Lighting Ideas – How to Light an Outdoor Shed

From task-focused spotlights to ambient strip lights, there are plenty of stylish and practical solar lighting options to transform your shed into a functional yet inviting space.

In this guide, the lighting experts at The Solar Centre explore some creative lighting ideas to inspire your next shed makeover.

Solar-Powered Path Lights Creating a Shed Walkway

Let’s start with the lead-up to your shed.

Solar-powered path lights can be used to illuminate your shed walkway, providing a safe and well-lit passage.

You can even pick automated lights that turn on at dusk, creating a warm, inviting ambience and guiding the way to your outdoor storage area or living space.

It’s easy to install a variety of maintenance-free lights along the path for a seamless, energy-efficient lighting solution.

The Preston Solar Garden Path Lights come with a sleek, black finish and are designed to enhance your garden with a warm, welcoming glow. They are solar-powered, energy-efficient and come with a 12-month warranty.

Motion-Activated Floodlights to Illuminate the Shed Exterior

closeup of a hand waving in front of a motion sensor light, created with generative ai

Motion-activated floodlights are designed to illuminate the exterior of your shed, providing increased security and visibility.

These lights automatically turn on when motion is detected, making sure your shed area is well-lit exactly when you need it. Plus, this has the added benefit of deterring potential intruders.

The Eco Wedge Elite Remote Control Solar Light is a versatile and weatherproof outdoor light that offers exceptional performance.

Featuring a powerful 1,000 lumens output and a 10-meter motion sensor range, this light provides reliable illumination for your garden, pathway or security needs.

With its remote-control functionality and durable construction, the Eco Wedge Elite is a convenient and long-lasting solution for your outdoor lighting requirements.

String Lights or Festoon Lighting Draped Along the Shed Roofline

Cozy ambiance with glowing string lights draped over a textured wooden backdrop, conveying warmth and rustic charm.

Create a warm and inviting atmosphere in your outdoor space by draping string lights or festoon lighting along the roofline of your shed.

This simple yet elegant lighting solution can transform your shed into a cosy gathering spot, adding a touch of charm and character to your garden.

The soft, ambient glow of string lights or festoon lights creates a welcoming charm for relaxing evenings or entertaining guests.

Elevate your shed with the Elan Festoon Cage Solar Lights. This set of 10 weatherproof bulbs creates a gentle, calming glow when strung along your shed’s roofline.

Powered by solar energy, these energy-efficient lights automatically illuminate at dusk, adding enchanting illumination to your outdoor space.

Sconce Lighting Fixtures Mounted on Shed Walls

Edison lamps brighten the exterior house wall

Illuminate your shed’s exterior with decorative sconce lighting fixtures. These wall-mounted lights add a touch of elegance while providing functional task lighting.

Strategically place sconces along the shed’s perimeter to highlight architectural features or illuminate pathways.

Solar-powered options offer easy installation and energy-efficient, automatic operation.

The Chester Up & Down USB Solar Wall Light is a versatile lighting fixture that is crafted with a sleek anthracite finish, perfect for illuminating the exterior walls of a shed.

With its dual up-and-down lighting design, this fixture casts a warm, atmospheric glow that can create a cosy and inviting atmosphere in your garden or patio area.

Recessed Downlights Installed Under Shed Eaves

Modern backyard shed with a flat roof and surrounded by greenery

Recessed downlights installed under the eaves of a shed can provide functional and subtle illumination for outdoor areas.

Downlights can be integrated seamlessly into the architecture of the shed, casting a soft, focused glow that highlights pathways or accentuates certain features without becoming distracting.

The recessed installation maintains a clean, minimalist aesthetic by keeping the light fixtures hidden from direct view. This is also perfect for sheds where space is at a premium and can effectively enhance the ambience and visibility of a shed’s exterior.

The Madison Solar Strip Lights – White 200 LEDs provide a versatile and energy-efficient lighting solution for outdoor spaces.

With 200 bright white LEDs, these solar-powered strip lights can be easily attached under shed eaves for a warming glow. And the slim, low-profile design blends seamlessly with your shed’s exterior.

Landscape Lights Accentuating Architectural Features

Timbered garden shed / Guest house at twilight with walkway.

Landscape lighting can be used to highlight the architectural features of a shed.

By carefully positioning the lighting, you can create a warm, ambient glow that accentuates the shed’s design and adds an elegant touch to the overall landscape.

This approach allows you to showcase the unique elements of the structure and enhance the visual appeal of your outdoor space.

The Atlas Solar Spotlights offer a versatile and energy-efficient lighting solution for your garden.

With 100 lumens brightness and flexible heads, these solar-powered spotlights can be used to illuminate your garden shed, turning it into the centrepiece of your outdoor space.

The 2.5W solar panel functions in all seasons, providing hassle-free installation and zero operating expenses.

Outdoor Lanterns or Hanging Pendants at the Shed Entrance

Place solar-powered lanterns or hanging pendants at the entrance of your garden shed to create an inviting atmosphere.

This simple yet effective lighting solution instantly transforms the look and feel of your outdoor space, guiding guests to the shed while also adding a touch of elegance and charm, with various light designs evoking feelings from new-age to rustic.

Enhance your outdoor space with the enchanting Elan Solar Moroccan Lanterns. These captivating lights boast a delicate Moroccan-inspired design that casts a warm glow, perfect for adorning the entrance to your shed.

These sustainable and hassle-free lights transform your shed into a cosy outdoor haven.

Targeted Spotlights

Modern backyard shed with a flat roof and surrounded by greenery

Strategically placed solar spotlights can illuminate key workspaces, like tool racks and benches, for greater visibility.

This targeted lighting helps you easily locate and use your tools, without distracting from the low-key vibe of the space.

The Albany Premium Solar Spotlight provides precise and targeted illumination for your outdoor spaces.

With its adjustable angle, versatile mounting options and 120 lumens of brightness, this solar-powered spotlight is ideal for highlighting specific areas like shelves, tool racks and walkways within your shed.

Designed for hassle-free installation and operation, the Albany Premium Solar Spotlight is a versatile, energy-efficient lighting solution that can enhance both the function and ambience inside your outdoor space.

Bonus Shed Lighting Design Tips

After more shed lighting tips? Check out our additional design inspiration below:

  • Truro Solar Wall Light: The Truro Solar Wall Light is a versatile and easy-to-install outdoor lighting solution. Its stainless-steel construction and automatic operation make it perfect for illuminating sheds, garages, or other outdoor spaces without the need for wiring.
  • Firefly Solar Garden Light: The Firefly Solar Garden Light from The Solar Centre is a unique and eye-catching lighting solution that can be used to beautifully illuminate a shed. With its gently swaying LED bulbs, the Firefly Light creates a mesmerising effect, providing a warm and inviting ambience to any outdoor space.
  • Lavenham Solar Garden Lights: The Lavenham Solar Garden Lights provide a convenient and eco-friendly way to illuminate your shed. These durable solar-powered lights can be easily installed and automatically turn on at dusk, offering a warm, ambient glow to your outdoor space.


More from The Solar Centre

Explore the latest lighting design advice from our experts:

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q: How To Get Natural Light into a Shed?

A: The most popular ways to introduce natural light to your shed include installing windows or using translucent roofing panels. However, additional tips include creating a skylight, choosing clear garage doors or doors with windows, painting the interior walls white, incorporating solar tubes or light pipes, trimming back any obstructions, positioning the shed to face the sun, using light-coloured, translucent materials or considering an open-truss design to maximise natural light.

Q: Can You Put Solar Panels on a Shed?

A: Sheds often have adequate roof space to accommodate solar panels, making them well-suited to solar installation, to meet the shed’s electrical needs, deter theft, operate off-grid, and increase property value, with modern solar panels that complement the shed’s aesthetic.

Q: How Bright Should a Shed Light Be?

A: The ideal brightness for a shed light depends on its intended use, but generally, it should provide enough illumination to navigate the space safely, see clearly while working, and deter potential intruders. This typically requires around 400-1,000 lumens for a standard-sized shed.

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