Recessed downlights are commonly used on gyprock ceilings to keep the consistency with the interior of the home. Clean and practical, choose fittings  like our Apex or Titanium downlights that can be dimmed to create a lovely ambience which is really important in these more relaxing areas of your home. 

Surface mounted downlights are great for alfresco areas, BBQ areas and pergolas where lighting can not be recessed like on beams or facias. Fittings like our new 7W Onyx (pictured below) allow the body of the fitting to be angled and provide better light into areas with raked ceilings or on the sides of beams. Downlights with a fixed canister (pictured on the left) are handy for lighting where ceiling are solid timber on concrete - areas where cabling has been wired for but the light cannot actually be recessed in to. These are a popular choice to due to the improved energy efficiency as you don't need to disturb the insulation in the roof. 

LED flood lights all look pretty much the same, but the difference comes into play through the quality of the LED chip used, the quality of the driver inside the fitting, and the overall quality of the materials used to manufacture the light. Depending on the area trying to be lit, flood lights are better off kept out of alfresco areas unless the space is very high or it is being used as reflected light. By this we mean aiming the fitting upwards and washing the light up onto the ceiling so that the light is “reflected” off the surface to give a general wash of light without any glare.
For homes looking to create reflected light in an entertaining area with a colourbond or by-rock ceiling try our Vespa LED wall light.

Wall lights are a great addition into alfresco areas as they provide indirect lighting that adds ambiance into a space. Most people are aware of the typical cylindrical  "up/down" wall lights but there are some other great alternatives that we offer that compliment a range of both new and classic exteriors. The best way to use wall lights is to have them as a secondary light source in your alfresco area. We always try to design rooms with some direct overhead lighting that can be turned on/off separately to the wall lights and garden lights. This flexibility can be easily created with the use of remote controls or if using an electrician switched back into the home.

Hopefully that gives you a bit of an insight as to the types of lights out there. For further assistance don't hesitate to contact us to get personalised help from Troy or myself.

Love your outdoors!
​Andrea Merchant

So you've realised how amazing your garden will look with outdoor lighting but confused on which products to use to get the best look? Well hopefully we can shed some light with this easy to use guide which covers a range of plants that we commonly light with our high quality fittings. If there is something you think we should add to this list please let us know!

PATH LIGHTS - SOPHIA I  BILBY I HUNZA BORDER LITE  
​These 3 LED path lights provide a lovely downward wash of light into a garden. Although they are most commonly used along pathways, the foliage that they highlight along the path will soften the mood and add plenty of interest.  Click on the links above to see more detail or give us a call.

• Groundcovers
• Succulents
• Box hedges
• Grasses

TREES & PLANTS up to 2.7mtrs - FIREFLY 3Watt UPLIGHT
The Firefly garden uplights are by far our most popular fitting due to their versatility and compact modern design. Highlight anything from water features, low plants or trees, laser cut screens or sculptures. Some trees or features benefit from using a couple of these uplights positioned either side to capture more  of the canopy or create depth without over lighting.

• Bamboo
• Ginko tree
• Japanese Maple - smaller varieties
• Yuccas
• Crepe Myrtle - small
• Prunus tree - small
• Ornamental Pear trees
• Magnolias
• Cycads
• Bird of Paradise / Stalitzia
• Tree ferns
• Ferns
• Espaliers e.g. Jasmine
• Hedging plants (soft highlighting) e.g. Viburnum Tinus, Lilly Pilly, Pittosporums

TREES up to 5mtrs - LOTUS 5W Uplight 
The Lotus garden uplight is a great step up for a bit more impact or where you require a bit more spread of light to a canopy. The short body is very discreet in the garden, and like our Firefly and Willow spike lights you also have the option of adding in an extension pole of 300mm or 600mm to raise above any underplanting. 

• Forest Pansy
• Palm trees
• Pencil Pines
• Crepe Myrtles 
• Hedging plants
• Wattles - smaller varieties
• Bamboo - taller varieties
• Birch trees
• Magnolias - larger trees

​Needing some new lighting ideas? Check out our ​brand new showroom @ 43 Rundle Street, Kent Town ADELAIDE. We've created a vibrant and sophisticated space to discover modern Architectural and Landscape Lighting that will compliment both new and old homes with minimalist styling.

​Our display is now fully equipped to showcase the most up to date lighting trends both for residential and commercial clients including a range of LED dusk downlights, semi-recessed and surface mounted downlights, creative wall lights and more. This extensive range is thanks to our partnership with another outstanding Australian company, UNIOS who are leading the industry in quality, well priced reliable fittings. 
​

​In addition to the architectural range of indoor and outdoor lighting, we are still carrying on with our great range of LED inground lights, LED garden spike lights, LED path lights, LED bollards,  LED flood lights and of course LED strip and neon flex. All these products can be shipped Australia wide at no cost to you, and are backed with great customer service from our happy team.

If you are looking for us to work with your builder, architect, electrician, landscaper or landscape architect, we are more than happy to make a time to give you that one on one service that will leave you feeling confident and excited about the project ahead. Get in touch today!

As we set off into Spring the gardens around us are just bursting with new life and its a real pleasure to look out the window. The trend of large expanses of glass around our homes allows us to connect with the outside world, but what happens when the sun sets and the garden disappears?
​

Outdoor lighting provides the key to expanding your living and enjoying these spaces even after dark. Create a beautiful, natural piece of artwork that will allow you to entertain or relax in whilst also offering safety and security. It doesn't take much to enhance your garden, a mixture of low lighting and uplighting balanced out within the area provides a wonderful ambience that sets the mood.

​​Warm white, Cool white, Neutral white??   .......Are you confused?
​

Way too often we see builders and clients choosing cool white in their houses because it is brighter. Yes, this is the case, but Cool white is like the sun, so when you see this cool light at night time your brain thinks it should be awake. This is why hospitals, schools and office buildings commonly use Cool white for their lighting but is this what you want at home?
We believe your home and garden should be a place to relax and unwind from the grind of daily life. Warm light from your LED's helps you to achieve this. As humans warm light is more natural as history shows us relying on wood fires and candles at night time. 

Looking for a modern, eco-friendly heating solution that will warm your home this winter? Look no further than our range of EcoSmart, Icon & Cocoon fire places suitable for indoors and outdoors fuelled by bioethanol fuel. NO flue, NO Chimney, NO electrician required

Bioethanol is like Methylated Spirits, it's a plant based renewable energy fuel created by the fermentation of plant by-products like sugar cane, potatoes, bananas and grain. It is classed as easily biodegradable and when it burns the residual emission is carbon dioxide and water steam which is absorbed by plants. 

Today, bioethanol has many uses including the transport industry and manufacturing, and in our fires it creates a beautiful clean dancing flame.

Stix - Effortlessly set up and easily repositioned, its bright flame will keep you captivated as well as comfortable for up to 8 hours. Sturdily constructed from stainless steel, Stix is set to be a head-turner on patios and pergolas around the world.
​
Lighthouse - As the name conjures up, EcoSmart’s Lighthouse Series provides a clear and mesmerising light – perfect for illuminating outdoor areas and providing a stunning focal point for any alfresco location.

Aspect - A contemporary fireplace for apartments, houses, offices, bars and restaurants, the Aspect makes an urban design statement and lifts the ambience of any interior. Versatility is paramount, and as a portable, freestanding piece of furniture the Aspect is a popular and well-proven choice for any location.

Mix Fire Bowl - Blending the simplicity of an outdoor fire pit with classic contemporary luxury, EcoSmart Fires’ MIX Fire Bowls add instant life to any architectural environment.

When your looking for bang from your buck lighting is an easy way to transform any outdoor space into a point of interest. We've got a few insider tips that are sure to get you planning what you can do in your home, then its just a matter of letting us help you get the right lights for the job!

A large wall is a great blank canvas for using lighting. Have a bit of fun and add some artwork or low planting to add another dimension to the space.

Recommended LED Outdoor fitting: KEO inground uplight (pictured), NEMO inground uplight (large walls - wider spread). EcoSmart fire feature also available through us.
​

Recommended LED Outdoor fitting: Onyx LED wall lights, Titus wall lights

Plants up lit at night look magical. The contrast of light and shadow through the foliage and trunks adds a sense of tranquility and depth into our gardens. By using our LED spiked garden lights you can easily position the fittings to get the light just right, and allow for flexibility as the plants grow.

Recommended LED Outdoor fitting: ​FIREFLY 3W Spike Spotlight (pictured), Lotus 5W spike light (captures wider, taller trees), Willow 11.5W spike light (great for large trees)

To get the best view of your garden at night from inside the home dim down your interior lights, it's hard to compete with the reflection from windows.

Recommended LED Outdoor fitting: Our Titanium 15W LED downlights dim beautifully with a range of dimmers on the market. Suitable for both indoors and outdoors check out our full range here.

Today I was inspired by a quote from Jamie Durie which said that you should create spaces in your garden that are like "people pockets", inviting spaces where people want to spend time. He suggests creating seating areas that encourage visitors to linger outdoors, hugged by plants. I love this idea, my dad is a very keen gardener and has a wonderful garden up in the Adelaide hills in which he has created this type of concept and it really does make you want to see what's going on and be outdoors.

Outdoor lighting is also about drawing people into the garden and making it a welcoming and inviting space in which you want to be a part of. Meandering paths lit by washes of light that guide you gently along offer tranquility and a sense of security. Up lit trees in a garden produce some of the most amazing focal points and add height which makes a space feel larger. Low washing step lights along retaining walls or walkways create a flow of energy and direction, all of which combined make up a wonderful and very liveable outdoor space for you to enjoy year round.

Palm Trees often make a natural focal point to any garden. Their height, textured trunks and wide leaves can be effectively up lit using our LED garden spikes or inground uplights to produce dramatic effects that draw your eye in their direction. We prefer to use our Lotus 5W LED spike light or the Willow 11.5W LED spike light, depending on the height and intensity required, positioned reasonably close to the tree trunk. The spike feature offers flexibility to reposition the light to get the perfect effect, whereas the inground lights offer greater security when used in public spaces. Nature has already created the beauty so we would always recommend using Warm White LED light to enhance plants, but if it's eye popping colour your after then we also have our RGB (colour changing) lights for all you crazy cats.

The Australian Gum with all its twisted and rugged beauty can often be incredibly gorgeous  when lit up. No two trees are the same, its like every Gum Tree has its own personality and when we light them with our spike lights they truely come to life. To get a good show from your Gum Tree we recommend using our Willow 11.5W LED spike lights, sometimes a few lights are needed to capture the size and angles of the tree. For the really big beauties of 20+ metres in height we have our Karri 20W Spotlight which is sure to make an impressive impact. If you feel more comfortable seeing these lights for yourself talk to us about arranging some samples.
​

Architectural in design, these Dragon Trees create striking focal points in minimalistic styled gardens that just crave to be up lit. Just look at the lovely shadows that are produced when they are lit next to a wall, it all adds to the drama and texture in a well designed landscape. We recommend using our Lotus 5W LED spike light for instant impact.

Very popular in many gardens these days as a hedging plant, Pittosporums are great at allowing light to penetrate easily through the leaves to create a gentle wash over the majority of the plant. Our little Firefly 3W spike light is perfect for doing the job as they are discreet and very energy efficient, whilst still providing a powerful punch. Ideally when highlighting hedging types of plants its important to leave about 100-150mm gap between the edge of the plants and any paving to allow the light fitting room to spread its light. This space can be still filled in with ground covers to finish off the garden and help hide the light source.

The new Axis surface mounted down light has got us pretty excited here at LED Outdoor. Premium Lighting have brought out this modern, versatile LED spot that you just have to check out. 

Designed to revolve around any application, the Axis is more than just a surface-mounted luminaire. An innovative rotating lens head has been developed from the ground up to provide unparalleled flexibility. Great for mounting onto beams and high ceilings indoor or out (IP65). Axis is a perfect for residential and commercial applications as it is also available in a track mounted option. 

You can find more details here or give us a call to request a sample.