If you plan to incorporate outdoor lighting in your yard, these tips and tricks will ensure your illumination efforts are spot on.
Outdoor lighting has the power to turn ordinary outdoor spaces into something magical. When done right, it accentuates architectural details, highlights garden features, and increases home security. If you plan to incorporate outdoor lighting in your yard, these tips and tricks will ensure your illumination efforts are spot on.
Plan Your Outdoor Lighting Design
Restrain yourself from running to the nearest home improvement store and buying the first thing you see. Different lighting types provide different ambiance, so take some time to plan your vision for your outdoor space.
Do you want a well-lit area for outdoor parties? Do you prefer a peaceful oasis with minimal lighting so you can enjoy the quiet? Do you want to highlight a particular feature of your yard, patio, or deck? Planning will prevent you from impulse shopping and feeling overwhelmed by all the options.
Mix and Match Fixtures
Mixing different fixtures is a great way to create a balanced and visually pleasing outdoor lighting scheme. Different fixtures offer various lighting effects. Path lights softly illuminate walkways, creating a gentle guiding effect, while wall sconces provide warm, ambient lighting for outdoor seating areas. Combining different fixtures lets you tailor the lighting to each area’s specific needs. By incorporating softer lighting, such as lanterns, wall washers, or step lights, you can reduce glare and create a more comfortable environment.
Highlight Unique Architectural Elements
While it’s common to illuminate paths leading from the driveway to the front door, highlighting the beauty of your home requires a nuanced approach. Accent lighting, when strategically applied to architectural and landscaping features, creates a stunning visual impact and sets your home apart.
- Washing Walls: One technique in outdoor accent lighting is wall washing. The gentle illumination highlights the texture and color of your home’s surfaces and creates a captivating dance of light and shadow, adding depth and dimension.
- Focusing on Unique Architectural Elements: Instead of lighting the entire exterior, focus on distinctive architectural elements that highlight your home’s charm.
- Up-Lighting: Placing fixtures at the base of architectural elements, like columns or statues, and directing the light upward casts dramatic shadows, adding a touch of theatricality to your home.
Don’t Overdo It
The last thing anyone wants to do when relaxing on a back patio is to shield their eyes from the light. Subtle lighting goes a long way in outdoor dining areas or patios. It’s essential to achieve the perfect balance and not overdo it. Excessive or overly bright outdoor lighting can be uncomfortable, harsh on the eyes, and detract from the atmosphere you want to create. Subtle lighting allows for a more relaxed environment where people can unwind and enjoy themselves. Subtle lighting also allows you to highlight the beauty of your yard at night without overwhelming it. It gently enhances your landscape’s features, architecture, and outdoor furnishings, creating a tranquil setting.
Ensure Your Safety
Choosing the right lights for your property is essential, as choosing the wrong ones could cost you. Every fixture should be rated appropriately for its installation location. Fixture ratings are not just technical jargon; they directly impact the safety and performance of your outdoor lighting system. These ratings indicate where a particular light fixture can and cannot be installed. Ignoring these ratings can lead to premature fixture failures and more serious electrical hazards.
Questions? Lehnhoff’s Supply is Here to Help
If you still have more questions about outdoor lighting, the trained professionals at Lehnhoff’s Supply are here to help you.
Find us at 2708 Belair Road, Fallston, MD 21047 and give us a call at 410-510-7646. For tips, tricks, and to see what we have been up to, be sure to follow us on Facebook, X – Twitter, and Pinterest!
We serve but aren’t limited to, the following parts of Maryland: Harford County – Fallston, Forest Hill, Joppa, Edgewood, Bel Air, Churchville, Havre de Grace, Jarrettsville, Street, Aberdeen, Abingdon, and Joppatowne. In Baltimore County: Kingsville, Perry Hall, Overlea, Fullerton, Nottingham, Parkville, Towson, Carney, Loch Raven, Lutherville, Timonium, Hunt Valley, Cockeysville, Sparks, Glyndon, Pikesville, Reisterstown, Ruxton, Parkton, Glen Arm, Baldwin, Monkton, Long Green, White Marsh, Rosedale, Phoenix, and Fork.