Lighting for Landscape Design
Who says gardens are only for the daytime? Many homeowners are finding ways to enhance their homes’ beauty and enjoy their outdoor spaces at night. With the right lighting, you can stroll, swim, dine or host parties outdoors, any time of day or night.
When designing your outdoor lighting scheme, remember that you don’t want daytime levels of light. You don’t have to see every corner and cranny of your garden. Soft, subtle illumination will make your yard look inviting and elegant.
1. Safety First
The most beautiful outdoor lighting display won’t be worth anything if it’s a fire hazard. Outdoor electrical work requires specialized knowledge. Let a qualified SESCOS electrician install it, making sure the wiring, grounding, and fixtures all meet the requirements for outdoor use.
Sturdy, waterproof LED lights are the safest option for outdoor use. You can install them anywhere, and their long life means you don’t have to worry about climbing up a tree to replace a burnt-out bulb.
2. Take a Moonlit Walk
Capture the magical, romantic feel of moonlight by installing lights in trees or other tall structures. For a look that’s closest to moonlight, choose light bulbs that are cool-toned in shades of gray, blue or green. Many of today’s light bulbs and LED lamps are rated for coolness.
A moonlight effect works especially well over a walkway between trees or in a seating area. It also makes a stunning backdrop for your outdoor entertaining. Moonlight invites thoughts of romance. Make the most of your magical moonlit night.
3. Light the Way
Path lighting is an important feature of any outdoor lighting plan. It allows you to walk around safely and adds to your home’s security. All the same, you don’t need to overdo it by flooding the pathways with light or lighting up every inch along the walkway. An occasional, indirect fall of soft light will make a striking effect that still allows for safe walking.
Some lighting designers skip path lighting entirely, focusing on adding light to surrounding elements of the garden itself. You’ll have to decide if that provides enough light for you and your guests to walk around without bumping into things.
4. Keep Your Balance
- Using bright, harsh lights will make your home or garden accents stand out, and not in a good way.
- Use a mix of light levels. For instance, use a spotlight to highlight statuary, artwork or an architectural feature, and use low lighting to softly illuminate the surrounding shrubbery. Try up-lighting (illuminating from the ground up) on trees and hardscape walls. When using spotlights, keep the bulb wattage low to avoid a harsh floodlight effect.
- Talk to your SESCOS electrician about the many lighting options available to create the look you want. The right balance of up-lighting, low lighting and spotlighting will create a landscape that glows.
5. Color Your World
For a truly different outdoor look, nothing beats colored lights. Blue lighting can make a pool or other water feature stand out dramatically. A wash of colored lighting looks striking on a pale brick wall. Colored path lights add charm to your walkways. LED lights are your best bet for color.
With colored lighting, keep it subtle. A few strokes of color are all you need for an eye-catching display.
Get Your Plan, We’ll Get It Done
Once you have decided on a design, let SESCOS handle the installation for you. We’ll show you the latest styles and most innovative lighting technologies, including wireless lighting control.
Your friendly SESCOS experts will help you plan the lighting, install it and take care of the maintenance. All you have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy your beautifully illuminated yard. Contact us and learn more about outdoor lighting design, installation, and maintenance.