Outdoor lighting is a fantastic way to enhance the beauty of your home and garden. It not only adds character, it also increases the safety of your yard and improves visibility. The right exterior lighting can help guests find your home, reduce tripping hazards and make your landscape a stunning focal point at night.
Consider the location and purpose of your lighting plan
Lights are designed to meet specific needs, so be sure to identify exactly what you want them for before starting any lighting design work. Some lights are simply there to provide bright light for security, while others offer an atmospheric glow to highlight a particular feature.
Look for fixtures that use LED bulbs, as these are long-lasting and save energy. In addition, consider choosing lights that are motion sensor-enabled or have a timer to help manage them.
The right angle is key to making your lights look their best and minimizing the amount of glare they create. A trained professional will know just what angles to place your fixtures and how to use them to the fullest.
Focus your lighting on the features you most want to spotlight — like your front door or patio. You’ll need a strong source of lighting for these areas, as they can be difficult to see at night and need brighter light than many other places on your property.
Spotlights and string lights are popular choices for illuminating plants and other landscape features. A low-output spotlight positioned on an upward angle is ideal for highlighting a tree or other tall plant, while string lights are useful to illuminate the foliage of shrubs and other smaller garden features.
You’ll be able to find a wide variety of outdoor lighting designs, including solar lights and traditional battery-powered string lights that come with a remote solar panel. These are convenient because they’re battery-powered and don’t require any extension cords, so you can position them in hard-to-reach spots.
Wall sconces are another popular choice because they provide plenty of light without taking up much space on your walls or other architectural features. They’re available in an array of styles, from sleek modern to angular and industrial.
Bollards are an easy way to light up a pathway or other landscape area. They’re also effective at enhancing safety, since they are typically installed around steps or in the center of a deck or driveway.
Bullet and well lights are another great option for illuminating plants, shrubs and other small landscape features. They’re shaped into round or bullet shapes and are driven in with a stake, casting pins of bright light over long distances at an angle you choose.
Keep in mind that the angle at which the lights are placed is vital to their function, as they can cast too much or too little light on the desired feature and can be a safety hazard if not positioned correctly.
A trained professional will be able to recommend the right lighting for your needs and make sure it’s in line with any permits you may need. They will also be able to recommend the appropriate bulbs and transformers for your needs.