A garden comes alive after dark, but only if you can light it. The trouble is that outdoor sockets are rare, extension leads across a lawn are a hazard, and hard-wired garden lighting is a job for an electrician. Cordless, rechargeable lamps sidestep all of it. You carry the light out when the evening turns, set it on the table or the step, and bring it back in when you are done.
Here is how to light a garden, patio or balcony with no wiring at all.
Why cordless belongs outdoors
Outdoor entertaining is exactly where the cordless idea earns its keep. There is no socket to find and no cable to trail across grass or paving. The same lamp that lit the dinner table indoors can move straight out to the patio, which makes warm evenings effortless rather than a project. Renters and balcony gardeners, who often have no outdoor power at all, gain the most.
Light the table first
Start where people gather: the table. A warm lamp at its centre does for an alfresco dinner exactly what it does indoors, drawing everyone in and softening the evening. The Pino and the Bodega both suit an outdoor table, the Bodega especially at home turning a bottle into a centrepiece on a summer evening.
Then the edges
Once the table is lit, add a pool or two at the edges: on a step, a low wall, a side table by the loungers. As indoors, several soft pools of light feel far more inviting than one bright source. Browse models suited to outdoor use in our outdoor and terrace lamps.
A word on weather
Not every lamp is built for the elements, so check each product page for its water resistance before leaving it outside, and bring lamps in during heavy rain unless they are rated for it. Treated sensibly, a cordless lamp will give you many warm evenings outdoors.
Styling the outdoor evening
- Keep the light low and warm, just as you would indoors.
- Cluster a few small lamps rather than relying on one bright one.
- Mix lamp light with the odd real candle or lantern for depth.
- Bring the lamps in at the end of the night to keep them charged and protected.
Frequently asked questions
How can I light a garden or balcony with no power outside?
Use cordless, rechargeable lamps. They run on a built-in battery, so no outdoor socket or extension lead is needed.
Are cordless lamps waterproof?
Water resistance varies by model. Check the product page before leaving a lamp outdoors, and bring it in during heavy rain unless it is rated for it.
What is the best cordless lamp for a patio dinner?
A warm, portable one for the centre of the table, such as the Pino or Bodega.
Light your evenings outdoors with our outdoor and terrace lamps.