Outdoor floor lamps

Outdoor floor lamps vary widely: a bollard marks a path, a standard lamp lights a corner of the terrace, a spotlight brings out a tree. Start from what they have to do in the evening.

Garden floor lamps: bollards, standard lamps or spotlights

A bollard lights a path or edge without needing a wall. A standard lamp has the shape and height of a living room lamp and looks good next to an outdoor sofa. An outdoor spotlight is aimed at a plant or wall.

If you are looking for the shape of a lantern, Cell by Karman is made of metal wire, designed by Matteo Ugolini, and also has a floor version; you will find others among the outdoor lanterns. Bols by Estiluz encloses a sphere in a metal cage. Gregg by Foscarini has an irregular shape.

Modern garden lamp posts and bollards: how tall

In our catalogue, bollards range from about 15 to 100 cm, and some standard lamps exceed a metre and a half. A low light point marks the edge and the step, and the source stays below eye level. A taller one widens the lit area, but must be well shielded so as not to dazzle. If the lamp is at the eye level of someone approaching, choose a model that does not reveal the source.

Outdoor step lights along the path: the right spacing

There is no distance that suits everyone. Between two bollards, guidance usually ranges from 2.5 to 4 m: it depends on height, optics and the width of the path. You can line them up on one side or zig-zag them on both sides, which lights the path better and looks less rigid. A row of very powerful lamps leaves dark zones between one point and the next: several weak points are better than a few strong ones. Before fixing them, try them at night with a temporary lamp.

Outdoor floor lamps: what IP rating you need

A freestanding lamp in a garden takes rain and splashes from all sides: look for IP65. On a covered terrace or under a porch IP44 may be enough, if the lamp does not stay out in bad weather. Watch out for low spots: where water pools after a storm, a lamp close to the ground can end up under water. There you need IP67, or it is better to move it. On our product pages you will mainly find IP65, IP54 and IP44, but some models go lower: always check. The guide to outdoor lamps explains the codes.

Garden ground lighting: how the lamp is fixed

There are four ways, and not all exist for every model. A spike goes into the soil: it is easy to move, but the ground must be soft. Lario by Isyluce, for example, comes as a spike-mounted spotlight. A base rests on the floor and is the typical choice for a terrace: on some models it is heavy, for example concrete. A mounting plate screws to a solid surface. With recessed fixing the base stays below ground level: you will find these models among the outdoor recessed lamps.

Check on the product page which version you are choosing and whether the accessory is included. Some accessories are sold separately.

Modern garden floor lamps: which light to choose

A warm light, between 2700 and 3000 K, suits a garden in the evening. A cooler light is not enough to make a garden safer. Direct the light downwards when you can. Dots by Vibia is a concave disc that reflects the light onto the wall like a moon: an indirect light for those who want to see the effect more than the lamp.

Underground lines, plinths and connections are a job for an electrician: talk to one before laying the paving or planting the lawn.

To choose by brand, start from the outdoor lamps of Ideal Lux, Isyluce, Karman or Foscarini.