Take the same approach to outdoor lighting as you would for interior lighting. You’ll want a mix of lights, depending on the areas you want to illuminate.
Lighting for safety and security should be your top priority. At your entry areas, you’ll want lights that are bright enough to illuminate both the entry and who is at the door. Overhead fixtures and sconces that cast a broad light work well for these areas.
Lighting tip: Illuminate house numbers so that emergency vehicles and guests can easily find you.
You also might want to have lights at other entry points, such as gates and driveways, and around any pools or ponds, for both security and as an indication of boundaries. Motion-sensor lights will alert you to movement in different parts of your yard without their constantly being on.
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You’ll want more than a porch light and a single light in the backyard to give your landscape a welcoming feel. At the same time, you don’t want to flood the space with light so that it resembles a playing field. Instead, think about how you want to use your landscape after dark as well as about features you want to highlight.
Your final plan should include a mix of fixtures. The lighting also should look good both when you’re in the space as well as when you view it from inside your house or from the street or sidewalk.
Balance light and dark spaces to give your outdoor area more depth and interest. A sample plan might include more lighting in gathering spots on patios and decks; a light focused on the grill; overhead lights and sconces at entry points; clear lighting for paths and stairs and around pools; and fixed lights to highlight one or two garden elements, such as a tree, bush, statue or a water feature.
Explore the range of outdoor lighting options for pathways, steps and driveways that go beyond traditional looks. Running less-bright ground-level lights along the edges of a path can provide sufficient light for people to walk safely while not overwhelming the space or causing a tripping hazard. Installing lights along the sides of a stairway that direct the light toward the treads will make the stairs easier to navigate. Mixing lit pavers in with standard pavers on a driveway will make it easier to see the area when you’re exiting a car at night.
Add some mystery by not lighting the border of your yard. It will make the space feel bigger.
The types of bulbs you choose and where you put them can make a difference regarding environmental issues. Too many lights can create glare, which is hard on everyone’s eyesight and wastes energy. They also can disrupt the biological patterns of nocturnal animals and migratory birds. An overabundance of lights, particularly uplights, can contribute to light pollution.
Instead, light only what is needed and opt for warm yellow bulbs that are marked as dark-sky friendly rather than harsher white and blue bulbs. A list of dealers and more information are available on the International Dark-Sky Association website.
General lighting. Ambient, or general, lighting provides consistent, even light throughout a space. It’s a great choice for outdoor dining rooms and entertaining areas, especially decks and patios. You also can use it to add light throughout a garden without focusing on a specific feature or plant.
Task lighting. You’ll want to provide more focused light on areas such as grilling and cooking surfaces or where you work after dark. Path lights also can be considered a type of task lighting. They generally cast a broader and less intense beam than other task lighting while allowing for safe navigation.
Accent lighting. Highlight certain areas of your yard, such as a tree, shrub, decorative feature, pool or pond, with accent lighting. You can position the lighting above or beneath the element, depending on the look you want. You also can create a wash of light across a wall or fence as a focal point.
Decorative and specialty lighting. Lighting also can be simply decorative, such as a lantern or two set on an outdoor fireplace hearth, along a railing or on a side table. You also can opt for different bulb colors to create a fun mood.
You can power your outdoor lights with a low-voltage (12-volt) system, a standard 120-volt system, solar power or battery power.
Low-voltage. Low-voltage systems are the most popular choice, especially for an existing landscape. The minimal voltage creates less danger than a 120-volt system should you cut into it. You also can simply bury the cables connecting the lights rather than installing conduit. The cable also gives you more flexibility when positioning the lights.
Costs range from relatively inexpensive to pricey. The more expensive options are longer-lasting and less prone to damage, although you’ll still need to position lights and cables so they won’t be disturbed by raking and mowing, or by pets and people.
Installing a 120-volt system is more involved than adding a low-voltage system. It includes installing or tapping into an electrical source, and in most cases, adding conduits for the cables. As a result, it is the most expensive choice, but it is permanent as well as less prone to damage.
Individual solar fixtures can be relatively inexpensive, although of course the cost will increase the more fixtures you install. You also should factor in the need for periodic replacements.
Safety tip:Any outdoor lights and associated materials, even plug-in and battery-powered options, must be rated for outdoor use. This includes any subpanels or outlets.
Outdoor Light Fixture Options
Fixed lights. These are the most frequently used types of outdoor lighting. They consist of a single light that is positioned to point in one direction. They include uplights, downlights and spotlights. Many include a spike that can be placed in the ground, or mounting options for a wall or tree. They can either be focused on a small area or spread a broad beam of light. Use them as ambient lights, path lights, accent lights and safety and security lights.
Bollard lights. Bollard lights are set on a post that’s usually 1 foot to 4 or 5 feet tall. The light itself generally can be seen from all four sides. Use these fixtures as path lights and post lights to delineate a space or boundary.
Projection lights. Also called projector lights, projection lights cast static or moving patterns in a range of colors on walls, fences or the ground. You can find plentiful options for holiday lighting, but they also can add interest at other times of the year.
Sculptural lights feature a decorative design and can be anything from an elaborate sconce to a small figurine to a contemporary globe. The colors range from standard neutrals to bold mixes. As they are decorative during the day as well as at night, they can enhance your overall garden look.
Strip lights. Also called linear lights, strip lights are composed of a long row of light set into a fixture. They range from elaborate designs to simple rope lights. They’re great for illuminating stair risers, the space underneath a bench, the length of a home’s eaves, the edge of a garden wall or raised bed, or the back or overhead section of an outdoor grilling area or kitchen.
String lights. As the name implies, string lights consist of individual bulbs, often with decorative housing, strung along a single line of flexible cable. You can line the eaves of a house, drape them across a pergola or an arbor, or hang them over a deck or patio or along a railing.
Smart technology. Smart lighting systems, similar to those used indoors, can make managing your outdoor lighting as simple as using a remote control or connecting to the internet through an app on your phone. You’ll be able to set timers for turning the lights on and off, as well as control the brightness and colors.
Permitting and codes. It’s best to double-check both local code requirements and any homeowners association regulations before you start. Also make sure any workers are licensed, bonded and insured.
Simpler installations can be done any time the weather and ground conditions cooperate. If the project is more complex, especially if it involves digging and construction, spring through fall is the best time.
How long it will take. Putting up string lights, running simple linear lights or installing a basic low-voltage system will take anywhere from an hour to a day. It will take the same amount of time for an electrician to install outdoor boxes and plugs or to hardwire lights. A more elaborate design might take anywhere from a day or two to a week.
Outdoor lighting can make a home’s exterior spaces inviting and intriguing after the sun goes down. And it has a more practical purpose as well: It can make pathways and stairways safer, as well as improve the home’s security. Read on for all the details that can help you get the right outdoor lighting for your home.
This content was originally published here.
