When you hear the word “lighting,” what comes to mind? For me, I immediately smile from ear to ear. I love this stuff.
The Power of Subtle Illumination
Yes, my passion is creating all types of water features, but how disappointing would it be to only enjoy them during the day? Just as water feature construction is an art, so is the craft of lighting. Knowing what you’re lighting, how to light it and where the feature will be viewed from is essential to creating a nighttime experience that captivates just as much as daylight views.
There are many types of lights and countless ways to illuminate a space. Since water features are part of the overall landscape palette, their lighting should act as a complement and not as a competitor to the surrounding environment. In most cases, this means subtle, indirect lighting that blends in rather than overwhelms.
Today’s lighting market is dominated by LED technology, and for good reason. LEDs offer powerful results with remarkably low wattage, often under 10 watts per fixture, making them energy-efficient and long-lasting. And when it comes to lighting water features, brighter isn’t always better. In fact, more often than not, less is more.
Of course, there are exceptions. Larger ponds or towering trees may require a higher output. But even then, fixture placement is critical. Always aim lighting away from primary viewing areas.
The last thing you want is to blind a guest with a spotlight while they’re trying to admire koi swimming beneath a waterfall.
Adding a New Dimension at Night
Ponds are stunning during the day, full of motion and life. At night, however, you have the opportunity to reveal a completely new dimension through lighting.
Take waterfalls, for example. You can illuminate a waterfall with a spotlight shining at it, or use a small, upright puck light placed directly beneath it. Each method offers a different effect: the spotlight highlights the rocks and water around the fall, while the puck light causes the water to glow, almost like it’s lit from within.
If angled upward slightly, a spotlight can even create a shimmering effect as the water movement dances onto nearby surfaces—like the canopy of a tree or the wall of a home. It’s simple, subtle and powerful.
Driftwood is another great opportunity. At night, a well-placed spotlight on a unique piece of wood can make it stand out in an entirely new way.
Shadows cast by twisted roots or gnarled trunks create texture and intrigue not always noticeable in daylight.
Urns, Vases and Bowls: A Lighting Playground
Urns, bubbling vases and decorative bowls are some of my favorite features to light. Most of these elements bubble water from a central point before spilling over the edges, making them ideal candidates for a glowing effect.
A low-wattage puck light or miniature spotlight works perfectly for this. The fixture can be secured with a small amount of foam, hidden from view, while the wire runs discreetly down through the center to exit out the base. Many manufacturers now pre-drill holes in these units to accommodate lighting cables and include watertight cord seal fittings.
The result? A glowing, bubbling centerpiece that becomes a focal point in the landscape after sunset.
Integrating Landscape Lighting
Lighting the landscape around your water feature is just as important as lighting the feature itself. During an initial consultation, always take note of nearby trees, sitting areas and potential mounting points for fixtures.
Larger trees are great candidates for moonlighting—a technique where downlights are mounted high in the canopy, casting soft, natural-looking shadows below. When installed properly, the effect mimics the light of a full moon, especially when the light passes through large branches or leaves onto the sitting area or water below.
This contrasts with uplighting, where spotlights are installed in the ground and aimed upward at the trunk, canopy or limbs. Uplighting is ideal for showcasing the grandeur of a tree or structure and works well when combined with shimmer effects from pond lighting.
When uplighting, remember the golden rule: aim lights upward and away from common viewpoints.
Using Accent Lighting and Color
For walkways, patios, and meandering streams, accent lights and path lights offer ideal solutions. These fixtures are typically 12 to 24 inches in height and shine downward, casting soft light across the ground.
Unlike spotlights, which can focus on specific points, path lighting softly outlines curves, textures and transitions in the landscape. It’s an elegant way to illuminate streams, stepping stones or sculptural boulders.
Most of the lighting techniques mentioned so far can be elevated even further with color-changing LED fixtures. These systems are just as easy to install and often come with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity, giving you full control from your phone or smart device.
Want to light a waterfall in blue while keeping the rest of the pond white? No problem. Want to celebrate a holiday with red, white and blue? You’ve got it. How about honoring your favorite sports team’s colors for game night? The only limit is your imagination.
The Final Touch
Lighting is more than just functionality—it’s an extension of the artistic vision behind your water feature. It allows clients to enjoy their investment 24 hours a day and turns an already stunning scene into something unforgettable after dark.
When designed thoughtfully, lighting will never steal the show, it enhances it. And when installed with creativity and intention, it brings an entirely new level of emotion and experience to the landscape.
So go ahead and embrace the excitement of lighting. Your clients will thank you, and their water features will shine like never before.
About the Author
George Mihalchick, owner of Ponds by George, founded his company in 1988 to build quality ponds and a supportive team culture.
