Using Outdoor Solar Lights for Yard Decoration
Solar lights are an easy way to spruce up your yard at night. They create a welcoming ambiance and highlight your favorite landscaping features without the cost of electricity.
But not all solar landscape lights are created equal. To find the best ones, we used lab insights to evaluate setup, design, brightness, and durability.
String Lights
Whether wrapped around the branches of a tree or draped along your porch railing, outdoor string lights bring a warm, welcoming glow to your space. Choose from a variety of lengths, bulb styles and colors and power types. A solar panel at the end of a string of lights converts sunlight to electricity that powers the bulbs, so these lights don’t need to be plugged into an electrical outlet. They also come in many different brightness options, from five to 100 lumens, so you can select the level of illumination that’s right for your needs.
Some solar lights come with replaceable bulbs so you can change the color or theme, which is a great option for holidays and backyard parties. These lights typically need to be placed in a location that gets six to eight hours of sunlight per day to stay fully charged.
If you want to illuminate your yard or garden during the night, look for dusk-to-dawn or motion-activated lighting. These solar lights have a built-in sensor that turns them on when the sun goes down and off again solar powered water pump when the sun comes up. Some come with a timer that controls how long they remain on.
These landscape lights from Hampton Bay can brighten walkways, driveways, flower beds and other outdoor spaces. They have an adjustable head and reflector to direct light where you need it.
Path Lights
Solar path lights illuminate walkways, driveways, and flower beds and accent features of your landscape without requiring a power outlet. Many are designed to look like traditional metal lawn lamps, but others are crafted in more decorative styles that complement your yard’s design theme. Some feature shaded hoods or directional shields to reduce glare. They also come in a range of heights to accommodate different terrain.
The amount of illumination you receive from a light depends on its lumen rating, which indicates how bright it is. Purchasing one with a higher lumen rating is more cost-effective because it will require less power to produce the same level of brightness. Additionally, consider how much time you want the light to be on at night when selecting a brightness setting. You may prefer to keep the light on for a longer period of time or you might find that you want it to turn off sooner than desired.
Some solar path lights are motion-activated, while others are dusk-to-dawn and some have a built-in timer that allows you to specify how long the light stays on. Motion-activated solar lights only illuminate when they detect movement, which helps conserve energy and are ideal for security applications. On the other hand, a SOLAR INVERTER timer-controlled model will allow you to set the lighting schedule and is best for those who want a consistent flow of light throughout their home.
Spotlights
A spotlight emits narrow slivers of light, making it easier to focus on specific areas or objects. It can also be angled to point in various directions, so you have control over where the beam is cast.
If you want to highlight a garden feature or illuminate your home’s exterior, consider investing in a set of solar spotlights. Our top pick, the Linkind Outdoor Solar Motion Sensor Landscape Spotlights, features a simple streamlined design and multiple modes to choose from. The dusk-to-dawn feature automatically turns the lights on at sunset and stays on until sunrise, so you don’t have to remember to turn them on each night.
Other types of solar lighting include lanterns and wall-mounted lights. While they don’t give off as much light as the other two, they do provide a warm, inviting ambiance to your backyard and may be better suited for illuminating a smaller area.
All solar lights need direct sunlight to charge during the day, so it’s important to place them where they will receive a good amount of sun each day. If you’re unsure where to place your new lights, consult the product instructions or ask an expert for help.
Wall Lights
Lighting options like outdoor wall sconces illuminate walkways, driveways, garden beds or gazebo areas with a decorative and inviting glow. Some designs are hardwired while others use solar power to harvest energy for long-lasting, maintenance-free operation. Choose from a variety of lighting controls to enhance functionality, including occupancy sensors that trigger the lights to turn on when motion is detected and photoresistors that detect darkness to turn the light off. Some models also feature dusk-to-dawn photosensors, which turn the lights on at dusk and off at dawn. For added convenience, consider choosing a model that’s remote- or app-controlled to control the lights from a smartphone or tablet.
Some outdoor wall lights are crafted with unique shapes and finishes to add visual interest. The Better Homes & Gardens Ellis Solar Powered Black Metal and Glass Path Light, for example, has a distinct dome shape that’s ideal for illuminating entranceways or accenting landscape design features along a paved path or around a pool. This affordable option has a small footprint that’s perfect for space-limited areas.
Regardless of the design you choose, look for models that are rated to work in wet locations and that say they’re waterproof or weather resistant on the packaging. The IP (Ingress Protection) rating is an important factor that helps ensure a fixture can stand up to rain, snow and humidity. Additionally, make sure the light is UL listed and that it uses an LED bulb that’s rated for outdoor use.
