If you’re looking to illuminate your outdoor spaces, you may be weighing up the benefits of solar lights and mains LED options.
Each option offers unique benefits for your garden, driveway and more – with solar lighting providing energy independence, lower installation costs and environmental benefits, making it ideal for remote areas. While mains LED lighting provides consistent and powerful output that’s reliable for high-traffic zones.
So, how do you know which lighting option is right for you?
To help you make the right choice, the lighting experts at The Solar Centre have put together a guide comparing solar and mains lights – including some design inspiration for each lighting type.
Benefits and Disadvantages of Mains Lighting
Below, we look at the main benefits and potential drawbacks of using mains lighting to illuminate your garden and other outdoor home spaces:
Benefits of Mains Lighting:
- Consistent Brightness: Mains lighting delivers reliable performance, making it suitable for areas that require constant illumination.
- Higher Power Output: Capable of powering more intense fixtures, mains lights are perfect for brightening larger spaces.
- Variety of Options: Mains-powered lights offer a wider range of styles and features, including smart technology.
Disadvantages of Mains Lighting:
- Installation Costs: Outdoor installation may require professional setup, adding to overall expenses and inconvenience.
- Dependence on Electricity: Subject to power outages, which can disrupt lighting when you need it most.
- Environmental Impact: Relies on non-renewable energy sources, increasing your carbon footprint and energy bills, unlike eco-friendly solar alternatives.
In summary, mains-powered lighting offers consistent brightness and higher power output, making it suitable for larger areas.
However, it comes with drawbacks, including installation costs, reliance on a consistent power source and a greater environmental.
Benefits and Disadvantages of Solar Lighting
Below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of solar-powered lighting options:
Benefits of Solar Lighting:
- Energy Independence: Solar lighting harnesses renewable energy, reducing reliance on the grid and lowering electricity costs.
- Easy Installation: With no wiring required, solar lights can be easily installed in various locations, providing flexibility for outdoor spaces.
- Environmental Benefits: Using solar power minimises your carbon footprint, making them perfect for eco-conscious consumers.
Disadvantages of Solar Lighting:
- Weather Dependency: Solar lights charge more efficiently in direct sunlight – although they can still charge fully in cloudy conditions. However, hybrid systems and models with larger solar panels can provide even better energy capture.
- Replacement: Some solar lights may require battery replacement every few years to maintain optimal energy storage, as battery efficiency tends to decline over time. However, the process is straightforward and easy to manage – and any replacements will remain functional for years to come.
- Brightness Limitations: Some solar lights may not provide as much brightness as main lighting. However, opting for higher-lumen models, or combining, solar options with reflective surfaces can enhance light distribution.
Solar lighting offers many benefits, including energy independence, easy installation and environmental benefits.
And while solar lights may face some potential challenges – like weather dependency and battery replacement – these can be mitigated to provide a sustainable and cost-effective way of lighting your garden.
Why Use LED Lighting?
LED lighting is a great choice for outdoor garden lighting due to its energy efficiency, longevity and powerful illumination.
Not only do LEDs consume significantly less energy than traditional bulbs – leading to lower electricity bills and a reduced environmental impact – but with a lifespan of up to 25,000 hours or more, they last much longer, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
Designed to withstand outdoor conditions, LEDs are resistant to shock, vibrations, and extreme temperatures. Plus, they emit very little heat, making them safer for use around plants – and are available in various styles and colours, allowing for easy integration into any garden aesthetic.
Additionally, many LED systems can connect to smart home technology for remote control and automation.
Overall, LED lighting combines efficiency, durability, and aesthetic appeal, making them some of the best and brightest solar-powered garden lights.
Garden Lighting Ideas for Mains and Solar Lights
Now we’ve compared the unique benefits of solar and mains lights, you’re ready to find the perfect product to transform your home garden.
Here, our lighting experts look at some stunning garden lighting ideas for mains and solar-powered lights:
Pathway Lights
Pathway lights are the perfect way to create a welcoming ambiance, while illuminating walkways around the home to avoid potential slips, trips and falls.
Space them evenly across the path to guide visitors safely through the garden and create a stunning, even glow around your garden perimeter.
Mains-powered pathway lights may require complex underground installation, but make up for this with consistent and powerful light output – while solar powered pathway lights are easier to install and offer more flexibility in placement as a result.
If you’re opting for solar lights, we recommend the Lavenham Solar Garden Lights. Featuring vintage-style filament LEDs, these stylish lights offer up to 10 hours of warm, automatic illumination—perfect for enhancing outdoor spaces.
String Lights
Hanging LED string lights can be draped over trees, pergolas or fences, adding a cosy and inviting atmosphere to outdoor gatherings.
Mains versions are weather resistant and available for those in need of constant high-intensity illumination, but require a more intensive installation process, while solar lights are a cost-effective and quick alternative.
For a solar powered option, we recommend the Lumify USB Solar Vintage Bulb Lights. This set of 10 stylish bulbs offers warm illumination, dual charging options and eight lighting modes for perfect ambiance year-round.
Spotlights
LED spotlights can highlight specific garden features, like sculptures, trees or flower beds, creating dramatic focal points.
Mains spotlights can be used to create greater intensity when illuminating larger areas of a garden that require high visibility, like fields or front driveways, while solar versions are great for subtle uplighting, and enhancing landscape features.
For a solar version of this design idea, we recommend the Atlas Solar Spotlights. This set of two lights features adjustable heads, 100 lumens brightness and a durable solar panel, offering effortless installation and eco-friendly lighting for up to 10 hours.
Wall-Mounted Lights
LED wall lights can be attached to fences or walls, providing illumination for patios and entryways while enhancing security.
Mains lights require additional installation work to run cabling along walls or fence lines but are the preferred option for high-powered security lighting to deter intruders. Solar versions are an ideal alternative for providing subtle, ambient lighting while keeping smaller outdoor spaces secure.
For wall-mounted solar lights, we recommend the Kodiak Mini Solar Wall Light. Featuring a sleek design, it offers up to 10 hours of illumination, wireless installation and eco-friendly solar power for year-round use.
Solar Lanterns
LED lanterns can be placed on tables or hung from hooks, offering a charming, vintage-inspired look while providing ambient light.
Mains lantern options are perfect for providing static lighting for dining spaces, while solar variants provide stunning, soft lighting that can be moved around effortlessly when needed, for those with modular outdoor dining areas.
For a stylish solar lantern, we recommend the Elan Solar Scroll Lanterns. Featuring 20 vintage-style LEDs on a 10-meter string, these eco-friendly lights provide up to 10 hours of warm illumination, perfect for any occasion.
Bonus Lighting Inspiration
Here are some alternative solar LED lighting options that would make a stunning centerpiece for any landscape lighting design.
- Madison Solar Tube Lights: Illuminate your outdoor spaces with Madison Solar Tube Lights! Featuring 200 bright white LEDs on a 10-meter strand, these solar-powered lights offer three brightness settings and up to 10 hours of enchanting glow.
- Solar Panel Cable Extension Packs: Enhance your solar setup with our Solar Panel Cable Extension Packs. Designed for easy installation, these durable cables allow for flexible positioning of your solar panels, ensuring optimal sunlight exposure for maximum efficiency.
- Edinburgh USB Solar Micro LED Festoon Lights: Transform your outdoor space with the Edinburgh USB Solar Micro LED Festoon Lights. This set of 10 vintage-style bulbs offers a warm, solar-powered glow and features USB charging for added convenience.
More from The Solar Centre
Need more solar garden lighting inspiration? Check out our related guides below:
- How Do Solar Lights Work?
- Solar Lighting Ideas to Transform Your Garden
- Outdoor Cottage Lighting Ideas to Transform Your Garden
- Outdoor Stair Lighting Ideas
- Driveway Lighting Ideas
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Do Solar Lights Overcharge?
A: Solar lights typically have built-in mechanisms to prevent overcharging. During the day, the solar panel charges the battery, and at night, the light automatically turns on. However, excessive sunlight or faulty batteries can sometimes lead to reduced battery life, so it’s essential to use high-quality products.
Q: Do Solar String Lights Work in Winter?
A: Solar string lights can work in winter, but their performance may vary based on sunlight availability. Position the solar panel in a location with maximise sunlight exposure for optimal performance. Some models are designed to operate effectively in colder temperatures, ensuring they provide light even during shorter days.
Q: Do Solar Powered Lights Work At Night?
A: Solar-powered lights are designed to work at night. They charge during the day, powered by sunlight and automatically turn on at dusk. Equipped with light sensors, these lights illuminate your outdoor spaces after dark, providing reliable lighting without the need for electrical connections.