This iridescent lantern will look lovely as a centrepiece on your outdoor dining table as evening draws in. Motion-sensor lights are best used as an add-on - rather than as the main feature - in your security set up. One of our favourite picks, these torches have flickering lights inside that resemble dancing flames. There may only be 10 bulbs on this solar string light, but I found them to be surprisingly powerful.

Solar lights look prettiest when they’re lit up, but these will look just as striking in the daytime as they do at night. It’s easy to charge via USB too, meaning you don't have to rely on the sun to keep it glowing – just note that a charger isn’t included.The vintage design of these festoon bulbs looked good along my garden fence, but I think they would work equally well along the trim of a gazebo or nestled loosely in tree branches. These pretty twig lights will blend beautifully with any trailing plants, or on a bare wooden fence.

For use all year round, these lights can be a part of your garden décor and are the perfect accompaniment to any outdoor occasion. While they weren’t the brightest lights in my test – possibly due to just how many bulbs were having to work off one small solar panel – I liked the way you can switch between light modes, which included a static and a twinkling setting.After a full day of sunlight, I monitored how well each design lit up after dark and checked in on them at 3am to see if they were still shining as brightly as they did after sunset. If the sun has dried up your flowerbeds, give them a burst of colour with this set of four flower stake lights.