Spot lighting is the secret weapon of garden design. One well-placed spot does more than ten random fixtures. Here's how to pick.
Beam angle
Narrow (15–25°) = picks out one object: a tree, a sculpture. Wide (60–80°) = washes a wall or façade. Most general-use spots: 30–45°.
Color temperature
Warm white (2,700–3,000 K) for cozy. Neutral (3,500–4,000 K) for accurate plant color. Cool white (5,000 K+) only for security perimeters — it looks clinical in landscaping.
Lumens · less than you think
A 300-lumen spot picks out a 3 m tall tree from 5 m away. 600 lumens is plenty for a 6 m façade. Going brighter usually just produces glare.
Solar vs 230V vs 12V
Solar: easiest install, dimmer (up to ~600 lumens). 230V: brightest, permanent, requires wiring. 12V (low-voltage): the pro choice — bright, safe, install with a transformer, no trench needed for the spurs.
