I was initially undecided as to whether it was worth spending money on some best-of-the-best garden lighting when I planned the renovation of my small courtyard — it's not, after all, the sort of addition that you even notice when you're using it on a sunny summer day. When the budget is already stretched, it's tempting to leave it out, or opt for some budget-friendly solar lighting that doesn't require electricians to get involved.
However, I eventually opted into a hardwired scheme, introducing outdoor wall sconces and architectural plant lighting — and I'm so glad I did. In the summer months, it extends that feeling of comfort spent outdoors infinitely, while in the winter, turning them on stops my kitchen window from having a view of complete darkness outside, weirdly making the sense of space inside feel larger, too. Now, I'd recommend it to anyone planning a garden renovation, but for some, it's still a forgotten part of designing an outdoor space.
