Jennifer Aniston’s Wrapped Tree Lighting Is a Masterclass in Outdoor Layering – It’s the Most Cinematic Look for Fall 2026
Designed in collaboration with Stephen Shadley at her Bel Air home, this illuminated garden offers a lesson in high-design mood lighting
The start of fall often feels like an involuntary end to garden season. However, with the right lighting, your outdoor space can look (arguably) even more atmospheric than at any other point on the calendar. Jennifer Aniston’s Bel Air garden shows just how well an outdoor space can work once the daylight fades.
The actress worked with acclaimed designer Stephen Shadley to create a garden where her trees are wrapped in warm white lights (with the strands winding around their trunks and into the lower branches). Her outdoor lighting idea brings definition to the trees after sunset and helps frame the garden and pool area.
Crucially, the lighting is layered and varied. Lights tucked into the trees exhibit a soft glow, while smaller lights closer to the ground pick out the planting below. The pool reflects some of that light, giving the whole area a warm aesthetic without it being overpowering.
Plus, you do not need a garden on Jennifer’s scale to recreate the look. Warm white tree wrap lights, like these from Amazon, are a beautiful place to start. Try winding them closely around the trunk before carrying them into the main branches. Then use these lanterns (also from Amazon) to complete the set-up. Be selective with how many lights you use, and the result will be just as cinematic.
Shop the Jennifer Aniston-Inspired Outdoor Lighting Edit
A simple way to make your outdoor space feel just as inviting after dark, these lights look lovely stunning around a tree, just like Jen's. They have a soft glow that’s perfect for evenings spent outside, even though the temperature is falling.
These lights are directly inspired by the ones used in Jennifer's garden, making them an easy way to recreate the look at home. Hang them from your tree, or dot them around a patio for a glow that makes the garden feel so much more inviting.
Give your garden a more unique glow with this solar lantern, which features a pretty cut-out design that casts an interesting pattern when lit. It was a best-seller last fall, and I expect it to be just as popular this year.
If you don't have a tree, these stake lanterns are another easy way to add a glow to your garden. Decorate them along a path or among your planting to bring a little more atmosphere when the sun sets.
Pool lighting looks best when it’s layered, with different sources of light adding depth and atmosphere after dark. These floating solar lights add another layer to the water, creating a beautiful look that complements surrounding lighting.
These simple but chic string lights are the perfect addition to an outdoor design. They would be gorgeous wrapped around a tree, as we see in Jennifer Aniston's backyard, or strung around a patio for a more discreet effect.
‘With some careful planning, your garden won’t need to hibernate the moment the nights start drawing in,’ says Reilly, Co-Founder of Suns Lifestyle.
‘The garden trend for winter, or truly year-round outdoor living, has never been stronger. As the natural light starts to fade earlier, a well-considered lighting scheme will be the key to keeping your garden usable after the sun goes down.’
Reilly recommends treating backyard lighting ideas much as you would lighting inside the home. ‘You want to create a layered scheme within your outdoor structure and garden as you would indoors,’ he explains. ‘This will create a beautiful ambiance whilst ensuring there’s enough lighting for whoever is using the garden, be it for socializing, alfresco feasts or relaxing with a drink and a good book.’
This means looking beyond tree lights, too. ‘Combine wired options such as festoon lights, wall lights or an outdoor chandelier for ambient glow,’ Reilly advises, ‘with freestanding solar-powered lanterns, table lamps and floor lamps for flexible, movable light around seating areas, dining tables and fire pits.’
The result is a garden that can be enjoyed well beyond the summer months. With thoughtful lighting, your exterior can feel just as inviting in fall and winter – trust Jennifer to think of it first.
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