Outdoor Lighting Garden Nursery Landscaping Guide
Outdoor Lighting To Highlight Your Backyard
By Joel F Morningstar
During the summer months, backyards, patios, decks and porches
can become like outdoor living rooms, so make these spaces cozy
and inviting with beautiful, softly glowing outdoor lighting.
Besides being beautiful, these lights add security and deter
wildlife from prowling around your property at night. Today, outdoor
lights are affordable and available in a plenitude of finishes
and styles. However, you have to be strategic about placing the
lights to avoid annoying your neighbors.
Purchasing Outdoor Lights With A Plan In Mind
When purchasing outdoor lighting, you should have a plan in mind.
Decide which areas you want to illuminate, choose attractive and
durable fixtures, accessories and bulbs, and choose the power
supply. The best way to review your options and decide where the
lights should go is to go into the yard at night with a good flashlight
and try lighting different areas from different angles.
If you want outdoor lights for a small patio or balcony, then
try hanging simple outdoor pendant lights over a patio table or
grouping of chairs. You can also use wall mounted lanterns for
a soft glow. Make sure you use low wattage bulbs to avoid harsh
glares. Take advantage of the many beam angles, frosted lenses
and mounts available so that your lighting scheme suits your needs
and tastes.
Minimizing Light Pollution
Correct positioning is essential for an effective lighting out-of-doors.
When planning, be sure to consider the impact the lights may have
on the neighbors. If you’re a stargazer, then select light fixtures
designed to direct light and minimize light pollution.
When arranging your outdoor lights, it’s best to avoid installing
them in the undergrowth of low shrubs or tall grasses unless you
want to create a silhouetted effect. Usually, the beam of light
should be unobstructed from the fixture to the focal point so
there are no distracting spots of reflected light.
Lighting The Front Of Your Home
For maximum effect, keep your lawn mowed, trim shrubs and bushes,
and remove dead tree limbs. Light the walkway to your front door
and add up lighting aimed at trees to make the front of your home
more interesting. Down lighting is the same idea only the fixture
is up high and shines down. This highlights flower beds, paths
or steps. Spotlighting creates a focal point by illuminating an
object, like a fountain.
One of the most dramatic techniques you can use is back lighting.
By placing the light behind a subject it will appear in silhouette.
This can be an extremely effective technique with dramatically
shaped trees, shrubs or garden ornaments.
Outdoor Solar Lights
Installing outdoor lights can be dangerous, so if you don’t
have the knowledge to work with electricity safely, then get an
electrician to do the work. Solar lights are a popular choice
because they are easy to install, require no wiring and won’t
increase your use of electricity since sunlight charges a solar
panel that powers the lights at night.
Shop around since solar lights can often be found on sale and
at discount stores. If your landscape lighting is complicated
or expansive, then consider hiring a landscaper or professional
designer to help.
Using Decorative Outdoor Lights Effectively And Maintaining Your Lights
The downside to outdoor lights is that they often attract bugs.
To maintain the attractiveness of your fixtures, clean away ugly
cobwebs and dead insects. That’s a small price to pay for the
beauty of good outdoor lighting. What it comes down to, is choosing
practical, stylish fixtures, bulbs that glow softly but still
emit enough light, and the correct placement of the lights to
maximize their effectiveness.
Since outdoor lights should be an extension of your style and
taste, use decorative pieces like outdoor chandeliers, iron chandeliers
and even contemporary chandeliers made out of sturdy materials
that are weather resistant. You’ll love the beauty that outdoor
illumination can add to your home.
About the Author:
Joel F Morningstar has written a number of articles on home improvement, home decor, gardening
and landscaping including
Air Purifier Dehumidifier,
Handyman Home Services,
Front Yard Landscape,
Fast Growing Trees,
Stone Walkway,
Big Backyard,
Deck Ideas,
Lawn And Garden.
Keep a lookout for more of his articles on this website.
Little Known Home Lighting Facts....
What types of lighting should I be looking at for my home?
The type of light you need for your home
all depends on what style you prefer. Many people find that a
combination of overhead lights and lamps works best for their
homes. Generally the overhead lights are used when the entire
room needs to be illuminated and the smaller lamps are used when
a person needs a light to illuminate up close. You can also use
track lighting to highlight architectural designs or artwork.
Most homeowners do not use florescent lights.
This lighting is often very harsh and does not look as nice as
softer lights do. It really all depends on what you want. You
can mix a wide variety of lighting types to achieve an overall
effect that can be used day or night. You can also change how
your lights look by changing the wattage of your bulbs.
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