Make your home’s best features stand out with landscape lighting. Whether you want to highlight a herringbone walkway, trellis wall or your favorite tree, these lights will make your space shine.
When selecting landscape lights consider power type (hardwired or solar), installation and bulb options. Also, be sure the fixtures are rated for outdoor use. Visit Lighting Orlando for more information.
Mood Lighting
A well-lit garden or outdoor entertaining area is a focal point that transforms your home after dark. It can highlight your most prized landscape features, such as fountains, ponds, flower gardens and patios or pergolas. It can also create a sense of ambiance with mood lighting by using variations in fixture intensity, proximity, color temperature and focus to reveal texture and define shape.
Landscape lighting can also set the tone for whatever you’re doing in your outdoor space – lower, warmer lighting can make an evening of relaxing on the patio more romantic while dynamic colored lights can energize a party with friends. The most effective mood lighting is subtle, evoking an intimate elegance rather than a bold beam emitting a detectable blast of light.
Soft, diffused light from low-voltage landscape lighting is less harsh than the high-intensity bulbs used in line voltage lighting. It can be a safer alternative to traditional lighting and is often preferred for residential landscape lighting because it poses much less risk of electrical shock. Moreover, if you ever decide to replace your lights, low-voltage lighting fixtures are more easily swapped out with new bulbs.
A professional installer can help you design a system that will highlight your favorite landscape elements, including shrubs and trees, in ways that bring out their best colors and textures. A good installer will be familiar with lighting techniques such as cross-lighting (shining on a feature from two directions) and silhouetting.
Landscape lighting is an investment, so choosing a company with quality fixtures that will last is key. Look for fixtures made from copper or solid brass, which will stand up to the elements and age gracefully. Avoid plastic or aluminum fixtures that may rust or chip.
In addition to installing your landscape lighting, a professional can also provide you with options for smart lighting that can be programmed through a centralized hub, so you can turn on the lights from inside the house or use an app on your phone. You can even have your landscape lights automatically turn on at dusk or on a timer. Smart lighting is a great option for people who want to save energy and reduce their utility bills by only having the lights on when they’re using the space.
Focal Point Lighting
If there is a special feature on your property that you want to highlight, landscape lighting will help to do so. You can highlight structures like pergolas, patios and flower gardens, as well as water features like fountains and ponds. You can also light up walkways and stairs to prevent guests from tripping or falling on uneven surfaces at night. Landscape lighting can also serve as a deterrent against potential burglars by making it more difficult for thieves to see them approaching your home.
A landscape lighting professional will work with you to determine what kind of light output is needed and how bright you would like the area to be. They will use the information you provide to draw up a plan and then create a layout that will guide them as they install your lights. This will save you time during the installation process and ensure that everything will fit together properly. A professional will also be aware of any obstacles that may affect their ability to install your lights, like concrete or tree roots, and they will make adjustments as necessary.
There are many different types of landscape lighting fixtures available, and choosing the right one for your needs will require some careful consideration. For example, you’ll need to decide whether to choose spotlights that can be adjusted for brightness (lumens) and beam spread, or a more ambient light fixture such as a garden lamp or in-ground well light.
Some popular techniques for highlighting a particular item or space include silhouetting, shadowing and grazing. Silhouetting involves positioning the fixture at the base of a taller feature, pointing it towards an adjacent wall and creating a dark outline that showcases the texture and color of the plant or structure. Shadowing is a similar technique but used to highlight lower foliage or shrubbery that would be hidden in the dark. Grazing is more of an ambient light, where a fixture is placed around the edges of a feature or space to wash it with light.
Another factor to consider when deciding on your landscape lighting is its power source. Depending on your preference you might choose a hardwired system that is connected to your house via low-voltage wiring, or a battery-powered option which relies on solar energy. Both options will benefit from having a transformer to regulate and distribute safe voltage to your lights.
Ambient Lighting
Landscape lighting adds dimension to a home’s exterior by highlighting its best features. It also increases the value of a property, making it more appealing to potential buyers.
Low-voltage landscape lighting allows you to customize your home to your taste and budget. Whether you’re looking for a sleek, high-end fixture or a great deal at your local store, there are options available for every budget.
The most popular type of landscape lighting is spotlighting. These fixtures are used to highlight plants, trees, or other outdoor features. They can be angled in many ways to create different effects. Popular techniques include grazing, silhouetting, shadowing and moonlighting.
Other types of landscape lighting include deck lights, step lights and floodlights. These lights are designed to illuminate walkways, driveways, and patios. They can be positioned so that they don’t interfere with the look of your garden or outdoor living area. Some of these fixtures can be made smart so that they turn on automatically at dusk.
There are also specialty lighting fixtures that can be used to light fountains, gazebos and other structures. These are typically recessed into the ground so that they aren’t visible from above. These lights can be installed to cast a moon-lit effect over statues, sculptures or other features in your garden.
A well-lit walkway makes it safer to move around your yard and property after dark. It can prevent that awkward juggling act you often have to do to find your keys and unlock the door when arriving home after dark. It can also keep you and your guests safe by illuminating obstacles such as steps or slippery rocks.
Professionally installed landscape lighting will reduce the risk of problems like faulty wiring, over-voltage, and other issues that may occur if you try to do it yourself. However, it’s still important to understand the basics of landscape lighting before you choose a contractor or attempt the job yourself. This will help you avoid expensive mistakes and save time and money in the long run.
Accent Lighting
Adding lighting to outdoor features and elements of your landscape is the key to creating a fully functional nighttime space. By varying your use of landscape lighting techniques, you can create visual interest that elevates any home or property. We can help you achieve this by using landscape accent lighting to highlight important features like your favorite trees, flower beds, water features, and garden statues.
Whether you have a large, expansive landscape or you prefer to keep things simple, we can design a system that fits your needs. We can also provide a variety of lighting fixture types to suit your style and budget. For example, we offer LED lights that can save you energy, money, and time because they do not require the same maintenance as other types of outdoor lighting.
In addition to the aesthetic value that landscape lighting brings, it can also increase your safety and security by providing more visibility at night. This is especially helpful when you have a large yard and guests or family members come to visit during the day and at night. Additionally, the lighting can be used to deter criminals by making your home harder to target as they will not have a clear view of your entire property.
When you hire a professional for your landscape lighting project, it is important to be aware that there may be additional costs and delays associated with hardwiring for the lighting to work properly. In many cases, this is because an installer will encounter an obstacle such as concrete or tree roots that will need to be removed before the wiring can take place. It is best to have this done by a licensed and insured landscaping professional so you can be confident that your landscape lighting project will be completed properly. This will also protect you from any potential liability issues that may arise.