Food, drinks, music – it’s a lot of effort to throw an amazing backyard party, and you don’t want to have to pull the plug just because the sun has gone down. The weather’s warm, so there’s no reason to give up and go inside. As long as you make sure your yard is adequately lit, you can keep the party going all through the night.

Lighting is always fun to play with, and there are all sorts of cool things you can do to make your garden sparkle. Here are some of our top tips for outdoor lighting.

Pots and glow-in-the-dark paint

Sometimes lighting doesn’t even require any lights. A quick coat of glow-in-the-dark paint can turn any old pot into a shining work of art, and it’ll hardly cost you anything. Experiment with colours and arrangements, and see what you can come up with. You can create an otherworldly feel, or even turn your garden into a gently gleaming fairy wonderland. If you do it right, the results can be striking.

Remember the edges

When you’re decorating your garden, it’s all too easy to forget about the perimeter. However, this is one of the best places to hang up string and rope lighting. Not only does it look great draped around bushes and fences, it also serves as a handy reminder to people where the ends of the yard are located. After all, you don’t want anyone accidentally taking a trip into your neighbour’s property.

Make your own hanging lanterns

You might think this one sounds hard, but it’s really pretty simple. If you’ve got any old tin cans lying around, simply poke a few holes in them, stick a tealight in, thread some wire through the top and hang them up outside. Glass jars are great too, but you’ll need to attach little wire hangers to them in order to keep them nicely suspended.

Citronella candles

Mosquitos are always trying to ruin great outdoor gatherings, but you don’t need to douse yourself in insect repellent or light a bonfire in order to keep them at bay. Citronella candles tucked inside old jars, pots or cans are an attractive, inexpensive solution to the mozzie problem, and an absolute must for your next party.

Twine ball lanterns

If you’re feeling crafty, you’ll be pleased to hear that you can make some impressive lanterns out of twine, balloons, string lights and some craft glue. All you need to do is wrap your glue-dipped twine around balloons, wait for them to dry, pop the balloons and string the remaining twine balls along the string lights. They look amazing, and fit perfectly with a rustic theme. Your guests are guaranteed to be impressed by your DIY skills.

Origami lanterns

Origami lanterns are a gorgeous addition to any party. They give off a calm, peaceful glow, and add some serious style to any outdoor setting. But you don’t need to pay out the nose for them – if you’ve got a few squares of paper, you can create your own. They’re heaps of fun to fold together, but make sure you use battery-operated candles – ordinary ones are likely to pose a fire hazard.

Looking for more garden design tips? Swing by our landscaping section to get started.