If natural lighting just isn’t enough for your summer house, it's stuck in a shady spot under a tree, or perhaps you’ve decided to have a birthday bash in the evening, chances are, you’ll need summer house lighting to keep you out of the dark as you enjoy your garden surroundings.
Park yourself down on some rattan furniture and get your gin glasses at the ready with our round-up of the best summer house lighting.
The best outdoor and summer house lighting in the UK
Best summerhouse lighting for intimate atmosphere
www.notonthehighstreet.com
First on our list, is this candle lantern from Not on the High Street. This product is handmade and made from recycled materials, too. This rustic and antique-inspired lantern would look great on a coffee table in your summer house. It has the potential to add some intimate mood lighting for an evening spent in the summer house.
| Power source: | Not included, use pillar candles, tea lights or even LED candles |
Best summerhouse lighting cottagecore
www.etsy.com
This chandelier fixture from Etsy has the same quaint farmhouse and cottage feel that mason jars give us. When it comes to installing this chandelier, you have a few options to add at point of purchase, including a white ceiling plate, as well as all the necessary hardware for direct hard-wire installation into the ceiling. Or, alternatively, it can hang from hooks and then be plugged into a wall outlet. This chandelier takes E12 candelabra base bulbs. The seller includes a set of light bulbs to get you started.
| Power source: | Mains electricity |
Best summerhouse lighting Scandi inspired
www.wayfair.co.uk
If you've gone for a Scandi approach, this unique geometric pendant light might work in your summer house. Each of these has a diverse shape thanks to the handmade finish. The canopy is included, not the bulbs, so we recommend these vintage E27 bulbs.
| Power source: | Mains electricity |
Best summerhouse lighting to hang
www.robertdyas.co.uk
Hang these solar lightbulbs around the doorway or on the roof. You can even grab two for the price of one at the moment. Solar-powered, this string of lights charge in direct sunlight and automatically illuminate at night, making them a beautiful and no-hassle addition to your garden.
| Power source: | Solar |
Best summer house lighting boho theme
www.dunelm.com
This fitting is the perfect piece to add a touch of style to your summer house. Not only is bamboo versatile and renewable, but it can grow quickly with little water – a practical and sustainable option for your summer house. It will certainly add a unique look to your space. The light bulb required is the BC/B22.
Related: Rattan garden furniture to create a stylish atmosphere
| Power source: | Mains electricity |
Best summerhouse LED lighting
Once you stick these lights into place, you'll wonder why you hadn't opted for an LED night light before. With no wiring or hassle involved, these LED lights are easy to install and are great for those who are on a budget. They would work best in dark corners, around countertops and by your summer house bar - if you have one. They're a simple solution to add light to your garden sanctuary.
| Power source: | Battery |
Best summer house lighting rustic
www.notonthehighstreet.com
From Not On The High Street, is this unusual, metal bunting - that doubles as indoor or outdoor lighting. The unique style and feel of this product would suit a summer house very well.
| Power source: | Battery |
Best summerhouse lighting for candlelit evening
www.notonthehighstreet.com
Made from recycled glass and metal, Paper High's hanging geometric terrarium lets you show off your plants or tea lights in style, the perfect sustainable addition to your summer house.
| Power source: | Not included, candles |
Best ceiling summer house lighting
www.notonthehighstreet.com
Available in three sizes, small, mid or large, are these elegant pendant lights from Glow Lighting. They take a bulb with a B22 base. You can customise these lights to your own personal tastes and there are plenty of design options to choose from.
| Power source: | Mains electricity |
Best summer house lighting decor
www.notonthehighstreet.com
Choose from four different colours, these beautiful LED glass jars could make a lovely addition to your garden. They almost mimic fireflies. We love how practical they are. Move them to any spot - and you'll get some light.
| Power source: | Battery |
Editor's Pick
www.notonthehighstreet.com
This eye-catching light fitting will suit any environment. Each light bulb has been manufactured to give a unique vintage glow when slightly dimmed. Each bulb has an average lifetime of 3,000 hours and replacement bulbs are available from Unique's Co. on Not on the High Street.
| Power source: | Mains electric |
Best summer house lighting floral decoration
www.notonthehighstreet.com
From Ella James on Not On The High Street is this delicate Clematis LED Light String. This string of faux Clematis flower lights is 1.8m long and has 20 warm white battery operated LED lights. Place it along a shelf or pop it in a clear vase for a pretty bespoke display.
| Power source: | Battery |
Things to remember before purchasing your outdoor lighting
Getting light in your summer house can be a big undertaking. So, to avoid you rushing into any purchases, Modern Gardens have answered some FAQs before our round-up.
What types of summer house lighting are there?
Solar power
Battery-powered
Mains powered
Candles
How will you power your lighting?
If you’re seeking permanent outdoor lighting, installing an electric cable for your summer house is going to be the best option. We are aware that this particular step is a large project, however, it is very rewarding to have a mains-powered outdoor space.
Before you attempt anything yourself we'd advise you to talk with an electrician to find out if this is a viable option for you and what the next steps would be, including any added cost for the installation job.
If you’re unsure about a permanent solution to outdoor lighting, you can always consider something temporary like battery-powered lighting. We’ve made sure to include some battery-powered options in this list. Even, with candles, you can achieve something lovely and intimate.
For those who have enough natural light to power their summerhouse lighting, the greenest option would be to install solar-powered lighting or simply hang solar-powered lanterns.
What type of lighting do you need?
The type of lighting you require will depend on what you’re using your summer house for.
For instance, summer houses that you want to spend valuable time in with friends and family will benefit from soft, overhead lighting – e.g. pools of warm light created by floor and table lamps.
If you fancy it as a summertime office, spotlighting might be more practical. On the other hand, if you want this outdoor space to be a suitable workshop for your creative projects or even a fitness room, we recommend something fluorescent, so you get good, crisp, and clear lighting.
What to read next
Cottagecore garden ideas for a self-sufficient outdoor space
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