5. Create soft lighting
‘Adding lanterns around your garden is a common feature in zen gardens. Other than creating light around pathways, they add a calming atmosphere on long summer evenings,’ says Anna Elkington from Melody Maison.
The aim is not to mimic daylight with these garden lighting ideas it is to create a subtle and harmonious effect with your lighting that feels part of the environment and doesn’t overpower it. During the day your light sources should remain unobtrusive to not disrupt your zen garden ideas.
‘The ideal lighting for a zen interior garden should be soft and subdued. Lighting can be used to aid in the creation of balance between different elements in the space, such as plants, furniture, and artwork. Hanging pendant lights or wall-mounted sconces are great choices to provide subtle illumination, while also introducing an element of visual interest,’ says Mara Rypacek Mille, managing director at Industville Ltd(opens in new tab).
‘When it comes to selecting colours and materials for lighting fixtures in a zen interior garden design, natural textures such as wood, marble or stone work best to create a serene atmosphere. Incorporating warm low-level lighting can also help to make the space feel more peaceful and inviting, plus soft accent lighting is perfect for highlighting features such as small water features or terrariums.’
