Jamie Durie isn't just a sexy piece of meat (though he definitely is that too!), the guy knows his gardening. He should after all; he's become a household name in his native Australia for his expertise on on the subject. Clearly the six-pack abs and history as an exotic dancer don't have as much to to do with his success as the way he can handle a shovel. Ahem, moving on...

Jamie has proclaimed his love of outdoor living spaces, and now he wants you to know the proper way to light yours to maximize its esthetic potential. Translation: lighting in your garden can make all the difference, making it go from dull and uninteresting to worthy of spending your every free waking moment in.

Where budget allows, the lighting design is one of the more enjoyable aspects of my work. It’s also something I feel very strongly about. Without lighting, you’re denying yourself the pleasure of your outdoor room at night and, for people with busy working lives, this is often their only opportunity to take advantage of the space during the week. One of the things I find myself saying to clients time and again is, you’ve paid for your domain, so why not ensure you can use It every hour of the day and night?

Don’t baulk at the prospect of playing with lighting because it looks too technical. Believe me, the rudiment are easy to grasp and it can end up being one of the most fun, creative and satisfying aspects of planning and building your outdoor room.

Here are some basic starting points to think about:

Placement: My golden rule is the source should always be discreet. The focus should be on the garden and not the lighting fixture.

Direction: To maximize the architectural potential of a subject, think beyond the standard in-front lighting. Consider a side-casting light, drawing attention to a particular section of a wall or a hedge. This can look amazingly effective, throwing up wonderful shadowy shapes.

Intensity: This is all about the strength of the lights. You need to ensure the beam will travel far enough to light the subject in its entirety.

Focus: I’m a big fan of low-voltage lighting because the gloves come with a projecting angle of anywhere between 13 degree (a directional pin-spot for small subject) and 65 degrees (to flood a hedge or tree). This gives you the opportunity to pour the focus on a particular object to the exclusion of all else.

Colour: Have you ever wondered why 24-hour convenience stores are awash with the bright white light of fluorescent bars? This is a deliberate ploy to deter “undesirables” because stark illumination is not welcoming. The same principle goes for lighting your garden. This is why I tend to go for halogen globes or fiber-optic tubes which work well not just because of their low intensity and soft glow but also the wonderful variety of shades they offer. If you decide to go for colour, the choice can be extremely important. Consider the mood you want to create and always remember that subtlety is key. I’ve always favored blue for its mysterious, underwater feel and warm, buttery yellows seem to go well anywhere. As a rule of thumb, try to choose colours that already occur naturally in your garden.

Jamie then encourages prospective gardeners to let their imaginations take over and view their spaces as blank canvases that will be "painted" with light. He has a lot more advice on how to achieve this, so if you can tear your eyes away from the muscle-y arms and flowing hair, hit the jump to read the rest of his lighting tips.

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