Drama, excitement and intrigue aren't just essential elements for a thrilling novel or drama, they should also characterise your garden at night.

If it's a dark, dull space, it's high time you transformed it with outdoor lighting so that it becomes not only an outdoor ‘room' for alfresco entertaining but also when you want it to be a stunning, magical landscape at nightfall.

Lighting gives a different dimension to a garden and turns it into a fabulous evening spectacle. It alters the perspective and shape of the space, and make the most ordinary corner or feature look mysterious, interesting or dramatic. The principles are similar with the method of lighting a garden to lighting a theatre stage set.

It should feature a light which is soft and easy on the eye for key areas – the patio or outdoor dining area – with other lights focusing on focal points in the distance for added visual drama.

For many people, their garden is more often seen at night not only because of our ever-increasing working hours but also because of our long, dark winter. That makes it essential to use lighting so that the garden ‘works' all year round and is useable at any time. Another benefit is that, lit properly, a garden can look beautiful, whatever the season.

In winter, lights can highlight foliage and different textures while in the summer the emphasis can on shrubs or a spectacular flower bed. Less is more when it comes to lighting. You don't want the area to look like a stadium, and you should particularly avoid too many lights on the patio, otherwise the effect will be glaring and uncomfortable. Consider instead a few downlighters focusing on the eating area, and then add atmosphere with hurricane lamps and tea lights arranged attractively on talbes, along walls or down paths to lend perspective.

Remember to light the garden for safety as well as atmosphere and focus a little bit of light on hazards such as steps or overhanging branches before inviting friends and family to enjoy your illuminated creation.

Lighting can be beautiful, but be aware of light pollution, making sure that none of your outdoor lights shine directly into someone else's home or garden or are left burning when there's no-one at home to appreciate them.

You can now get patio lighting, heating, and weather protection all in one with a made-to-measure awning. Patio awning incorporates remote control operated infra red heating as well as integral lights and could be any easy way to transform a patio into the perfect spot for alfresco dining, without being a major design undertaking.

Lighting Tricks

Create magic by lighting trees from below with uplighters to enhance their outline or set downlights in the branches above so they shine down to create a moonlight effect.

Use low voltage lights which have a soft golden glow to create atmosphere around dining areas.

Wash walls with a soft light to accentuate texture and mark out boundaries. Pillar lights are particularly suitable for this.

Use underwater lighting for artificial pools but light natural ponds from the side to create reflection.

Using coloured fibreoptics, LED and neon lights to create a party atmosphere is emerging as a top trend this year.

Try gas torches for drama, and spike spots to highlight grasses and architectural leafy plants.

For finishing touches use tea lights in coloured glass holders, tall candles in storm lanterns, hanging lanterns or fairy lights.

Let there be light in your garden!