How to Use Solar Lights in Landscaping: 6 Bright Ideas

Using solar lights in landscaping is all about choosing the right ones for your vision because, unlike other outdoor lighting options, you aren’t tied to an electrical outlet and there’s a solar light for every budget. Some fixtures are DIY-friendly, while others are best suited for a local landscaper. Here are six solar lighting tips to inspire you.

1. Use Uplighting to Highlight Your Home’s Architecture

Solar landscape lights can add curb appeal by showcasing your home’s unique architecture, particularly when using uplighting. Uplighting is a technique where you place a light at the base of a feature, creating a dramatic shadow or showing off specific details. There are four popular uplighting techniques.

• Wall-washing: illuminates a large area in a subtle ambient light

• Spotlighting: shines a bright light on a specific feature

• Silhouetting: where you place a spotlight behind a feature to light it from behind

• Shadowing: where you use a light at the base of a feature to create a soft shadow on a nearby wall

If you’re into bold looks, try adding a few spotlights around the facade of your home to illuminate the most dramatic parts. Use a wide-angle floodlight to wall-wash masonry if you want something more subtle. Since putting solar landscape lighting around roofing can get complicated, you may want to hire an outdoor lighting pro near you or landscaping contractor. Always ask questions before hiring a landscaping pro to find the best match.

2. Use Outdoor Solar Lights to Show Off a Landscape Feature

Think of solar landscape lighting as makeup for your yard. Use it to highlight the best features. Do you have a luxe water feature? Pop a floating solar light in the fountain basin. Do you have gorgeous ornamental trees? Try shadowing to show off the foliage. You may even want to put solar landscape lighting in a garden bed to highlight lush shrubbery.

3. Illuminate Walkways and Seating Areas With Downlighting

Like all outdoor lighting, solar landscape lighting can increase the safety of your home by creating better visibility. Downlighting is the best option if you want brightly illuminated paths and walkways. With this technique, you place a light above a feature (like a walkway or seating area) to brighten up the space. Think of it as the sun, but a lot less bright.

Install solar landscape lights on your driveway, front walkway, or around a back patio—anywhere that’s a high traffic area. If you choose a bright fixture, make sure it has a motion sensor. That way, it’s only on when you need it. If you prefer subtle lighting, try moonlighting, which uses a soft downlight to mimic moonlight. In addition to downlighting, you can put smaller path lights along your walkways to increase both safety and aesthetics.

4. Hang Solar-Powered String Lights for a Fast Transformation

String lights are one of the biggest outdoor lighting trends. They can instantly make a space look more welcoming, even if you only have a small budget for landscape lighting. LED options with solar panel stakes can cost less than $15. Give your garden an ethereal look by stringing fairy lights across benches and tree branches. Or mimic the vibe of a chic outdoor cafe by stringing bistro lights above your outdoor seating area.

5. Put Landscape Lighting in Your Trees

Trees are an excellent place to hang solar landscape lighting—particularly useful for moonlighting. Unfortunately, they’re finicky lampposts. It’s not their fault—they’re living things just like you. When you install outdoor lighting in your trees, use the following tips to be mindful: 

Attach Fixtures Using Hanger Bolts 

Insects easily damage mounting brackets. And as the tree grows, the brackets will get swallowed by the trunk. Instead, use stainless steel hanger bolts, which have some leeway so you can adjust them as your tree grows.

Never Use Staples and Nails to Attach Wire

These types of fasteners corrode and leave your tree vulnerable to insect infestation. Rust is toxic to trees in the same way it’s toxic to humans. Even if they don’t rust, they may get swallowed by the trunk, causing a short circuit. Use stainless steel screws and zip ties instead.

Make Sure Solar Panels Aren’t Shaded

Solar panels that work well in the winter may struggle in the spring and summer when your tree is full of leaves. Too much shade is one of the most common solar outdoor lighting issues. When you install solar landscape lights, ensure they’re somewhere that can get eight or more hours of full sun year-round.

6. Shop Off-Season to Get a Landscape Lighting Deal

Outdoor lighting can get expensive, especially if you’re hiring a pro for extensive work across your whole property. Luckily, there are a plethora of DIY options. Browse local hardware or department stores with outdoor sections if you're on a budget. Department stores have regular sales and trendier options (think tiki torches, string lights, and even staked patio lights).

If you’re trying to save a buck, keep the season in mind. String lights (at least the kind you use around Christmas) are likely to be on sale right after the holidays, whereas outdoor pool lighting and torches are more likely to be on sale in the winter.