Lighting can make or break an outdoor space. It directly impacts how outdoor areas are used. Making gardens friendlier and safer – especially in winter, when there’s so much night to be had. Well-chosen lights can turn even the smallest courtyard into a sociable space. It can highlight landscaping or planting features. Enhance security. And just make your garden a nicer place to be. But if you live by the coast – as around 5.3 million people in England and Wales and around 41% of the population of Scotland do – outdoor lighting can be a problem.
So, how can you best illuminate your garden if you live by the coast?
How to Choose the Best Outdoor Lights for Coastal Areas
What is the problem with outdoor coastal lighting?
Standard outdoor lights are designed to withstand typical British weather. They can handle heavy rain, wind, snow, and the heat of high summer. The problem with coastal locations is that as well as the standard weather, lights are subject to corrosion. Thanks mainly to the high degree of salt concentration in the air. When this is combined with the often-extreme weather conditions, standard outdoor lights can quickly fail. The exterior finish can be tarnished. And the interior electrics can become damaged. Making the lights unreliable. Or leading to their total malfunction.
What lights should you choose when you live by the coast?
Because of the atmospheric demands of coastal areas, brands like Nordlux have created a range of dedicated outdoor coastal lighting. Formed from materials that can withstand corrosion – galvanised steel, copper, brass, nickel – these lights are stronger and more durable than other outdoor lighting products. So, with the external structure protecting the inner workings, the lights last longer and perform better. And if you choose well, they can also look breath-takingly beautiful.
What types of outdoor coastal lighting are available?
If you find the right supplier, you can find every type of outdoor coastal lighting to suit your needs. You just need to look for the right finish.
Galvanised steel
Galvanised steel can look a little utilitarian, with an air of the rough and ready. But if you choose well, you can create a gorgeously cohesive aesthetic. And you may find some unexpected gems. While the Kontsmide Moderna is simple, functional, and straight to the point, the Kontsmide Castor carries an inherent elegance. It is charming and functional and a little bit unusual. And it would look wonderful in any garden.
Brass
Brass outdoor lighting is known to age gracefully. More sophisticated than steel, it has an intrinsic warmth which can look beautiful in a range of spaces. And it really lends itself to the coastal environment. Particularly if you embrace the seafaring spirit. With a wall light like Astro Thurso, your outdoor spaces will be shipshape in seconds. But you’re not limited to the coastal style. For a thoroughly modern aesthetic, you could select a light like the Konstmide Cremona. Bringing elegance and beauty in one.
Copper
There is something naturalistic about the colour of copper. And because of that, copper lighting works wonderfully in gardens. With post lights like the Nordlux Veno, you can illuminate your gateway or driveway perfectly. While wall lights like the Nibe can brighten any wall, garage or doorway.
Choosing outdoor coastal lighting can feel like a monstrous challenge. Something that is full of compromise and potentially set to fail. But if you work with the right brand and choose the right materials, you can bring your night garden to life. Making it as practical and as pretty as you could ever hope it to be.
Visit the First Choice Lighting Nordlux collection to view more outdoor coastal lighting.
