You’ve pulled out all your best ideas and finally executed them by making the exterior of your home and your yard look exactly the way you want it to. However, why let all of your hard work disappear when night falls? You can easily showcase the appearance of your home and all the hard work you have invested in it at night with the simple switch of a button. Simply by installing landscape lights.
Landscape lights are an excellent way of showcasing your home at night. It also gives you the ability to personalize the exterior of your home. Lights add a welcoming effect to your home. However, before you begin placing landscape lights in your driveway and yard here are a few things you should know.
Have A Game Plan First
Before you begin making phone calls to landscapers and electricians, have a game plan. Know exactly what you want and where. Begin by taking a stroll around your neighborhood and pay attention to your neighbors landscape. This will give you an idea of what your home can look like. It will also make you feel less overwhelmed when your landscaper begins to suggest different ideas that they may already have in mind.
When you are planing, look at the big picture and what areas would really benefit the architecture of your home. Decide if you would like a professional to take care of the job or you will make it a DIY project. Although, we recommend a professional landscaper because of the wiring mishaps you can come across.
Lighting Options
There are three different lighting options when it comes to landscape lights. When you are envisioning your new landscape you want to remember that different lights belong in distinct places. The placement of your lights gives a unique dimension and appearance to your home.
- Strong Lights-Are typically used to illuminate large areas such as your driveway or deck. Place these where you would like the most illumination.
- Less Lighting-Lower voltage lights can be used to light up a pathway, add accent to your home or even as flood lights. These lights are typically less bright and give your home a warming effect.
- Solar Powered Lights-These tend to be the most popular among lighting options because they are not difficult to install and can be placed anywhere where they get lots of sunlight. They need large amounts of sunlight in order to strive to their full potential.
Outdoor Lighting Fixture Options
Choosing your lighting options is just the beginning when it comes to your landscape lights. You will be required to decide what lighting fixtures you would like. There are multiple different options when it comes to light fixtures. Lighting fixtures can give your home a whimsical feel if they are positioned in the proper areas.
- Sconces/Entry Lanterns-Sconces are larger lanterns that are 120 voltage fixtures that are typically mounted beside doorways. They should be made out of frosted glass or shielded to prevent a glare. The less glare the better your sconces will appear. When it comes to sizing your sconces you want to make sure they are proportional to the height and width of the entry way you place them in.
- Recessed Lights-Recessed lights are typically 120 voltage fixtures that are placed on decks and/or garage doors. They are considered recessed lights because they give large amounts of lighting while typically being covered or less visible. When choosing your recessed lights you can choose a smaller voltage amount. A smaller voltage is used to light up stairways or deck areas that don’t offer ample lighting.
- Floodlights-Floodlights are 120 voltage or less. They are typically used to light large areas such as driveways, doorways or any larger area you would like to be brought to attention.
- Path Lights-Path lights are usually low in voltage because they are specifically used to create small pools of light on the floor. They can easily be used to add dimension to the lights you already have in your landscape. Path lights are also a great option for lighting up the stairs that lead to the front door of your home.
- Hanging Lights-Hanging lights are low voltage as they are utilized for decorative purposes. They typically hang from trees or doorways in order to make light accents that will bring light to a certain area. With them being low voltage you can ultimately decorate and bring beauty to an area in your landscape or home.
If you are unsure of which lighting fixture would work best in current areas you can simulate any of these lighting fixtures by using a strong flashlight. A bright flashlight maneuvered in different ways can give you the same appearance while giving you an idea of what a certain fixture can do to an area of your home.