Today’s outdoor areas are extensions of our homes, complete with furniture for dining and lounging as well as cooking amenities. Here are the benefits of outdoor lighting as well as a few recommended lighting suggestions to help you make the most of these areas day and night.
Enhanced aesthetic
Your home’s energy and natural beauty are enhanced by outside lighting. It draws attention to attractive details, lights up walkways, and produces a warm, comforting aesthetic.
Think about all the aspects of outdoor lighting that merit your attention. Do you have a lovely tree in your backyard? Light it up. Does your patio have any appealing architectural features? Use accent lighting outside to draw attention to them.
Did you toil hard in a lovely garden? Path lights should illuminate the way. With underwater LEDs, you may also capture the romantic beauty of a pool or other water feature at night.
Alternately, employ lighting as a feature on its own by placing floodlights at an angle to outline trees to add depth and intrigue.
Improve the safety and security of your home
Safety comes first at all times. Evenings at home are ideal for outdoor enjoyment; therefore, important paths need to be well-lit. Outdoor lights can also assist in protecting it when you’re not home.
Safety
With the proper outdoor lighting, you and others can navigate the dark securely at night. Driveways and stair railings are ideal locations for outdoor post-mounted lanterns.
Outdoor wall lights illuminate entrances and aid in identifying gateways and exits. While address lights help people locate your property, step lights and path lights illuminate stairways and walkways.
Security
Your home is better protected against burglars when outdoor illumination is timed. Choose outdoor wall lights that have a sophisticated design to increase protection without compromising aesthetic appeal.
Home values
Outdoor lighting offers value in a variety of ways. It can draw attention to design details or enlarge a space. After dark, it enhances the appeal and makes popular outdoor living spaces more functional.
And of course, the increased security is important too. Increasing curb appeal with an entryway makeover is one of the simplest and most economical ways to have an impact on home value.
All you need is a fresh coat of paint, new lighting, and one or two accent pieces.
Enjoy your outdoor space
Above all, effective illumination enhances the enjoyment of each outdoor step. There is no better location to unwind, entertain, or explore than in your own front yard or garden.
When you arrive at the front door, a well-lit exterior sets the mood for remarkable experiences, whether your notion of the perfect evening is a meal outside beneath the stars, a campfire with friends, or a warm greeting.
Choosing outdoor lighting
Your home’s outside lighting can offer warmth and ambience. Additionally, as robbers are less likely to target a well-lit residence, it can increase safety and security.
In terms of outdoor lighting, there are several solutions to consider.
To begin with, make sure the lights are appropriate for outside use. Be on the lookout for the UL or ETL Listed Mark. Underwriter Laboratories is referred to as UL, while Electrical Testing Laboratories is referred to as ETL. Both testing facilities evaluate the security of various items. Lighting is typically designated as either being only safe for dry areas, only suitable for damp regions, or only suited for wet situations.
It is smart to presume that the light is only safe for dry places if there is no label. When buying outdoor lighting, be sure to search for these labels.
Here are eight common types of outdoor lighting for your consideration.
1. Ceiling-mount lighting
For covered porches, ceiling-mount lighting is a popular choice since it offers general illumination and has the potential to be decorative. There is something for every taste and area, ranging from simple flush-mount designs to complex hanging pendants.
To prevent anyone from bumping their heads, flush fixtures are best suited to lower ceilings. The biggest drawback is that power may need to be brought to the ceiling since the fixture must be hardwired.
2. Flood Lighting
Floodlights produce a wide, intense light beam that offers excellent visibility. In addition to illuminating your property, this increases security because robbers tend to stay away from houses with well-lit yards.
Floodlights are frequently found in driveways and backyards. While floodlights are a low-cost solution to increase the security of your home, they frequently need to be connected to your garage or home.
3. Lanterns
Outdoor lanterns can be hung from a ceiling, set on a table, or fastened to walls. Whatever type you decide on, lanterns will give your outdoor patio, deck, or porch a stylish, classic appearance.
While portable lanterns look excellent on tables, wall and hanging lanterns look particularly fantastic next to or in front of doors. There are solar- and battery-powered lanterns in addition to those that use electricity as their power source. Give it some thought before purchasing a lantern that you cannot mount to a wall, post, or other sturdy object. A strong breeze might easily overturn certain lanterns.
4. String lighting
String lights offer a subtle glow and create a mystical atmosphere outside. String lights look beautiful wrapped around a deck railing, column, or tree or strung from a ceiling.
Choose larger bulbs if you want a sufficient amount of light with a lovely ambience. String lights are cheap and simple to hang, but they frequently don’t offer much illumination, and if they aren’t in a protected place, they might suffer damage from the elements.
5. Solar lighting
Solar lights automatically switch on when night falls by storing solar energy in a unique cell during the day. Although they exist in other forms as well, solar spotlights and path lights are the most common.
They are usually affordable and environmentally friendly. Downsides? On overcast or wet days, they frequently struggle to store enough energy to function effectively. Similar conditions exist in winter, when shorter days and snow can prevent light from reaching the solar cell.
6. Path Lighting
Path lights illuminate your walkways and areas you frequently travel. Additionally, you can place them such that they draw attention to any preferred areas of your yard or garden.
There are path lights that sit flush with the path, but you often see them on posts inserted into the ground. You will need to connect the lights to a power source if you choose pathway lights that aren’t solar-powered.
You must bury the wiring at least 18 inches deep or cover it in conduit when hardwiring to a power source.
7. Motion sensors
As soon as movement is detected within a particular range, motion sensor lights instantly turn on, adding an extra layer of security to your home and yard. Ideally, these should be directed at the pathways leading to your front and back entrances, decks, patios, and any other potentially hazardous areas, such as a swimming pool.
They are a less expensive method of burglar deterrence when compared to a home security system. Just be aware that motion sensors frequently trip because of cars, animals, and other non-threats, and that they typically need to be hardwired into your electrical system.
8. Smart lighting
Finally, every outdoor decor style can work with smart lights. It is “smart” because it can be operated using an app on a smartphone or voice assistance like Alexa.
You can schedule the lighting, control it from anywhere, and do much more by using the app or voice assistant. Some intelligent lighting systems even integrate with other intelligent devices, such as security cameras. While smart lighting has many advantages, it is typically more expensive than traditional outdoor lighting.
This Could Be the Next Big Thing in Lighting
