Outdoor lighting has numerous benefits. It will enhance your curb appeal, allow you to use your outdoor entertaining areas and enjoy your landscaping after dark, and will make your property safer for visitors and your family. When you are deciding on a lighting design for your landscaping, there are many classic designs that can fit with your style.
There are many different styles of path lighting that will keep your guests safe while traveling your walkways at night and still highlight your architectural features. Path lighting can be done with post lights, recessed lights, or even lights that are placed in features alongside the pathway rather than the path itself.
If you have a water feature on your property, such as a pool or pond, you can use lighting to highlight that feature after dark. Submerged lighting is installed under the surface of the water and can make the feature appear to glow from within, which is beautiful to see. In a pool, these lights are typically placed along the steps or walls, while in a pond, a lighting feature is submerged in the middle of the water. These lights should always be installed by a professional.
Generally speaking, landscape lighting is a combination of different lighting techniques, such as moonlighting, uplighting, and other styles that are set to highlight different features of your property in a cohesive way. Uplighting is a classic design choice that can fit well with many different architectural styles and can highlight the hardscape features on your property, and moonlighting involves lighting the feature from above to imitate the glow of the moon. There are many beautiful techniques you can combine. However, it can be very easy to overdo landscape lighting. Unless the lights are serving a purpose, such as pathlighting, less is more. Using these different methods can provide your property a rich, layered look. Photocell lights, sometimes called “dusk to dawn” lights, have a sensor that turns the lights on automatically at night and then off at sunrise.
Security lighting is important for any property, and is usually installed on driveways, near garages, and along walkways. If your property has any dark corners, those can also benefit from security lighting. A good lighting designer can walk through your property and note the areas that would benefit from security lighting. Motion sensor lighting can ensure that any bright or harsh lighting will only be triggered when necessary. Bright floodlights that are triggered by movement in dark areas and entryways can ward off any would-be intruders.
No matter the lighting you choose to fit your architectural style, hiring a professional installer is the best way to ensure reliability and a quality end-product. It is never a good idea to try to cut corners when you are dealing with exterior electrical work. A professional installer can work with the design you’ve chosen to correctly lay out and space the lights to work best with the space and enhance the features of your home. All the wiring will be installed according to code, the connections will be weather-tight, and the proper voltage calculated to meet the specifications. A professional installer has the experience and expertise to execute your vision and advise you on the best techniques for all your landscape lighting needs.
Outdoor landscape lighting can be a great enhancement to your property, but you want to make sure you do it right. Getting design advice and installation services from the professionals is the best way to combine different lights for both appeal and security and ensure your lights have been installed in the safest and most effective way. To learn more about how we can help with your outdoor lighting, contact Twin Oaks Landscape.