If you enjoy your pond or waterfall during the day, then you’ll love how enchanting a pond can be by night. When the sun sets, underwater lights and other lighting design tricks can turn your water feature into a truly magical sight.
Here are some ways that you can use landscape lighting to create beautiful visual effects that can be appreciated from your deck or patio, or right from your living room window.
Set Lights Behind Your Waterfall
Add the luminous glow of an underwater light behind your waterfall to create a striking visual effect. Place the light shining toward the falling water and you’ll be rewarded with a flowing cascade of light. The water will appear to shimmer and dance as it falls, creating an almost mesmerizing effect.
Waterfalls are a perfect focal point for your pond and yard, day or night. Adding lighting only highlights their natural beauty and can be enjoyed whether you’re outdoors or in.
Place Lights In The Main Area Of Your Pond
Lighting placed below the surface of your pond will create a backdrop against which you can watch your koi dance all night long. Their bright colors will shimmer beneath the water so you don’t have to wait for sunrise to enjoy their frolicking, nor do you need moonlight for your pond to glow.
You can place underwater lighting to wash the entire area with light, or strategically place spotlights to highlight specific underwater features like rock formations or statues. Do be mindful of going overboard. Too many lights can become too bright and create a discordant rather than harmonious effect.
Tuck Light Between Rocks
For a more mysterious effect, you can hide lights within the cracks and crevices between pond rocks, so you’ll hardly see them at all and only experience their luminescent glow. This will give you an overall sense of warmth and light, almost as if your pond is shining from the inside out.
Transform otherwise dark and hidden places into a vibrant stage where you can watch the water sparkle and fish play.
If you’re feeling particularly bold, you can even use colored filters to add anything from a red to a blue, yellow or green tint to the water. Be really bold and see what rainbow effects you can achieve with multicolored lights.
Use Landscape Lights Around The Pond
Pond lighting doesn’t necessarily have to be underwater. Lighting along the perimeter can emphasize prized décor, focus on your favorite planting, or outline water areas for safety purposes.
Perimeter lighting can also be hidden strategically between rocks, or choose lighting that is embedded in a faux-rock covering for a nearly invisible effect.
Use surface ground lighting to spotlight your waterfall from the front, highlight stepping stones and walking bridges, even shine lights down from trees above to create your own moonlight. Down lighting will make your fish stand out against the dark backdrop of the water beneath, with a much different visual effect that underwater up lighting.
Place Lights Beneath Fountains
If you have a fountain built into your pond, up lights placed at its base beneath the water’s surface will give you a sparkling evening display.
Colored filters are especially magical here. Use changing multi colored lights and watch the fountain itself change color and transform from one moment to the next. You’ll be delighted as colorful, glittering droplets spray into the air and fall back into your pond.
Use Lights In A Container Garden
For those without a pond, you can still create lovely effects with light and water. Place a single bulb in a pondless waterfall or water garden container. You’ll get glimmering, rippling effects that are just as delightful to the eye.
Use container lighting to create a focal point in your yard or highlight cherished plants. Depending on the size and shape of your container, you just never know what kind of dramatic effects you can achieve with a strategically placed light.
Underwater lights and even peripheral lighting can create ambiance, add drama, enhance beauty, instill a sense of otherworldly magic and ultimately allow you to enjoy your pond and water feature day and night. Whatever the season, lighting can improve safety, highlight cherished pond features and create a soothing space for you to relax and rejuvenate.
Water has tremendous healing powers, so why not take advantage of that as much and as often as you can? Contact us if you’re wondering how lighting can heighten your outdoor experience and add beauty to your pond.
