Outdoor lighting plays a key role in creating the perfect yard and for many people, it’s actually one of the aspects they enjoy and appreciate the most when their new-look outdoor area has been completed. However, even given its importance and ability to create exactly the kind of ambience you desire, many times lighting is not thought about until many other elements of your landscape have already been decided on. What we are trying to say is that outdoor lighting is often an “afterthought,” which seems bizarre given how important it is. Without outdoor lighting, you won’t be able to enjoy your yard in the evenings, which is often the best time to spend time outside, after a busy day at work has been completed. When reviewing the type of lawn care product you will need, you should make it a point to think about different lighting options very early on in the planning stage and in this article we are going to talk you through some of the main types of outdoor lighting that you could utilize.
Some of the Main Types of Outdoor Lighting to Use in Your Landscaping Project
You might be sitting there thinking “but isn’t all lighting the same?” The only thing these options have in common is the fact that they emit light, but they are all used for different reasons. Here’s a quick run-through the main types:
Spotlights
I’m sure you are familiar with spotlights; they emit intense beams of light that serve to illuminate a specific object and draw your attention to it. In the case of landscape design, there may be a specific feature in your new yard that you would like to highlight during the evening time, whether that be a specific tree or a water feature. The light that is given off by spotlights is not very wide and will only light-up the target it is pointed at.
Pathway Lighting
Much smaller and less intense than spotlights, pathway lights are typically placed either side of a pathway either in your yard or leading to your home and act as a guide, so you know where you are going
Entry Lanterns
Entry lanterns can really help to make the entrance to your home much more inviting during the evening time and are typically installed in pairs; one either side of the door.
Recessed Lighting
If you have an area in your yard, such as a decked area or a patio area where you like to sit and relax, then the right lighting is important. It’s shouldn’t be big, bright and intrusive, which is why recessed lighting is often the perfect choice. They are much less visible than other types of lights and are available in several different strengths.
In-Ground Lighting
In-ground lighting is, not surprisingly, positioned in the ground and often points upward to illuminate the larger elements in your landscape such as trees or hardscape features.
Floodlights
Floodlights emit the same high intensity beams that spotlights do, but these beams are not as focused on a single target and illuminate a much bigger area. Sometimes a spotlight might not be able to emit a beam of light that is wide enough to highlight a particularly large object in your yard, in which case a floodlight would be selected instead.
Positioning Your Outdoor Lighting: Tips from Our Experts in Yard Care
As we already mentioned, the purpose of incorporating lighting into the design of your yard is to create the right atmosphere and mood, in addition to accenting and enhancing the visual appeal of other elements in the design. When deciding where to put this lighting, we would suggest you consider the following:
List All of Your Yard’s Features
You can’t just dot lighting around your yard and hope for the best; it’s something that should be carefully calculated. One of the best ways to identify ideal locations for your outdoor lighting is to make a list of all of the features in your yard, starting with the most prominent features. Also think about what purpose would the lighting serve in those areas? Would it need to attract your attention or is its goal to create a warm, cozy atmosphere that will help you to relax during the evenings?
Smaller Plants and Flower Arrangements
While not usually a centerpiece in any yard, flowerbeds are undeniably beautiful, and you can continue to enjoy that beauty well into the night by installing in-ground lighting in these areas.
Illuminating Your Walkways
While installing lights that adorn the pathways in and around your house is relatively simple and low cost, the impact it can have can be significant. It draws you in as the area seems much more warm and inviting than it does without this lighting.
Large Trees, Stone Features and Water Features
These are elements that many people find their eyes drawn to during the day and are some of the first features many homeowners look to highlight using outdoor lighting. Floodlights, spotlights and in-ground lighting are the best types of lighting to achieve this and can help to create a truly enchanting ambience for you to enjoy night after night.
Lawn Mower Guru landscaping expert have reviewed hundreds of different landscaping projects over the years, and created yards that offer the perfect blend of practicality and aesthetic appeal.
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