Better Homes And Gardens Flower Solar Light

When lighting your landscape, a little light can make a big difference.

That's because your eyes need less light to see light, shadow, or pattern outside than they do inside.

Start by taking a walk around your yard at night to plan your outdoor lighting.

You should envision how and when your outdoor space will be used, and then you can tailor your landscape lighting to those needs.

These landscape lighting ideas will help you choose the right fixtures, layout and best outdoor lighting.

Landscape Lighting Basics

The way light is perceived during the day and at night is very different.

This distinction is especially important when it comes to lighting pathways or other outdoor spaces.

However, when it comes to lighting, there are a few principles that apply indoors as well as outdoors.

First, light is the intensity or the amount of light emitted.

You can find the color of a light bulb on its packaging.

It is a number that ranges from 1800 Kelvin, which is very red, to 7500K, which is blue-white.

Depending on the function, lighting is divided into three levels.

Overall lighting. Provides illumination for the entire room or space.
Task lighting. Task lighting is used to illuminate a path.
Accent Lighting. Accent lighting brings attention to an object, area, or thing. This is usually done with floodlights or spotlights.

Landscape Lighting. Light bulbs can be used in outdoor lighting fixtures.

Incandescent bulbs give off a pleasing light, but they have a shorter life span and use more electricity.

Halogen bulbs have a longer life than incandescent bulbs and are therefore more energy efficient.

Fluorescent bulbs now come in more colors, last longer, and use less energy.

Although LED landscape lighting is more expensive, its extremely long life and low energy consumption make it a worthwhile investment.

You can easily integrate landscape lighting located near buildings with electricity into the wiring of your home.

Solar landscape lighting can also be used to power outdoor lights.

Outdoor Lighting Fixes and Problems

Outdoor lighting problems are different from indoor lighting.

Reflections are less of a problem outdoors because surfaces are darker and do not reflect light well.

Outdoor lighting is more important than ever because of the need to avoid glare.

Glare is caused by bright or too large a light source.

It can cause harsh reflections in the eye.

When lighting your outdoor landscape, you should also be sensitive to indirect lighting and direct lighting.

Direct lighting, such as an outside downlight, only illuminates the object being aimed at, but does not affect the surrounding area.

Direct light reflects off the surrounding surfaces, creating a soft glow.

Tips for placing landscape lighting

Outdoor lighting can be installed almost anywhere, but there are some areas that must be installed.

These are the most important areas for landscape lighting.

Paths. Well-lit paths are both popular and necessary. They provide lighting that enhances safety and makes visitors feel at home. Low illumination levels are not necessary. Downlights prevent glare. A pathway can be illuminated by individual paving stones.

Entrance. Place lights on either side of the door or at the head of the front, back and side entrances.

Driveways. Low voltage landscape lighting is a great option for driveways. It is often easier to install and requires less energy than other systems.

Steps. Safety steps must be illuminated. Steps and columns can be illuminated.

Patios and decks. Lighting is used to highlight specific areas of a deck or patio. This includes outdoor cooking areas, grilling spots, railings and seating areas. For indirect lighting, uplighting can be done on the patio or deck. This is tougher than it looks.

Pergolas, arbors and trellises. Lighting is a great way to highlight architectural elements, such as a gazebo or pergola in an outdoor setting.

Architectural features. Outdoor lighting can be used to highlight walls, for example by washing or wiping them down. If a wide beam of light is directed at a wall, it creates a washed effect when viewed from a few feet away. Both of these methods can be used to emphasize nearby plants.

There are many landscape lighting fixtures to choose from, including wall sconces and ceiling fans.

Any fixture used outdoors must be rated for "UL Wetland" use.

Outdoor Light Pollution

Unwanted light pollution can be caused by too much or poorly located lighting.

This light pollution causes indoor lights to shine into the room, blocking the view of stars, temporarily blinding people, and costing energy and money.

These are some tips for reducing light pollution caused by landscape lighting.

Pay attention to location lights at night

Use shielded bulbs.Fixtures with reflectors or shields focus light exactly where it is needed.
Reduce waste. High wattage bulbs produce harsher light, but it does not improve aesthetics or enhance safety. Lower wattage bulbs provide adequate illumination.
Control the light. Individually zoned lighting with dimmers or timers will turn lights on or off when needed.