Lanterns, sconces and candlelight, and the order in which to add them.
Outdoor lighting fails most often because it is all one kind. A single bright fixture by the door floods the porch, flattens every surface and sends everyone back inside. The answer is the same one designers use indoors: layers.
Begin with the architecture. Wall sconces on either side of the door frame the entry and tell guests where to go. Choose warm bulbs, around 2700 Kelvin, and keep them dim enough that you notice the fixture before the glare.
Next, light the paths. Low lanterns along the steps or tucked into planting beds keep feet safe without lighting the whole garden. Aim them down, not out, so the light lands on the stone and not in anyone's eyes.
Then add the light you sit by. A table lamp rated for outdoor use, a cluster of hurricane candles or a string of small bulbs under the eaves brings the glow down to eye level, where conversation happens.
Last comes the garden itself. One or two uplights at the base of a tree or along a hedge give the view some depth, so the evening does not end at the porch rail. Put the whole scheme on a dimmer or a timer and the hour after sunset becomes the best hour of the day.
