If you're lucky enough to have your own garden room, we've got all the garden room lighting ideas to create a special space you can use throughout the year, including the more gloomy and dark nights. It allows you to use the space effectively both during the day and at night, creating a cosy and inviting atmosphere you won't want to leave.
Whether you've got a family garden room, an outdoor gym or an office, good lighting in a garden room really enhances its functionality, ambiance, and aesthetics. As winter looms, chances are, you’ll need garden room lighting to keep you out of the dark as you enjoy your garden surroundings.
The best garden room lighting at a glance:
• Best overall: Fulton 5 Light Bar Diner Ceiling Fitting - View offer on Dunelm
• Best for energy-saving: Philips Hue White and Colour Ambiance Outdoor LED Smart 2 Metre Lightstrip with Bluetooth - View offer on John Lewis
• Best pendant light: Warwick Easy Fit Pendant Lamp Shade - View offer on Next
From weatherproof festoon lighting to pendant lighting that creates more of a statement, we've got all the garden room lighting ideas you need. We've also put together a list of FAQs about garden room lighting, including tips on how to incorporate natural lighting into your space.
Garden room lighting ideas
Best overall
www.dunelm.com
This Fulton 5-piece Light Bar Dinder Ceiling Fitting will make a gorgeous statement piece in your garden room, especially if you're still decorating or plan to redecorate. This piece will be best suited over a kitchen island or dining table and the height of each light can be adjusted to suit your taste. The light is compatible to dimmer lights and matching items are also available.
Customer review: "Beautiful finishes the room perfectly. Can also add greenery to the bar at Christmas for a festive look."
Pros
- Easy to install
- Lots of different bulbs available
- Atmospheric
Cons
- One review commented that they thought the quality would be better
Best string lights
www.lights4fun.co.uk
String lights are a great way to add a decorative element to your lighting and we love these Moroccan-style fairy lights from lights4fun. With 1.9m of lights, they are perfect for draping from shelves or hanging from walls to add detail. Plus, they are battery-powered, so you can place them anywhere - you won't need to worry about plugging them in near a socket.
Customer review: "These look really pretty when switched on. It would be nice to have an option with a plug too as batteries don't tend to last very long. Easy to order and efficiently dispatched."
Pros
- Create beautiful shadows
- Pretty and attractive
- Come with a timer
Cons
- Some reviews said they wish there was an option to have a plug
Best for energy-saving
www.johnlewis.com
These Lightstrips from Phillips will illuminate your outdoor space, bringing amazing technology with them too. Two metres in length and equipped with Philips Hue tech, you can decorate your space with colour, illuminate different rooms with warm shades of light. A Philips Hue Bridge is required for smart control of this lightstrip, and it's available to purchase separately. It can also withstand all weather conditions.
Customer review: "Easy to install and very bright, had difficulty to get Hue bridge connected to router to set light strip up but all good. Looking at connecting more."
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Can be used all year round
- Has plenty of different colours and options to use
Cons
- Have to buy Phillips Hue Bridge
Best for an intimate atmosphere
www.lights4fun.co.uk
We love these pretty Rose Gold Starburst Fairy Lights that will add a cosy and twinkly atmosphere to your garden room. Perfect for dinners and film nights, it comes with 15 starbursts evenly spread across a five-metre cable.
Pros
- Six hour timer
- Five metre long cable
- Twinkly and warm
Cons
- No reviews yet
Best pendant light
www.next.co.uk
This Warwick Easy Fir Pendant lampshade will bring some drama and sophistication to any space. The black metal fitting is encased in a clear glass shade. You will have to buy your own bulb as it is not included.
Customer review: "Nice design, easy fit perfect for updating your space. Good quality, easy to hang."
Pros
- Also available in brass and chrome
- Timeless design
Cons
- Fragile
Best festoon lighting
www.argos.co.uk
Festoon lighting is a great choice for outdoor lighting as it is suitable for both indoors and outdoors. Not only do they look great, and go with any garden design but they are generally weatherproof. These Warm White Festoon Lights from Habitat are just right for creating an intimate ambiance.
Customer review: "Really good product, like the fact you can link more sets of lights onto it and they look so nice."
Pros
- Suitable for indoors and outdoors
- Simple and sturdy
- Great value
Cons
- One review said the hanging clips were weak
Best portable lamp
www.thewhitecompany.com
Simple but effective, this gorgeous portable lamp from The White Company is a good choice for tricky-to-light areas that are far away from a main power source. Lightweight and rechargeable, this classic style has a touch-sensitive dimmer switch for ambiant lighting. Simply charge the lamp and use it anywhere.
Customer review: "Beautiful lamp, was unsure of buying it as there were no reviews on this when I ordered it. Looks even nicer than online pictures and has a sturdy/well designed base."
Pros
- Rechargeable and can be moved and placed anywhere
- Touch-sensitive
- Sturdy base
Cons
- Will need to remember to charge
Garden room lighting FAQs
What is a garden room?
A garden room is a room or outhouse in your garden that is fully functioning and designed to be 'lived in'. It can be an extension to your house or a standalone. Garden rooms can vary in size, style, and design but share the same intention of being in nature while offering protection from the elements. They are extremely versatile and can be used as home offices, studios, relaxation spaces, guest rooms, playrooms, gyms, or dining areas.
They are similar to garden pods and summer houses but tend to be a little bigger and have more amenities, such as running water and mains electricity.
How do you power your lighting to your garden room?
If you’re seeking permanent outdoor lighting, installing electrics in your garden room 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 don't want to commit to mains power for your garden room, you can always opt for battery-powered or rechargeable light sources such as lights and lamps.
Can I incorporate natural lighting into my garden room design?
Yes, natural lighting, such as windows or skylights, can enhance the ambiance of your garden room. Consider the orientation of your garden room and use these elements to maximise natural light while minimising heat gain.
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Hannah Mellin is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Modern Gardens. She has been working in the Journalism i_ndustry for over a decade and has written for an array of brands. When she's not writing, researching or testing products, she's renovating her Victorian terrace, tending to her houseplants and chilling in her jungle garden with her sausage dog Waffle._