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Livingetc
Livingetc
Maya Glantz

The Experts Have Decided — These Are the 5 Outdoor Lighting Trends They Predict Will Rule in 2026 and Beyond

Outdoor area with a sunken firepit, a pool, and sun loungers.

In interiors, it's widely accepted that in order to get the atmosphere right, you have to get the lighting right. Lighting is what sets the mood; it tells you how to feel. It's why we turn off the big light when it's time to relax, and swap over to soft, low lighting instead. And, unsurprisingly, the exact same applies to your outdoor space.

For far too long, garden lighting meant throwing up a few strings of fairy lights and calling it a day. And as pretty as that may be, it's also thoroughly predictable and, if I'm being honest, downright boring. In 2026, garden lighting trends are as considered and inspired as those for inside your home. No longer are people viewing their garden lights as a purely practical purchase. Instead, they are considered part of the broader scheme of their garden design. We're finding ways to use outdoor lighting to build a more inviting environment, understanding the importance of layering and using different lighting styles to 'zone' the space. The materials and designs we search for are changing, too, reflecting the wider shifts in design.

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