If you are searching for the best solar garden lights, then you are one of many who are looking to add some green credentials to their outdoor space. The trend for sustainable outdoor lighting is growing month after month and year after year, in large, because of the way it helps all of us do our bit to protect the environment.
Now that you are here, it is time we talked you through everything from efficiency and cost-effectiveness to environmental impact and aesthetics. Enjoy!
Choosing the best solar garden lights: factors to consider
Here at Shedstore, we believe that the benefits of solar lighting speak for themselves, but that does not mean we will not talk you through them. If you are considering adding sustainable outdoor lighting around a log cabin, or any other part of your garden for that matter, we want to make sure you find everything you could wish for with nothing but the click of a button.
Solar powered lights like those we sell here offer an impressive warm glow and usually feature a high-end polysilicon solar panel with a built-in rechargeable Ni-MH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) battery. When looking for the best solar lights, you need to start thinking about how to choose the right lights for your space based on your garden size, lighting needs and aesthetic preferences.
To get you off to the perfect start, here are a few essentials you will need to think about when making your choice:
Brightness
The more you want to use your garden later into the night for hosting, the more illuminating power you are going to need. This is not so much about the number of lights you have as it is about the peak brightness of any given light, often achieved with LED bulbs. The key number to look out for on a light’s brightness is lumens – the higher the lumens, the brighter the light.
For outdoor lighting, a range of 100 to 200 lumens is typically recommended for pathways, while 300 to 700 lumens are ideal for brighter task lighting or security purposes. Getting it right will provide the perfect balance between cosy ambience and practical illumination. Some solar garden lights can provide up to eight hours of illumination after a full day’s charge!
Coverage
If you want to be able to have the whole garden lit up, you will find a much better result with a wide array of smaller, lower-brightness lights. Solar string lights, with their numerous bulbs, well-spaced intervals, and long cables, are perfect for this purpose. They will allow you to illuminate all those little nooks and crannies so that nothing is missed, and everything ties together.
Installation
A time-consuming, expensive installation is no one’s idea of a practical solution, so consider if your options fall into this category. A large solar panel can make installation easier and provide longer-lasting illumination. You may want to go in completely the opposite direction with easy-to-move lights that you can relocate as the way you use your garden changes over the years.
Maintenance
Something as simple as wiping the cover clean will make the world of difference if you want to give your garden a new lease of life. Making sure you can mount your lights within easy access while still achieving the desired ambience is a key factor to consider.
We recommend regular maintenance to ensure optimal performance of your outdoor solar lights. Read this guide for expert advice and maintenance tips on how to clean and care for solar panels.
What makes the best solar powered shed light?
Because the benefits of solar lighting extend to a wide range of specific uses, we can talk you through the best solar garden lights for your shed. The key point to remember here is that there are two types of shed light:
- Those that illuminate the door so you can find your way inside
- Those that continually illuminate the interior when you want to work after sunset
A solar powered shed light may be better suited to the former because it will need to be able to capture the sunlight.
Various outdoor lighting products such as solar hanging lanterns, bug lights, bollard lights and garden ornaments offer distinctive features like design, brightness and security aspects for solar lights.
Sustainable outdoor lighting
Choosing the best solar garden lights is not all about the practical elements and the environmental focus, you can also have fun with it by focusing on the ambience. Solar-powered garden ornaments and lights add personality, charm and sophistication to your outdoor space. They make it a more inviting and delightful environment. When considering sustainable solar fairy lights, as an example, it is important to look at product reviews for specific brands and models.
These reviews often discuss the performance, durability and battery life of the lights, as well as their ability to withstand different weather conditions such as winter and water resistance.
Features to look for in solar lights
Whether it is a bit of DIY, searching for a tool after the kids are in bed, or just having some extra functionality, sustainable outdoor lighting is sure to give you plenty of options. To choose the right sustainable outdoor lighting, take a look at our features below, they apply to all types of garden sheds as well as summer houses:
- Battery life - all the options in our range will be able to store enough light to provide illumination when needed after dark after a day of sunshine. This will then give you plenty in reserve in case the next day there is minimal sunshine
- Ease of Installation - you will typically be mounting these types of lights on the shed itself, which means you want them to be lightweight and suitable for anchoring to wood. Opting for a versatile, flexible system is the best way to give yourself options
- Brightness - this is very much a personal choice, although you may not be able to achieve the same degree of illumination as an indoor 100 W bulb, for example. The key is to find something that allows you to move around safely and at your convenience
- Solar ground lights - these lights are perfect for creating a beautiful outdoor look with a choice of classic and contemporary styles. They are easy to install and provide excellent illumination for pathways and garden areas
Other considerations
But before we get too carried away with the aesthetics, let us make sure we cover the basics:
Environmental benefits
The best solar powered shed light will help you play your part in reducing the carbon footprint of the local community. Why does this matter when you might think it is just one light? Every little thing really does help when you want to be able to change the way we all look after the green spaces that are all too easy to take for granted. Additionally, it is also worth remembering solar-powered security lights can add an extra layer of security around the home.
Technological advances
The beauty of sustainable outdoor lighting in 2024 and beyond is that it is no longer a case of their having to be California sunshine for it to work. Solar spotlights, with their advanced performance and features, are a prime example of this technological progress. Nowadays battery technology offers storage capacities that allow you to store ten times as much power as you would have been able to just a few years ago. Add in the enhanced efficiency of the panels themselves and you will be able to enjoy a green solution that is better on every level than what came before it.
Integration with other sustainable practices
Expand your hunt for the best solar powered shed light to include other eco practices and you will be amazed at what you can achieve. Rainwater harvesting for the garden, smart home systems that help control watering levels in your row of greenhouses, and even eco-friendly paint on a play house will help make a difference. Additionally, consider the performance, durability and reliability of various brands and models of fairy lights, particularly their ability to withstand harsh weather conditions.
Landscaping considerations
Making sure your sustainable outdoor lighting is not directly shining on your growing vegetation will help provide balance and practicality. You will also want to check the direction your garden is facing so that your new sustainable outdoor lighting gains optimal sunlight exposure during the midday peak.
Larger solar panels and effective battery storage are crucial to keep the lights illuminated throughout the night, even in harsh weather conditions.
Put these little tips into practice one by one and you will be onto something special before you know it.
Benefits of solar lighting
Whether all you want is the best solar powered shed light, or you’re looking for sustainable outdoor lighting right across the board, there are so many benefits you need to consider. To make sure nothing is missed, we have put together a list of the biggest benefits of solar lighting to bring you up to speed:
- Security – Solar garden lights are an excellent choice for creating ambience and adding a layer of security to your outdoor spaces to help deter intruders.
- Cost savings - the best solar powered shed light does not just provide convenience; it also offers long-term cost savings. You will reduce your energy bills due to less of a demand on your mains supply and you will save money thanks to minimal upkeep and maintenance. Ideal when you want to be able to get a whole load back simply by giving back to the green spaces you know and love
- Ease of installation and maintenance - installing and maintaining sustainable outdoor lighting is so much simpler than having to wire in traditional lights from the mains. This type of work used to involve an electrician virtually always, which significantly increases the cost while reducing the convenience and flexibility. Once the lights were wired in, you would then have to pay the same again every time you decided you wanted to move them as your needs change
- Versatility and safety - solar lights have a range of key safety benefits, all of which stem from their low voltage design that is highly effective in reducing the risk of accidents. Whether you want to have the kids with you cooking on a new Infinity 500 Gas BBQ or Cook King Berlin Smokehouse, or you just want to be able to let them play outside with peace of mind, low voltage, weatherproofed electric lighting is a truly priceless investment
Take your time to find the right lights for you, shop our range of garden benches while you are at it, and you will have a setting that is the stuff dreams are made of before you know it.
Additional considerations for solar garden lights
Choosing the best solar garden lights to go alongside your prized wooden garden furniture is all about understanding your options and taking your time. Solar string lights are known for their durability and effectiveness, even during the winter months. The size of the solar panel plays a crucial role in their performance, ensuring they remain functional and efficient.
To help you get off to the perfect start, here are a few additional considerations you should make when selecting the best solar garden lights for your home:
- Battery life and replacement - maximising battery life is all about trying to avoid power cycling. This means that wherever possible, try to ensure that you do not leave your lights on so long that they go completely flat. Just as with your phone, keeping the charge at around the 80% level will be optimal. If you need to replace the battery, make sure it is of a suitable voltage to match the lighting element
- Solar lantern - consider using solar lanterns to add ambiance and a gentle glow to your outdoor spaces. These decorative lights, often designed with a touch of Moroccan style, are perfect for garden tables, doorsteps and patios. They are easy to use, sustainable, and create a beautiful display as the light shines through them
- Solar panel types - while the technical side of solar lighting is a long way detached from some of our more traditional products like the Forest Double Sleeper Wooden Garden Bench, it is still useful information to know. Where possible, opt for monocrystalline panels because of their higher level of efficiency and proven ability to capture more sunlight per square inch
- Weather resistance - sustainable outdoor lighting does not just need to be using reusable energy, it needs to be sustainable in the sense that it is durable and capable of withstanding local weather conditions. Opt for something weatherproof, resistant to low-level impacts and that can be mounted securely in high winds
Final reflections
The best solar garden lights or the best solar powered shed light is not just about finding the right brightness and a high level of durability. You also want something that is stylish when not in use, quick and easy to install and suitable for use around children if you need to leave them unsupervised for even just a few minutes when you pop inside. Tick each of these boxes and you will be able to illuminate your garden in style before you know it.
Contact us
Our dedicated contact form is the simplest way to get in touch with a Shedstore expert when you need to. You can ask them anything you need to know about lighting, installation, maintenance and more; all so you can achieve the beautiful outdoor ambience you have always wanted. And because you will have a dedicated point of contact, you will never be left chasing for an answer. We are also available on 0333 003 0518, as well as on live text chat via our app.