The right lighting scheme is a vital part of any garden design, especially as the nights draw in. Check out these clever ideas for adding light to your outside space all year round; from illuminated landscaped lawns to classic candlelit suppers, who says alfresco living has to stop at sunset?

Sometimes the simplest designs are the most striking when it comes to outdoor illumination. This sleek wall light from Dusk Lighting puts an industrial-style filament bulb centre stage; while celebrating the form of this classic vintage fixture, clean lines and a minimalist black surround make the design effortlessly contemporary and the perfect addition to a modern outside space.

Ideal for houses near the water or homeowners with an affinity for the ocean, nautical wall lights are the perfect way to evoke coastal charm in your backyard. Modelled on a ship's bulkhead, this wall light is unobtrusive, yet its iconic design is sure to make a statement in everything from sprawling gardens to cosy courtyards.

If you are looking for garden lighting with a contemporary twist these outdoor charger lanterns with teak bases and powder-coated aluminium frames will look the part. Cube-shaped with curved edging you can control the amount of light released with remote controlled LED bulbs or go more traditional by inserting a scented candle instead. 

An easy garden craft idea, entwined in natural hessian rope twinkling fairy lights will create a captivating and organic garden lighting option. The solar lit rope will look just as good in daylight as it does at night in country or coastal gardens. It's ideal to wrap around trees or to fence off areas. Or, for a simple display hang around driftwood and mount on a wall. 

Keep your garden tiki bar illuminated into the night by lining your lawn with Polynesian-style bamboo stake lights. These are safe solar versions with a daylight sensor so will automatically light up the party as darkness falls.

Impress your guests at evening garden parties with a trio of firepit-style lanterns arranged at different heights. A graphite base and glass surround look contemporary while its traditional flame is enchanting. These lighthouse-style versions can hold up to eleven hours' worth of bioethanol fuel to entrance guests until dawn. 

Make your garden pond or pool look magical with a floating sphere. Managed by remote control the glorious glow ball will change hues or run through a succession of colours to mesmerise and set the mood. If one is not enough numerous balls sailing slowly around your water feature will make a striking statement. 

Placed next to pathways Moroccan-style lanterns can add exotic character to your garden. LEDs create a magical firefly effect for a warming glow within that will cast enchanting shadows on garden floors that will dance in the night as the lights flicker. 

Give shady shrubs and bedding plants a lift with a pretty string of LED outdoor rose lights. Mounted on the (almost invisible) wire, the flowers will look as if they are growing amongst the leafy foliage in a rainbow of colour. 

Create an illuminated focal point in your garden by decorating steps with an eclectic display of lanterns. Choose various lanterns and votives in different shapes, sizes and materials to reflect light or cast pretty shadows. Then, break up the display with structural cacti and succulents to finish the stylish and exotic vibe. 

Make alfresco dining a refined affair by hanging outdoor pendant lighting over the table as you would in the dining room. Whether you choose LED-lit bulbs or go for a traditional flame the focal point will create an atmospheric and ambient glow that is 'dinner party' desirable. Hang the pendants from a terrace ceiling or put up a gazebo and use the sturdy frame to suspend the lights. 

Give alfresco dining a touch of class with a cordless lamp that would not look out of place in a top hotel. The oversized statement piece will look grand as a centrepiece and cast an ambient glow over dinner. Combine with real candles sheltered in votives for that perfect indoor-outdoor balance.

If you're proud of your plants and have spent hours over the summer working in your garden weeding your flowerbeds and borders, why not give them a second chance to shine over the colder months? Run a rope light along the edge to define the shape and pick out your favourite plants with spotlights. It looks even more effective with a curved border.

Festoon lights have been a popular garden lighting option for a while so why not update the look with a modern twist? Wire cage lights are a hot trend indoors and make an edgy industrial statement in the garden too. 

We couldn't resist including this awesome illuminated water feature in our round-up. With Halloween and Christmas on their way, why not add a little bit of magic to your garden? With water streaming out of the 'floating' tap, it's a water feature and a source of ambient light in one!

A ceiling of twinkling lights can transform an outdoor patio into an alfresco fairytale wonderland. Soft yellow lights are cosy and cocooning in the outdoor space; much more appealing than blue LEDs. 

Light up steps with these easy paper bag lanterns. Weigh the bags down with shingle or rice and be sure to use only LED battery-operated tealights inside. You can even have fun with a hole punch to pierce patterns in the paper that cast shadows on the path. 

Add a whimsical touch to your evening garden with magical twinkling trees. Choose yellow fairy lights that a glow warm tone and wrap them around the trunks of trees to create an ambient effect that's inviting and idyllic. 

Install a touch of Victorian charm into your courtyard with a traditional lamppost. But don't worry you won't need to wait for the lamplighter at night as this one as it has up-to-date technology using solar LED superior energy efficiency. Anchor the base with a surround of pretty pots filled with classic plants to enhance the period feature.

It's that time of year where autumn colours and motifs start appearing everywhere, so why not embrace the change of season with these sweet mushroom lights. Each soft squidgy mushroom has an LED light in the tip to spread a magical glow the kids will love. Cluster them together for a woodland feature or spread them out in a line to give your garden path a sprinkle of fairy dust.

Even if you don't have any way to tie your fairy lights on to a fence, you can still create a lovely path of ambient light with these rather charming shepherd's hooks. They come with a double-pronged base for added stability and can be spray painted a colour to suit your scheme.

Illuminate flowerbeds inconspicuously with garden lighting that blends into its surroundings. Rock lights are designed to disguise themselves as, you've guessed it, ornamental rocks and are usually solar-powered so don't even have any giveaway wires attached. 

LED strip lighting can be cut and customised to fit almost anywhere in the garden. The light chips are attached directly onto a printed circuit board which can then be stuck onto step treads or decking to create a linear light up walkway or border. 

Create a beautiful area in your garden perfect for alfresco dining. Use a trellis to form a garden room that you can decorate with faux foliage for instant greenery, and plant up some climbers for next year. Hang festoon lights overhead for the perfect illumination.

Choose lanterns of similar style with chrome detailing and in alternating sizes to create an impressive outdoor setting. Pop them on the decking, patio or arrange them down some steps to create a stylish display. You can use real candles as the flames will be protected by the glass or use battery-operated ones so there's absolutely no fire risk. 

Go for something surprising and hang an elegant chandelier outdoors. Not something you'd expect to see in the garden, this will be a talking point for visiting friends and family. Simply hang one up on the underside of a gazebo roof, or summer house, and bring in sofas to create a cosy entertaining space.

Simply pop tealights inside hanging glass orbs and string up under a garden archway for a beautiful and angelic display. Dot them around the garden by hanging them from tree branches, sturdy bushes, ornaments or garden buildings. How pretty would these look dangling from a gazebo that you can all sit underneath. Delightful!

Pop up a multipurpose portable dome in your garden that can be used as a conservatory, gazebo, play area or even as a hot tub cover. Light it up with hanging fairy lights for a beautiful glow that gives you a space to spend the evenings all year round, whatever the weather.

Pay homage to a design icon with a statement alfresco lighting piece that will certainly turn heads. This giant outdoor anglepoise lamp has all the benefits of the original arm lamp and a giant version will take centre stage when outstretched to light your outdoor space. And, once you've finished enjoying the evening, the wall-mounted task lamp is super space-saving when tucked back against a wall.

Make the terrace feel as cosy as the living room with an overhanging outdoor pendant light that echoes an indoor feature. Contemporary and luxurious the sheer size of this piece is nothing but striking and stylish. Made from steel and aluminium this lamp will withstand the winter as it has a built-in patio heater that heats a five-metre radius too.

Spend a romantic evening dining outside on a table that itself is a light. There's no need for candles or lanterns, giving you more space for your dinner plates and wine glasses! Omitting a gentle white glow, directed downwards towards the floor, this bistro set will illuminate your garden whatever the weather.

A simple but effective way to enjoy the evening is to simply invest in a large hurricane glass lantern. With ample space for an oversized candle, the flame is protected from windy weather, helping to omit a brighter glow. Dot a few about or just go for a large one on the patio table.

Make a style statement on your lawn with giant light-up orbs and globes in a range of sizes. Solar or battery-powered, they don't require any power leads. Go for an odd number and try out different positions with them on the ground – all in a line, in a circle or randomly scattered. Plus, they'll be a great conversation starter for friends and family too!

At the end of the summer when there is still a little bit of soft evening glow, you only need to give the brightness levels a boost to render your outdoor space usable. Hanging string lights in a gazebo is a brilliant place to start your garden lighting scheme, creating a cosy garden room feel. Just make sure they are suitable for outdoor use before leaving them overnight.

Place stylish oil lanterns around the garden and on the patio table for a gentle flickering glow. In the design of an old-fashioned Edison bulb, hanging inside a glass cylinder, you can use a lamp like this indoors or out.

Make a dramatic statement with huge light-up letters positioned on your lawn or against a wall or fence. These are perfect for parties, events and even weddings – using the bride and groom's initials – and will make your garden the talk of the town!

For a no-fuss, low impact lighting solution for pathways and patios, these solar-powered LED lights are just the trick. Portable and pretty, you can easily arrange them to light the way or dot around a seating area to improve floor-level visibility.

Up the style factor in your garden with the addition of a fire pit. Position it in the centre of a seated area as the perfect focal point that emits both light and heat, giving you the opportunity to entertain well into the evening.

Spotlights are a designer's secret weapon when it comes to transforming the garden into a stunning space. The low-level lights are usually embedded in the ground to cast illumination upwards, accentuating trees, sculptures or any other statement features you want to highlight.

Not only do wall lights add the finishing touch to the outside of your home, but they also serve a practical purpose by adding a required level of security. Most are powered by mains electricity, with a switch on the inside of the house, but you can also find some with a motion sensor that will illuminate when triggered.

Give your home kerb appeal with some small topiary trees that have fairy lights entwined in their foliage. One either side of the front door is all you need for an inviting entryway. They don't need to be real either, as faux plants are perfect in any weather and will look great all year round.

A great garden upcycling idea; entertain well into the night with a string of bunting with solar-powered twinkle lights. Easy to hang up and decorate indoors and out, a garland like this is sure to add atmosphere to any occasion. A dusk-sensor turns the lights on at nightfall so you can entertain well into the evening.

Simple low, shaded table lamps are perfect for evening entertaining. When dining alfresco, you want enough illumination to be able to see what you're eating and drinking and to socialise comfortably, but not feel like you're underneath a floodlight. A trio of warm lights like this, with some others dotted nearby, are all you need.

Who says outdoor lights have to be plain white? Inject some fun into the garden with a string of multicoloured festoon bulbs. This set looks fabulous hung from tree to tree. You can even use them indoors, too. The bulbs are plastic but look just like glass; they're so realistic!

Channel peace and zen into the garden with a sculpture like this Buddha light-up water fountain. Three warm LED lights create an ambient glow as the water gently bubbles in the bowl on his lap. Water features bring so much tranquillity to an outdoor space and are extra special when they light up like this. The best thing? There are so many different ones to choose from.

Continue your party, singing along to your favourite songs with friends, well into the evening with a stylish light-up Bluetooth speaker. Providing a soft gentle glow, you can snuggle up under blankets beneath the late summer sky.

Create a cosy spot to sit and relax into the night with blankets, cushions and plenty of ambient light. Faux candles look so realistic these days and omit a flickering glow that you'd be hard pushed to differentiate from a real flame. Add lanterns, string festoon lights and tealights into the mix to complete the setting.

Pillar candles look fantastic when clustered together, especially in large numbers. Be sure that they're stood on a glass or ceramic surface to collect wax and kept away from anything that could catch alight. Not only will a grouping like this produce a rich illumination, but it'll also provide well-needed heat for cooler evenings later in the year.

Make a style statement with furniture that itself lights up. Stools, side tables, benches and cubes, are perfect for your outdoor space. Made from tough, moulded plastic, they're suitable for all weathers and can be wiped clean. Each has an LED light inside with 16 pre-set colours, making every garden party bright and fun.

Add a splash of colour to your outdoor space or conservatory by hanging up some paper lanterns. With warm LED lights they radiate a gentle glow that will last for several hours without you having to recharge them.

Have some fun outside with light-up coloured cubes that you can use as seats or tables. Created by German high-end designer, Moree, these multicoloured LED cube lights will look stunning in any outdoor space. Remote controlled, you can programme a sequence of colours and adjust the brightness levels too.

This dynamic scheme by MyLandscapes uses crisp strips of light to separate the hard surfaces from turf in this fantastic small urban garden. To get a professional look, think about mixing task lighting with ambient glowing areas and spotlights; even the curved bench is underlit to add depth and drama.

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