Driveway Lights – Lighting Your Way Home

Posted on 10th September 201919th October 2022 by Andrew Evangelidis

Last updated on 19th October 2022

Lighting your driveway adds an extra layer of safety and security to your home.

If you’re returning home late at night, driveway lights can guide you and your car safely into position without scraping paintwork or damaging fences, garden furniture, or walls.

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing lights for your driveway. The style of lighting you want and the type of installation required is fundamental.

Installing your driveway lights

Low voltage lighting

One of the chief advantages of low voltage outdoor lighting is that it can be safely installed without electrical expertise. This is a good option for anyone willing or able to partake in a little DIY.

Regular electrical current

You can run electricity from your house out to the driveway, but you’ll need a qualified electrician to carry out the installation. Outdoor mains cables have to be buried in a deep trench (deeper in unpaved areas) to avoid potentially fatal accidents.

Choosing the perfect driveway lighting

Ground lights

When it comes to lighting a driveway, most people tend to opt for ground lights. They’re a popular choice because they give the driveway a modern look, are unobtrusive and relatively easy to install. Ground lights are generally sold individually and come in a range of colours and shapes, so you can get creative and add character to your driveway.

Many ground lights can withstand the weight of cars driving over them. This will always be specified by Lighting Direct, so you can be sure of buying the right product. The drive-over Adelpha Ground Light has a recessed design that allows a perfectly flush, discreet installation. With a tough polycarbonate diffuser this light is built to withstand up to 2,000 kg weight.

If you don’t intend to be driving over the lights, ground lights can still be used to highlight the boundary of your driveway, install them along the perimeter of your drive and make it easier for you to park well within them. Lighting Direct offer the great value Edit Monday ground light and the Edit Mark LED ground light. These dust-tight, submersible fittings use LEDs for extremely low energy consumption and long life.

If you live within 10 miles of the coast, it’s important to find ground lights that are coastal resistant that won’t damage easily due to the high salt levels. The Faro Barcelona ground light is a domed matt nickel finish ground light that is suitable as a drive over light and is IP67 rated.

Driveway post lights

Post lights are useful for marking out your driveway perimeter, making it easy to manoeuvre your car in and out of position when light is low. They never become covered in snow or leaf debris like ground-installed lighting.

You can space post lights out along your driveway as you see fit (you might want to do this asymmetrically with a long drive—avoiding the runway effect), and even blend them into your rockery or garden features.

Whether you’re seeking traditional or contemporary lighting for your driveway, Lighting Direct has a vast range of post lights with different designs, heights and finishes. The Lucide Fedor Outdoor Bollard Light provides a contemporary lighting solution, with a satin chrome finish and stylish decorative filament bulb to guide you and your vehicle to a safe standstill.

The Edit Birch LED Outdoor Garden Post Light Kit is everything you need to light up your driveway. It comes with everything you need to get started, plus it is part of our low voltage connectable light range which means (with a little of DIY) you won’t need to pay for an electrician to get you set up.

Need more inspiration? Check out our Lighting Ideas section.

Andrew Evangelidis Head of Buying

Andrew is an experienced buying professional who takes an entrepreneurial approach to identify new lighting solutions and ensure Lyco have first-to-market ranges for our customers. Having previously worked for well known brands such as Wickes, Carphone Warehouse and Toys R Us, Andrew has now turned his hand to sourcing commercial lighting and ensure our customers receive top brand quality products at marketing leading prices. He manages a team of commercial and decorative buyers who travel the world finding new products that our customers don’t even know they need yet.

Where Next?

Plug And Play Lights – An Introduction

Posted on 14th August 201415th August 2023 by Andrew Evangelidis

Last updated on 15th August 2023

The right lighting can help to create the perfect garden atmosphere, and thanks to the wonders of Plug and Play lights, installing your outdoor lighting system couldn’t be easier – in fact, all you need is a screwdriver.

Plug and Play garden lighting is so safe and simple to set up anyone can do it – there’s no need for an electrician, and you don’t need any special tools. The fact that they are low voltage means there’s no danger to children and pets, and watertight screw connectors are used throughout.

How Does It Work?

Click image to enlarge

Essentials

In order to setup your Plug & Play Lighting system, essentially you will need 3 components:

Choose your combination of lights. Feel free to mix and match too – because everything links to the same main connecting cable, there’s no need to worry about compatibility.
Choose the correct transformer. The next step is to add up the wattages of the individual lights to work out how much power you need in total. Transformers are available in 22W, 60W and 150W wattages to suit different needs. The required wattage of the transformer needs to be greater than the total combined wattage of all the lights you have selected.
Choose your main connecting cable, either 10m with 4 ports or 15m with 6 ports.

From there it’s simply a matter of running the main connecting cable through the garden and attaching the connectors on to the individual fittings. Extension cables and extra connectors can be added separately if required.

Depending on the individual plug and play lights you select you may need a screwdriver to attach the lights to their fittings, and you may want to bury the cables in the ground or out of sight (though this is by no means necessary), but besides from plugging it into the mains you’re all done – your Plug and Play lights are ready to go!

Optional Extras

To give extra flexibility to your Plug & Play Lighting system, you can also choose from a range of additional extras including: 3 way connector, PIR sensor, dusk to dawn sensor, extension cables and remote controls.

Plug And Play Lights: Your Options

The beauty of the Plug and Play lighting system is that you can choose from a wide range of lighting products and connect them to the same system.

- Spotlights: available in a range of sizes and materials, spotlights are ideal for illuminating specific areas of the garden you want to draw attention to. A classic example is the Catalpa Spotlight Single Extension. This durable and robust fitting is perfect for adding atmospheric illumination to your garden.

- Uplighters: a more subtle approach than spotlights is to use uplighting to draw attention to specific details and features of your garden from below. Take the Cylon Square Garden Light a compact and contemporary fitting. It’s a great little accent light that will add depth and character.

- Post lighting: vertical post lights are perfect for illuminating pathways or placing between plants. The wide range of available options include halogen, LED and light bulb posts. The Linum LED Post Light is an excellent choice for lining path or driveways and is also very suitable for incorporating into a patio design.

- Wall lighting: for illuminating a whole area of the garden rather than drawing attention to a single feature, wall lights are the way to go as the lights are fixed to a higher position than ground-based alternatives. The Callisto LED Garden Wall Light for example has traditional charm and would look gorgeous next to a large oak door nested in ivy.

- Deck Lights are the perfect way to highlight your decking area with style and poise. If you have taken the time and effort to lay your decking yourself you can finish the job without the need for an electrician with plug and play lighting. The Umbra Deck Light is a great example of this type of easy to install ground light.

Atmospheric lighting: strategically placed LED or halogen-based atmospheric lights – such as in trees or along pathways – can finish things off nicely and help create the perfect mood in your garden. The Alder LED Spotlights – Set of 3 are stake lights that are really easy to reposition as required. They are great when sited in flowerbeds to show off everything that is in bloom after dark.

Plug And Play At The End Of The Day

It’s fair to say that Plug and Play Lights mean you can create a truly illuminated garden for everyone to enjoy safe in the knowledge that it won’t cost the earth (financially or environmentally) and it can be done with minimal effort.

Looking for more inspiration? Go to Lighting Ideas.

Andrew Evangelidis Head of Buying

The Beauty Of Outdoor Tree Lights

Posted on 25th July 201415th September 2022 by Maxine Clarke

Last updated on 15th September 2022

Are you looking for something different to illuminate your garden after dark? For an ethereal glow as the sun goes down it’s worth considering outdoor tree lights. From festoons draped through branches to fairy lights wrapped around tree trunks, lighting up your Oaks, Maples or Beeches can make a dramatic impression.

Let’s take a look at how to make your garden an enchanting space with the right choice of tree lighting.

Branching Out Your Garden Lighting

Spotlighting

Add drama to your garden by putting the spotlight on your trees. Highlight attractive bark and foliage with ground spotlights positioned away from the trunk such as the Searchlight Newton LED Spotlight aimed in an upward direction for a magical effect. With a narrow 30 degree beam you can focus the light for maximum impact. Think about illuminating trees with distinctive barks such as the Silver Birch and consider which trees will look attractive lit up regardless of season.

Position spotlights close to the trunk when highlighting a narrow tree. When highlighting tree foliage don’t forget to illuminate the trunk or the foliage will appear to be floating in mid-air.

Silhouetting

For a different approach to lighting your garden, why not try the technique of silhouetting. If you have a wall directly behind your tree, illuminate the wall so that your tree features as a dark silhouette against it. The lighter the wall the more powerful the effect so try using a floodlight that mimics daylight such as the Shatter Resistant 50W LED Floodlight.

Fairy Lights and Lanterns

Fairy lights are an all-year-round option for illuminating your garden. Strung from branch to branch they can add a twinkling light to your summer garden parties or al fresco dining. If you choose a solar option such as the Solar Fairy Lights – you can position on trees all around the garden with no need for a mains power supply. Try adding fairy lights to a Weeping Willow for a dramatic centre piece to your garden.

Accent your trees with pretty lanterns such as the Assiso Solar LED Garden Lantern position evenly next to trees. Always remember to choose fittings which are IP rated for outdoor use.

For a spectacular display why not illuminate a tree next to a pond to create gorgeous reflections adding depth and interest to your exterior setting.

Smaller Spaces

If you have a small garden, balcony or simply want to pot up some small trees for a decorative display on your patio, then consider illuminated plant pots. The Assisi LED Planter will add impact to your garden or the entrance to your home while housing your favourite plants.

Are you looking for a subtle moon-lit effect for your garden lighting? Or are you looking to create impact with an illuminated tree-lined walkway? However you choose to use outdoor tree lights we have a great range here for you at Lighting Direct.

For more inspiration check out our Lighting Ideas section.

Maxine Clarke Senior Buyer

Maxine has been our decorative buyer since 2015. With her experience in working for consumer-led brands, she is the perfect person to pick out the latest lighting trends for both your home and business. Maxine has an eye for the best up-and-coming lighting from the UK and around the world and works tirelessly to add new brands to our portfolio. One of her trends to watch in 2020 is connectable garden lighting; with summer garden parties more and more popular, being able to build and extend your own outdoor lighting with spotlights, festoons and string lights has never been easier – simply plug and play.

Bollard, Post & Pedestal Lighting – What’s the difference?

Posted on 11th July 201410th October 2022 by Maxine Clarke

Last updated on 10th October 2022

When searching for outdoor lights you may well have come across the terms Post, Bollard and Pedestal lighting. You can be forgiven for finding these references confusing as Post and Bollard lighting in particular are often used interchangeably.

Let’s take a look at each type of lighting in turn.

What Are The Differences

Bollard Lighting

As a rule of thumb, a bollard light will be thicker in structure than a post light which ties in nicely with the suggested origin of the name ‘bole’ meaning tree trunk.

Carve out areas by placing bollards such as the IP44 Fedor Short Bollard along pathways to guide you after dark. Alternatively separate your exterior space by placing bollards between your patio and lawn area. This particular model of bollard has satin chrome finish, clear pvc diffuser and tubular decorative filament bulb so will emit a subtle light and won’t over illuminate your garden or walkway which can spoil the effect.

Much smaller in height, standing at just 160mm, is the Linum Light. This mini bollard will work well marking out the edges of your decking, patio areas or for low level pathway light. Unlike the Fedor Bollard it is low voltage and is part of the Techmar Plug and Play connectable lighting range which makes installation very quick and straightforward. Using LED technology, it is very energy efficient too.

Post Lighting

Post lights tend to be more slimline in structure than bollards. They can be used to highlight borders, driveways or be positioned outside a summer house for smart illumination

The Edit Inox Post Light has a PIR motion sensor so the light will be activated when it senses movement within a certain detection range. This makes it ideal for illuminating paths or perimeter borders.

At the furthest end of the height spectrum come the post lanterns and lamp posts. They are designed to make a statement and work well at both the front and rear of larger properties. Their height ensures, in most instances, that the light is not obscured by plants and bushes. The Turin Grande Post Lantern – Black is height adjustable and stands proud at between 1910mm and 2790mm. It is suitable for use in coastal locations.

Pedestal Lighting

Another option for outdoor lighting comes in the form of pedestal lighting. A pedestal is a base on which something is supported; in this case lighting. These fittings tend to be shorter in height so that they can be perched on top of walls at the entrance to your home or at the side of steps.

Pedestal lighting comes in a variety of styles from modern to traditional, simple to decorative, giving you maximum flexibility of choice. If you are looking for a high quality piece of traditional lighting then the Turin Pedestal Lantern – Black is a strong contender. It will be a smart addition to your outdoor lighting perfect for guiding you into your driveway after nightfall.

For a modern twist on pedestal lighting choose a model such as the Lucide Claire Pedestal – Anthracite. It is IP54 rated so suitable for outdoor use and has stunning clear glass diffusers for a clean aesthetic.

We hope that you now have a clearer picture of the differences between bollard, post and pedestal lighting. For a full range of what we have to offer go to our Posts and Bollards section.

For more interesting tips and guidance check out our Lighting Ideas section.

Maxine Clarke Senior Buyer

How To Choose Outdoor Wall Lights

Posted on 15th May 201416th September 2022 by Maxine Clarke

Last updated on 16th September 2022

The breadth of choice of outdoor wall lights is huge so to make things easier when making your selection use a simple checklist. Firstly consider the size of the space that requires lighting; do you have a small porch area or a large patio to illuminate. Secondly think about the style and size of the outdoor wall light and how it will suit your setting. Finally think about the function of the light; is it a decorative fitting you are after or a more robust security light. Follow these 3 initial steps to start off your search.

Let’s take a look at some of the options out there – looking at both form and function.

Outdoor Wall Light Inspiration

Security Lighting

If you have a larger space to illuminate and are looking for a practical and robust wall light with an integrated PIR motion sensor then the ESP Guadcam LED Security Floodlight is a strong contender, perfect for the front or rear of your property. The HD camera & light activates when movement is sensed and the app allows direct monitoring & two-way audio.

Contemporary Style

A carefully chosen outdoor wall light will enhance any exterior setting and will create a stylish impression if positioned strategically around your home.

If a contemporary light fitting appeals then why not take a look at the Edit Coastal Arctic Wall Washer Light. This galvanised steel wall washer is designed to be positioned facing downwards and thanks to its frosted polycarbonate diffuser provides an even distribution of light. It is, however, only IP23 rated so it needs to be installed in a sheltered area outdoors.

Traditional Style

For an elegant and traditional outdoor wall light the Searchlight New Orleans Wall Lantern will not disappoint. This handsome exterior light teams die cast aluminium in a black/gold finish with clear glass panes for an authentic look.

Smaller Spaces

However small your outdoor area, don’t shy away from installing a wall light. Choose a compact streamlined fitting such as the Edit Pimlico LED Wall Light for a sleek look.

Alternatively, select a recessed piece of lighting such as the energy efficient Edit Mystic Recessed Wall Light – Black which will take up very little room.

Coastal Locations

The Geneve Up and Down Light – 40W – Graphite is a smart choice if you are looking for a striking designer light for positioning outside a property in close proximity to the sea. When selecting your exterior wall light always consider whether the outdoor space is sheltered or fully exposed to the elements. If the latter is the case then look for an outdoor wall light with a high IP rating for protection against harsh weather. In the case of coastal locations look for a fitting that is suitable for that climate. The Geneve carries an IP54 rating coupled with a 25 year anti-corrosion guarantee making it ideal.

Good outdoor wall lights, whether used to make a design statement outside your home or used as a multi-purpose security light need to be chosen carefully so they suit the area which needs illuminating. Ensure where possible that you select an energy efficient option.

Why not check out our full range of outdoor wall lights.

Or for more inspiration take a look at the Lighting Ideas section.

Maxine Clarke Senior Buyer

A Guide to Lighting Coastal Locations

Posted on 18th September 201224th October 2023 by Andrew Evangelidis

Last updated on 24th October 2023

Coastal location lights face an environment more hostile than most when they are installed outdoors. All outdoor lighting in Britain has to cope with rain and snow, frequently driven by wind and considerable changes in temperature which can often be quite rapid. Coastal location lights have to contend with an additional hazard, namely airbourne salt.

Salt setback

Salt, as everyone knows, is present in sea water and is corrosive to many materials, particularly metals. When salt remains in contact with steel, as it does when damp or wet, a chemical action occurs between the steel and the salt which results in the steel being eaten away. Therefore, anything made of steel that is either submerged in sea water or exposed to being splashed by it will have a very limited life.

The trouble is, salt doesn’t stay in the sea! When you see foaming waves whipped into spray by the wind and by breaking on shore, what you are seeing is millions of droplets of salt water being picked up by the wind and remaining in the atmosphere to be carried by the wind anything up to ten miles or so inland. Everything in that coastal belt is therefore exposed to a salty atmosphere.

Electrical conductors and connections and a damp, salty environment do not sit well together. Ask any boat owner! It is important therefore that coastal location lights are not only made from corrosion resistant materials but have all their electrical components well protected from the atmosphere.

General misconceptions

One might be forgiven for thinking that stainless steel or brass would be ideal materials to use for coastal location lights but sadly it’s not as simple as that. Stainless steel is a generic term that covers a wide range of grades. Only certain high grades are suitable for the marine environment and these are prohibitively expensive and difficult to work, making them generally unsuitable for the manufacture of lamps. Similarly brass only has adequate corrosion resistance in grades very rich in bronze such as Admiralty brass. Lamps made from that would be priced out of the market!

So we are left with just two materials that are practicable to use for coastal location lights. Mild steel that is protected by galvanising and copper which when exposed to coastal conditions develops a protective coating of its own which tends to give it an antique look.

Preservation

If you already have external lights in a coastal location you can help to preserve them and extend their life by careful maintenance. If they are galvanised, make sure the galvanising does not get damaged in any way. If they are painted, keep them regularly painted so that the paint remains intact. In all cases you need to ensure that all openings are kept sealed against the ingress of damp salty air. The brass connectors will last longer if you keep them coated with non-conducting grease. As long as your coastal location lights are well sealed, a regular wash over with fresh water will help considerably. For safety, do this only when they are switched off!

Recommended lights for coastal locations

For new coastal location fittings Lighting Direct have quite a range to choose from. For wall mounted lamps there’s a Edit Stage wall lamp in galvanised steel or there is a very nice wall lantern in a stunning Matt Nickel finish. The Sail up & down wall light also comes in matt nickel, brass & oxidised black. The pick of the Post lights is the Vejers Standard Post – Galvanised.

Living within fifteen miles of the coast doesn’t mean that any outside lights you install will need unreasonably frequent replacement due to corrosion. It just means you have to take care when choosing your coastal location lights to specify either galvanised steel or copper construction and then look after them once installed. Even then, being situated in such conditions does mean that galvanised or copper fittings may discolour over time.

Take a look at our full coastal lighting range.

Need more lighting inspiration? Check out our Lighting Ideas section.

Andrew Evangelidis Head of Buying

Driveway Lights – Lighting Your Way Home

Installing your driveway lights

Low voltage lighting

Regular electrical current

Choosing the perfect driveway lighting

Ground lights

Driveway post lights

Where Next?

Related Articles

Plug And Play Lights – An Introduction

How Does It Work?

Essentials

Optional Extras

Plug And Play Lights: Your Options

Plug And Play At The End Of The Day

Related Articles

The Beauty Of Outdoor Tree Lights

Branching Out Your Garden Lighting

Spotlighting

Silhouetting

Fairy Lights and Lanterns

Smaller Spaces

Related Articles

Bollard, Post & Pedestal Lighting – What’s the difference?

What Are The Differences

Bollard Lighting

Post Lighting

Pedestal Lighting

Related Articles

How To Choose Outdoor Wall Lights

Outdoor Wall Light Inspiration

Security Lighting

Contemporary Style

Traditional Style

Smaller Spaces

Coastal Locations

Related Articles

A Guide to Lighting Coastal Locations

Salt setback

General misconceptions

Preservation

Recommended lights for coastal locations

Related Articles

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