is to light from within the water. A submersiblelight angled at the wall here will create a mesmerising effectas it ripples on the water against the surface of the wall.
If your water projects out away from the wall backlighting thesheet of water provides a distinctive effect. Take Time toExperiment
Before racing out to purchase your lighting it is worth takingthe time to test how various lighting techniques will look whenapplied to your garden. The best way to achieve this is to use awater-proof torch and experiment with it. Shine the torch fromabove, behind, in front and below the surface of the water untilyou get the effect you desire.
Tip
Avoid glare! Glare can be annoying when unaddressed. Take timeto view your lighting set-up from all angles to ensure glare isminimised.
SHARE
