Power-Saving Tips For Landscape Lighting

Whether it’s a water feature, patio or garden that you want to highlight, landscape lighting makes any space look gorgeous at night. It’s also a safety factor, especially for recreational grounds and listed buildings.

To get the most out of landscape lighting, consider your focal point first. Aiming two or more lights at a tree will reduce the harsh shadows that one light can cast. Contact Outdoor Lighting Orlando now!

Curb Appeal

Adding landscape lighting to your property makes your home, gardens, and structures more attractive at night. This creates a welcoming atmosphere for guests and deters criminals. It also improves safety by illuminating walkways and stairs so people can avoid tripping and falling over obstacles.

Landscape lighting is a high-demand feature for home buyers, and it can significantly increase the value of your house. Unlike a simple lawn light, the best outdoor lights are designed specifically for long-term use outdoors. These lights can withstand moisture, soil contact, extreme temperature fluctuations through the seasons, and frequent weathering without corroding or malfunctioning.

A house that is shrouded in darkness looks unwelcoming and may even discourage potential homebuyers from considering it. Landscape lighting can transform your property into a showcase that highlights special features such as fountains, water features, flower gardens, patios, pergolas, and more. It can also highlight the structure of your home itself, including the front door, so guests can find their way around and first responders can read your address.

Curb appeal is important for businesses, too. In addition to the reassuring sense of security that landscape lighting provides, it can be used to attract attention and promote your brand or services. For example, a paver driveway that is both functional and stunning can be accented with low-level path lights that will draw the eye to its unique design. Similarly, illuminated entryways and signage can attract visitors and boost customer satisfaction.

A well-lit walkway can also increase safety and curb appeal, especially for older or disabled visitors. Intruders are less likely to trespass on properties that are easily visible, and walkways that are lit up can help prevent falls caused by trip hazards. The combination of practicality and beauty that is possible with landscape lighting makes it an ideal choice for commercial properties.

Safety

While lighting can have many aesthetic benefits, it also has several safety benefits as well. Properly installed landscape lighting can help deter criminals and make your property safe for guests, family members, and even pets. This is because a well-lit home and yard look like someone is at home, which is a deterrent for potential burglars or vandals.

It can also improve the safety of your visitors, especially if you have stairs or other tripping hazards that are difficult to see at night. Tripping on a poorly lit step can lead to a sore back, an expensive trip to the emergency room, or worse. Professional lighting designers will include safety features in their designs, which means that your home or commercial property will be both safer and more beautiful at night.

Safety can also be an issue if you attempt to install your own lighting system. Without the proper training, experience, and tools, you can run into various issues that can prevent you from using your landscape lights as intended. Some of these issues might be dangerous, such as incorrectly buried or connected wiring. Other problems might be less serious, but still can cause a lot of frustration, such as solar lights that don’t gather enough power or lights that aren’t bright enough.

Some of these problems might also be costly, such as running into unexpected obstacles during the hardwiring process. This can add a significant amount of time to the project and may even prevent you from having the kind of landscape lighting design that you want.

In order to avoid these kinds of problems, it’s best to work with a professional who has experience with both hardwiring and installing LED or low-voltage lighting systems. They can also recommend the right type of wire for your specific setup, ensuring that it’s durable and suitable for outdoor use. Using the wrong type of wire can result in corroded connections and electrical shorts that can be dangerous or even fatal. It’s also important to avoid burying wires near water sources, as this can increase the risk of electrocution.

Mood Lighting

Besides adding function, landscape lighting can be used to create a certain mood for outdoor spaces. From romantic to festive, the right fixtures can make a space feel inviting. Different techniques are used for different effects, and even the color of bulbs can affect the way a fixture looks. For example, a light in the shape of an anchor can be used to draw the eye towards a focal point or highlight a tree. Path lights can increase safety, while hanging fixtures around a gazebo can cultivate a cozy atmosphere.

A professional knows how to use lighting to create the perfect ambiance for your landscape. Whether you’re hosting guests or relaxing on your own, it’s important to have an environment that feels comfortable.

This means avoiding bright lights that blind you and cast shadows that make moving about the yard difficult. It also means having a well-lit entryway to your property, so that family members and visitors can easily find their way around. This is especially important for ensuring that your yard can be enjoyed after dark.

While these practical aspects are essential to any landscape design, the real art of landscape lighting is in creating a specific mood that draws the eye to your garden and other outdoor spaces. This is done through various techniques, including the use of shadowing and silhouetting. These techniques highlight the form of trees or other features and create dramatic lighting effects.

Other creative lighting techniques include cross-lighting, which involves shining the light on a feature from two sides. This technique creates amazing shadow effects and highlights the artistic designs in your landscape.

Another fun aspect of landscape lighting is using colored bulbs to create a unique look. This can be done to a water feature, or even to highlight hardscape elements like decks and patios. It can add a little whimsy to any yard, and is a great way to show off your personality.

Landscape lighting can be a big investment, and it’s important to work with a professional. This will help to ensure that the job is completed correctly, and in a timely manner. They will also be able to identify any potential issues before they start, such as buried utility lines or other obstacles that may require additional time or cost to address.

Energy Efficiency

Landscape lighting is more than just a beautiful addition to your home. It also serves practical purposes like deterring criminals and helping friends and family find their way on your property after dark. However, energy bills can pile up if you don’t choose power-saving options when installing your landscape lighting. Here are some tips for keeping your electricity bill low without compromising on the brightness of your landscape lights.

You have two options for powering your landscape lighting: solar or hardwired. Solar landscape lights use small solar panels to charge up during the day and then turn on automatically at night. These are easy to install and affordable, but they aren’t as powerful or consistent as hardwired options.

Hardwired landscape lighting connects to your home through low-voltage wires, which run underground and pose a lower risk of shock than traditional line voltage wiring. They’re more expensive than solar options, but they are much more durable and provide a more consistent flow of electricity. Hardwired landscape lighting can also be controlled with a photocell or a timer to save money on electricity usage.

Both types of landscape lighting can be customized with different light bulbs and wattage to fit your needs. Spotlights, for example, shine in a single direction to highlight an element like a tree or patio. Path lights, on the other hand, aim downward to illuminate walkways or flower beds. Other specialty fixtures are available, including tiki torches and bistro lights.

If you opt for a solar landscape light, be sure to select one with a high enough wattage that can handle the amount of sunlight you receive in your area. You may also want to consider adding a shade or wind shield to keep the light from reflecting off nearby surfaces.

A professional installer will be able to help you choose the right type of fixture and design a system that meets all your goals. They’ll also be able to avoid common pitfalls like incorrectly buried wiring or poor connections that could lead to a dangerous electrical fire.