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Log Cabin Lighting Ideas

What could be better than cosy winter evenings in your log cabin retreat? Whether you’re looking for garden lighting inspiration or you’re planning your dream log cabin, we’ve put together our top tips for indoor and outdoor lighting!

Log cabins are ideal for use all year round, so with the perfect lighting set-up you can make the most of your garden space. From a home office or gym to a children’s playroom or summerhouse, we’ve got bright ideas to help you design a space you’ll love spending time in. Extend your summer evening parties long after sunset with decorative outdoor lighting, or add task lighting such as desk lamps to boost your productivity in your outdoor office. You’ll be lighting up your log cabin in no time!


How to choose garden lighting for your log cabin

Good quality lighting is essential if you’re looking to transform your log cabin into anything from a home office to a man cave.

You’ll want to think about how you will be using the space. For example, if you’re using it as a home office or study, then you’ll need bright lighting to help you concentrate. After all, you’ll want to be able to see what you’re doing during the winter when the sun sets at 4pm! As well as standard overhead lighting, you might want to add desk lamps to your space for more focused lighting. Movable lighting means you can be more creative and flexible with your workspace layout.

However, if relaxing with friends and family is more your style, then you could opt for more atmospheric log cabin lighting, such as dimmer lights. This way your garden building is the perfect space to hangout after a summer garden party or BBQ – especially if the British weather decides to take a turn! Give your garden retreat a magical touch with fairy lights, and make your log cabin feel more homely.


During this planning stage, you’ll want to keep in mind the size of your log cabin and your budget. Our larger log cabins, like the popular Fairoak, will need more lighting than a smaller log cabin such as the Appleby. This will influence your indoor and outdoor lighting requirements.

Indoor Lighting options

There are countless indoor lighting options for making the most of the space in your log cabin, whether it’s a home gym or a craft workshop. From task lighting to decorative lighting, we’ll guide you through your options.

Main lighting

The first thing to think about is the main lighting, which gives an overall source of light to the room. This will let you enjoy your log cabin to its full potential even as the nights draw in.

Task lighting

This is a more specific type of lighting for use in different situations, like desk lamps or reading lamps. Depending on how you will be using your log cabin, you’ll have different requirements for this lighting option.

Feature lighting

Hanging your collectables pride of place in your new man cave? Feature lighting is great for highlighting focal points in the room, making your precious artwork or collectables stand out.

Directional lighting

If you’re looking to make an impact with your log cabin lighting, then consider adding directional lighting. Uplighting can act as a reflector on the ceiling and make the space look even bigger. With wall-washing lighting, you can make a room feel wider and add lots of light to a space. Downlighting will give a room direct lighting but will also allow the light to diffuse. Feature lighting can also add interest to a space depending on the direction that it’s facing.

So, what lighting options are available?

Standard electric powered lights are a good option for brightening up your log cabin as they work in the same way as the lights in your house. You don’t need to worry about the lights dimming as it just relies on an electric supply. Or, you could choose solar panel powered options and take advantage of the sun in your garden.

If you want to get fancy, you could install motion sensors, dimmers or automatic timers (for people who forget to turn the light off!) These give you more control over the lighting in your log cabin, meaning you can change it up depending on how you are using the garden room.

Not a DIY expert? Don’t panic! LED strips are an easy way to illuminate areas of your log cabin. With an adhesive backing, the strips can be cut to length and they’re longer lasting. They also give a uniform colour, but are difficult to move once you’ve stuck them down. You can get creative with lighting shelves and cabinets to decorate your log cabin.

Top tip! 

Another way of brightening up your space is to paint the inside of your shed a brighter colour, such as cream or white. Light will reflect off the walls and brighten up the room, letting you to make the most of natural light. 

Top tip!

Light coloured curtains will allow you to take advantage of natural lighting whilst also giving you some added privacy. Opting for lighter coloured furnishings will also prevent the space from feeling small.

So, whether you’re creating a cosy retreat for those chilly winter evenings, or boosting your productivity with a work-from-home office, make the most of your space with the best indoor lighting.

Outdoor lighting option

Once you’ve fitted all your practical indoor lighting, it’s time to get creative with outdoor lighting options for your log cabin!

With outdoor lighting, you’ll need to think about your power supply options, and make sure your log cabin has been installed with this in mind. A great option if you’re having issues with power is solar panels – you only need a bit of sunshine to power your lights. It’s also an eco-friendly option, and sunlight is free!

We love seeing how our customers use their log cabins. One of our customers added a touch of sparkle to their log cabin and utilised spotlighting to really make an impact.

Fluorescent or LED lighting will require you to have wiring in place and be connected to your home’s fuse box – you can get these in a range of temperatures, from a bright white to a warm yellow. LED lights are small and energy efficient but they give directional light rather than 360, making them more suitable for decorative lighting or spotlighting rather than security.

Outdoor lighting can add a sophisticated touch to your garden by brightening up your evenings. Focus on installing lights where they are needed most, for example along paths and at entrances. Not only will this add decoration and definition to your garden, but your guests will also thank you for avoiding any tripping hazards! Adding diffused lights around boundaries can help to create indirect lighting that is softer.

Top tip!

Use lights where they’re intended. Invest in outdoor lights as they will be far more durable and waterproof than any indoor lights. Although they are more costly, they will last longer and with outdoor lighting you’ll be able to make an impact in your garden.

Top tip!

If you’re keeping anything of value in your log cabin, then it’s worth investing in some security lighting for peace of mind.

With garden lighting you can transform your log cabin into an extra living space that you can use all year round. Using lighting as decoration will enhance your garden space and make it somewhere that you can retreat to.

Remember, if you’re unsure, it’s always best to get the help of a qualified electrician who can bring your vision to life in no time!