An outdoor lighting designer creates and installs exterior lighting schemes for gardens, driveways, building facades and landscape features - combining design skills with electrical installation expertise. All outdoor electrical installation must comply with Building Regulations Part P and be carried out by a Part P registered electrician or notified to Building Control. The best outdoor lighting designers are also mindful of light pollution, specifying luminaires and controls that minimise unnecessary light spill while creating a beautiful nighttime environment.
What they do
- Survey the garden and create a lighting design scheme with photometric calculations
- Specify luminaire types, positions, wattages and colour temperatures
- Install low-voltage garden lighting systems with external transformer
- Install 240V mains outdoor lighting with armoured cable buried in duct
- Uplight trees, shrubs and architectural features with ground-mounted spotlights
- Install pathway, step and wall lighting for safety and aesthetics
- Commission smart outdoor lighting - app control, scenes and timer schedules
- Integrate with home automation systems (KNX, Loxone, Control4)
- Install security lighting with PIR detection and camera integration
- Issue Electrical Installation Certificate on completion (Part P compliance)
When you need one
Outdoor lighting should be integrated into garden design from the start - cable routes buried during hard landscaping save significant cost compared to retrofitting.
Typical costs (UK, 2025)
| Job type | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Garden lighting scheme (design+install, small garden) | £600 - £2,000 |
| Feature uplighting (per tree or feature) | £150 - £400 |
| Pathway lighting (per metre) | £80 - £200 |
| Smart outdoor lighting system | £1,500 - £5,000 |
| Facade architectural lighting | £1,000 - £5,000+ |
| Hourly rate | £50 - £90 / hr |
Quality outdoor luminaires are significant contributors to project cost - budget separately for fittings (IP65 rated minimum for ground level, IP67 for in-ground or underwater use) and for the control transformer or smart controller.
Qualifications to look for
Required for all outdoor electrical installation. Verify at niceic.com or napit.co.uk before appointing.
Membership of the ILP indicates professional lighting design competence. The ILP also publishes the key guidance notes on obtrusive light reduction.
How to find a reputable outdoor lighting designer
Frequently asked questions
What regulations apply to outdoor lighting?
Outdoor lighting that causes a nuisance (such as shining into neighbours' windows) can be actionable as a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Planning permission may be required for commercial or industrial lighting or lighting on listed buildings. All outdoor electrical installation must comply with Part P of the Building Regulations and be carried out by a registered electrician or notified to Building Control.
How do I prevent light pollution?
Use full-cutoff luminaires that direct light downward and do not spill light upward or sideways. Set timers and PIR sensors to limit hours of operation and ensure lights are not on unnecessarily. Use warm white LED (below 3000K colour temperature) which is less harmful to wildlife, particularly insects and birds. The Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP) guidance notes on reducing obtrusive light are the UK standard reference for responsible outdoor lighting.
Can garden lighting be solar powered?
Yes - solar-powered garden lights have improved significantly in quality and reliability. They work well for pathway lighting and decorative feature lighting in reasonably sunny garden positions. For reliable, bright architectural uplighting of trees and buildings - which requires consistent output regardless of recent sunshine - a mains-powered system with smart controls is preferable.