397 Outdoor Lighting

What will you use the outdoor lighting for?

For safety and security. Line your walkways and driveway with path lights. These garden lights serve as helpful guides for guests who may need assistance and guidance towards the front door. Flood lights are also commonly used for illuminating large areas of outdoor space that is usually kept dark. While flood lights are not usually considered decorative for outdoor lighting, they are extremely beneficial, can run on motion sensors, and are usually installed inconspicuously and out of sight.

Decorative and accent outdoor lighting creates inviting and intimate outdoor gathering or entry spaces. For a welcoming entry to your home, consider outdoor lanterns while an oversized chandelier could transform a gazebo into an outdoor dining room. Outdoor wall lights and lanterns can flank entry doors or line walkways and backyards. Marking an entry or arrival, lamp posts and other post lighting can also be used for hanging holiday wreaths or marking house numbers.

Landscape lighting is probably the key design feature that often gets neglected when designing a yard. Landscape lighting not only highlights well designed features, but it also conceals those features that may want to be concealed. Well and spotlights shine directly on a specimen or accent tree or architectural features while walkway lighting will serenely guide you through the garden and landscape including hat, mushroom and pergola. For decks and staircases, use surface mount illumination attached directly to the structure for visibility as well as for the soft cascading effect of light.

Task lighting is an important consideration, especially if you love a good barbecue dinner. These lights are purely functional and much like safety lighting serve a directly functional purpose. Consider which spots of your home’s exterior are or will be used for tasks that need bright lighting.

Multi-functional outdoor lights such as downlights that can throw a spotlight and be dimmed to more subtle lights are great as small garden lights. These are also great as deck lights that can transition from bright to subdued lights based on what you need.

What are the power options for outdoor lighting?

Outdoor solar lights are perfect for spaces that don’t have regular access to electricity or do not require heavy lights. Minimal wiring, but requires regularly heavy doses of sunlight. Best for task-oriented areas.

Line voltage and low voltage outdoor lighting: Halogens and led lighting will rely on more heavily installed wiring and electrical set ups. These lights will function to the same level as interior lights, so it’s more common to use these for flood lights or other security lights, as well as entry lights or other areas relying on these light fixtures as primary light sources.

What type of outdoor lights should you choose?

If it’s safety lighting you’re after, choose motion sensor flood lights that can be places over your front door or gate, and alongside the entry. After accent lighting? Choose string lights or outdoor lanterns that throw subtle lighting over garden and home exterior features. LED garden lights or LED downlights are ideal for barbecue areas. Remember that the type - solar, halogen or led lights - will affect your power needs. Of course if you choose candles or lanterns instead, you’re good to go without much hassle.