in this video we're going to answer the question how can i use outside wall lights creatively
to improve my garden lighting ideas
fixing likes to the external wall of a building is one of the easiest and simplest ways to add
light to an external space however because it is so easy we often fall into the trap of
losing creativity with our wall mounted outside lights and we just end up volleying a functional
but perhaps quite ugly bulkhead or old school coach lamp to the wall so let's look at four
ways to get creative with outside wall lights number one use as a secondary light source
normally when we install an external wall light we're interested in the amount of light that it
throws out into the garden however wouldn't it be interesting to use them instead as a secondary
light source used for effect rather than a primary source for practical use now this area that we're
in here is quite well illuminated by all the other bits of light that we've installed along
the way so it gives us a chance to use something just a little bit different so the first fitting
that we're going to demonstrate is the brock led it's a really interesting looking fitting
and it also comes in a bollard format which you can pair with the wall-mounted light if you're
feeling adventurous now the thing that makes this fitting interesting is that normally the light
source in a fitting points outwards away from the mounting surface but if you look at this fitting
the led light source is mounted on the outside of this circular section pointing back towards
the mounting surface therefore the light illuminates the wall and then bounces back
towards the ground creating a secondary light source and creating a totally different atmosphere
to the lighting scheme out here so let's get them all mounted up on the wall and see what
the effect is like look at that that's a far cry from the old coach lamp fitting that seems
to be that favored option for developers and diys alike we've got this great looking light source
that creates a fantastic effect on the wall and also reflects light back to the patio area here
coupled with absolutely minimal glare because the light source is tucked away out of sight brilliant
number two play with shadows now the brock introduces the idea of a fitting with the
light source tucked away in a different position but the next fitting that we're going to try on
our wall here is the gila and it's a similar concept to the brock as the light source is on
the inside of this front section again but as you can see the fitting is a bit bolder in its design
and that actually works to its advantage because it's got a broader section at the back here
and that's going to create a sharper shape on the wall when it's turned on this really is a great
looking fitting and the anthracite grey finish there is beautiful if you look really closely
at it you can see that it's got tiny points that reflect the light and really bring it to life in
sunlight like we've got today and its sleek design would make it at home in either the most modern
applications or give a pleasing contrast to an older property being refurbished or converted
so let's wait for it to get dark and then we can see it in effect so you see it's a similar effect
to the brock fitting that we saw earlier but it's just that little bit more intense due to
the larger thickness of the fitting which gives a steeper angle to the delineation of the light
and shadow and also the fact that the light source has a slightly higher output these
two design features coupled together creates an intensified more dramatic effect and again really
serves as a way to use reflected light to make this outside space feel a little bit more special
number three stray out of your lane sometimes you'll find on a website information along
the lines of this fitting is only to be used in a commercial setting or something along those lines
well maybe it's okay from time to time just to look at a fitting and use it in a slightly
different setting if you think it's got merit in this case we're going to have a look at the alto
fitting from ansel and see what this looks like in a domestic setting now it's a pretty
solid looking fitting and it might seem a little bit out of place in this environment but i think
it's got real down-to-earth utilitarian appeal but the really cool thing about this fitting is that
you can adjust the beam angle at the top and at the bottom if you look carefully in one side here
you can see that there's these two little shutters that can be opened and closed to different
positions to create different effects on the wall let's try a few combinations first of all we'll
go for both fully open and you can see that that creates an effect that's very similar to the gila
fitting that we looked at a moment ago but then we can start to have some fun you can see that we
can close the shutters on the base and if we take them right down to their minimum it creates a much
thinner spread of light underneath the fitting almost like just a line on the wall here which
combined with the wide spread of light at the top creates a really interesting effect on the wall
it looks almost a bit like a martini glass on the wall there and it's fully adjustable between 0 and
90 degrees on the top and bottom which means that the scope for adjustment is huge so if i
put my light pollution head on i like the idea of keeping this top shutter really narrowed down to
create a beam of light up the wall but opening the ones on the base really wide to give a nice spread
of light down the wall and across the floor it's such a great innovative feature on this product
so if you think that a commercial fitting would look really good in a domestic setting then just
go for it number four get the best of both worlds finally we've got an absolute classic fitting and
you may remember this one from a previous video that we've made on wirelessly controlled fittings
now this fitting is not wireless in itself but the lamps that we used inside there are so have a look
at that if you haven't done so already now the reason i like this one is that first of all it's
just a great looking fitting it combines a classic look with modern simplicity and gives a nice
wall effect with a good spread of outward light as well i really like them in this application
because the position of the lamp inside there and the blanking effect of the top and bottom
plates create almost a curving effect as the light spreads out from the fitting and you can see here
it sort of frames the patio doors and the kitchen windows within that add to this the flexibility of
being able to use wireless controls for the lamps installed and you've got the best combination
of advantages a nice effect on the wall a decent amount of light on the patio area and easy control
so there we go we've seen how trying something a little bit different can create some really
interesting texture and turn your wall mounted exterior light from a purely functional item
to a really great feature of an external wall but as always we want to hear from you which of these
fittings do you think should be the ones that are going to stay installed on this property and why
do you have a go-to exterior wall light from ansel that you like to use will you think about the
way the light spread looks on the wall or is it just all about functionality for you let us know
your thoughts and questions in the comments below and as always thank you very much for
watching you