Now that summer's here, you'll likely be looking to spend more time in the outdoors, enjoying your garden space.
Along with a fire pit or patio heater, garden lights can bring a real sense of warmth and cosiness to your outdoor space, whether it be a patio, balcony or full-sized garden. Lights can also spruce up the look of your garden, and make it stand out.
Events such as birthdays, anniversaries or general social gatherings can also be made be better with a few garden lights, creating a more festive and celebratory atmosphere.
If you're interested in lighting up your outdoor space, we've rounded up our top picks of outdoor lights for this summer.
Can you leave solar lights on all the time?
The huge advantage of solar lights is that they are not a fire hazard, given that they gain their energy from the sun. This means you can leave your solar lights on for long periods of time without worry.
Having said that, we suggest purchasing solar lights with on/off switches, so as to turn them off whilst in storage, or in general when not in use. This will help preserve the battery life and the overall longevity of your lights.
Can all LED lights be used outside?
Yes, LED lights are the preferred choice of outdoor use give that they are bright, energy-efficient and weather-proof.
Best garden lights
1 of 955Ft 100 LED Solar Star String Lights
These solar-powered starry lights are perfect for use all year round. They come in a warm white colour and measure 55ft. They're also waterproof and have eight lighting modes.
2 of 9Solar String Lights Outdoor
Tried and tested, Jade Moscrop:"I first purchased one lot of these lights to see if they'd be suitable for my garden and see how they performed. I've since gone on to purchase three more sets to decorate all of my fences. All you need to do is pop the solar panel in the ground, where it'll receive lots of light and you're good to go. They look lovely, are easy to use, have a number of light settings to choose from and have survived many a stormy night."
3 of 9Fairy Lights Plug in 120 LEDs
Splash some colour into your outdoor space with these pretty multi-coloured LEDs. With modes ranging from flickering, fading, flashing and more, you can adjust your lights to suit any mood and occasion. This set is also completely weather-proof, so no need to worry about the occasional summer downpour.
4 of 9Bawoo Solar Garden Lights Outdoor, 12 Pack
Searching for some lights to illuminate your garden path? This pack of 12 solar lights should be more than enough. They charge for 4-6 hours in full sunlight and light for 6-8 hours. They're easy to assemble and provide a lovely bright light.
5 of 9Amabana Outdoor Led String Lights
It's bistro vibes all around with these vintage outdoor string lights. Whether you're hosting an event or just looking to give your garden a revamp, these 15 LED socket lights will do the trick. They add a soft, mesmerising ambience to your space, and will last your through the summer heat, winter cold and just about any other weather condition.
6 of 9Argos Home Set of 6 Solar Lightbulb Lanterns
The iconic lightbulb design on these lights would look glorious nestled in a tree or some shrubbery. Their handy hanging mechanism means that you can clip them wherever you like, as long as they're likely to catch the sun. They're ready to use straight out of the box, but be sure to watch them if you're due strong winds.
7 of 9Tomshine Solar Lantern Light
A solar lantern is the ultimate low maintenance garden lighting solution. Perfect for hanging in trees or on stakes in your garden, it will give you more than 8-10 hours of light with enough sunshine.
8 of 98 Pcs Solar Powered LED Garden Pathway Lights
Pathway lights are a great way to spruce up any patio or garden entrance and can add a charming glow. Powered by free solar energy, no electricity is required to light these up. To get them working, all you need to do is push the stake into the soil and ta-da - your garden is warm, gentle and inviting.
9 of 9Solar Dandelion Outdoor Stake Light
This totally unique design would look glorious on your lawn and would definitely have your neighbours peeking over to ask where you got them from! Each light has 64 warm white LEDs bulbs and they'll automatically come on at dusk. Please note: the price is for one dandelion stake.
Tips on how to spruce up your garden for summer
Use warm colours to decorate your space. Even a small pop of colour in a few plant pots can really brighten up a dull garden or balcony.
Get yourself some perennials. These are pretty hard to kill, even for the least green-fingered among you.
Have a good clear out. Grab a broom and some bin bags and sweep away any debris or leaves, it'll look much smarter afterwards. Don't forget to check out our best weed killers to remove those pesky unwanted plants, too.
Paint old furniture or fences. This is a great way to use what you already have and upgrade your garden on a budget. We love this Beach Blue coloured paint from Cuprinol for a pop of colour.
What to read next:
Jade Moscrop is a Content Writer for WhatsTheBest, specialising in lifestyle topics. She also writes for Closer, Heat, and Mother&Baby.
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