Start with purpose. Task and safety lighting guides people along paths, steps and entries; security lighting covers dark corners with sensor and flood lights; and ambient lighting - think festoon, garden and outdoor wall lights - sets the mood for entertaining. Most homes look and work best with two or three types layered together.

From there, check the IP rating suits each location and match finishes to your home's exterior. Not sure where to start? Our in-house lighting design service will plan it for you free of charge.

IP44 is the minimum for sheltered positions like under eaves, verandahs and covered patios. For exposed walls, open gardens and anywhere directly hit by rain, choose IP54 or IP65. For inground driveway lights or fittings that get hosed down, step up to IP67.

Almost every light in our outdoor range carries an IP rating - read our full IP rating guide for a plain-English explanation.

Salt air corrodes standard finishes quickly, so if you live within about 5km of the coast choose 316 marine grade stainless steel, brass, copper or ABS fittings - they resist corrosion and keep their looks for years.

Many brands reduce or void their warranty on standard finishes in coastal locations, so it pays to buy coastal-rated from the start. Explore our 316 marine grade range.

In Australia, any 240V mains-powered light must be installed by a licensed electrician. Low-voltage 12V and 24V systems that run off a plug-in transformer - like most garden and spike lights - plus solar lights are DIY friendly.

Running low-voltage cable over a long distance? Use our free voltage drop calculator to choose the right cable size so your lights don't run dim at the end of the run.

Most PIR sensor lights reset by cutting power at the wall switch: turn it off, wait 10-30 seconds, then turn it back on and the sensor returns to auto mode. If the light stays on permanently, it has usually been flicked into manual override by switching off and on too quickly - repeat the reset with a longer pause.

Also check the sensor isn't aimed at moving foliage or a heat source like an air-conditioning unit. Time for an upgrade? Browse our outdoor sensor lights.

Yes - modern panels and batteries have improved enormously, and quality solar lights run year-round in Australia. For the best winter performance, position the panel in direct sun for most of the day, keep it clean, and choose fittings with larger battery capacity or a separate panel.

Solar is also the easiest DIY option, with no wiring required. Explore the full solar lights range.

For spans longer than a couple of metres, run a stainless steel catenary wire between fixing points and clip the festoon cable to the wire so the cable itself is never under tension. Always use IP44-rated or higher festoon lights outdoors and plug into a weatherproof outdoor power point.

Our festoon lighting range includes weatherproof kits ready for patios, pergolas and backyards.