Lighting Directory

Garden Lighting Terms
Adding garden lighting to your patio, deck or garden does not have to be confusing or complicated. Here is our dictionary for garden lighting terms and phrases to help you get started.


Ambient Lighting PDF Print E-mail
Ambient LightingComfortable level of light that reaches over a defined area such as a pathway, patio, playground, swing or bench in your garden or landscape. Ambient lighting serves to extend the use of an area beyond daylight as well as provide safety and security.
 
Cross Lighting PDF Print E-mail
Garden or landscape lighting of one feature from two or more sides.
 
Down Lighting PDF Print E-mail
Down LightingLights installed above the area they are to illuminate facing a downward direction.                                                                                                             

 
Floodlights PDF Print E-mail
Artificial light that creates a broad and bright beam.
 
Grazing PDF Print E-mail
The use of garden lighting to accent textures such as stonewalls, unique plants or trees and other interesting textures.
 
Moonlighting PDF Print E-mail
Even higher placed lights than down lighting this creates a moon like effect that casts pleasing shadow effects at night.
 
Shadowing PDF Print E-mail
The intentional use of lighting to create and manipulate various shadows at night. The shadows are most often projected onto walls.
 
Silhouetting PDF Print E-mail
Lighting objects in the garden from below and behind them so that when viewed from the correct side a silhouette effect is created.
 
Spotlighting PDF Print E-mail
SpotlightingFocused ray of light on one object such as a fountain, tree or small garden bed.
 
Spread or Diffused Lighting PDF Print E-mail
A widely spread or scattered garden lighting pattern. Often caused by other garden lighting features.
 
Up Lighting (uplighting) PDF Print E-mail
Up Lighting or "uplighting" is a term used to describe upward facing lights at the base of trees, plant beds, sculptures, or buildings. This creates a pleasing visual effect of an towering light accent on popular daytime garden features at night.
 
Washing PDF Print E-mail
Creating a light wash effect over a surface such as a wall or thick bushes.