Outdoor lighting can create a safer, more comfortable, and welcoming place at night. However, relying on the visual alone will mean that walkways might be too dark, patios too light, and garden features too dark in shadowed areas.
It is important to look at the purpose of each outdoor area and the type of light that will be required. The many choices in fixture type, location, brightness, color temperature, durability and energy consumption can be exploited to design an outdoor lighting plan that will be both beautiful and functional.
Begin With the Goal of Each Area
When selecting outdoor lighting solutions and fixtures, figure out what you want the light to do. Walkways typically require uniform lighting to help in visualizing changes in elevation, steps, edges, and obstacles.
Oftentimes, there is a need for a combination of both general and task lighting for patios. Other garden spaces might require more subtle lighting that will focus on trees, plants, pathways, or architecture, but not be intrusive.
Choose Fixtures for Walkways
Path lights are frequently used on paths as they can be used to illuminate down and diffused, without the need for overhead lighting. Don’t string them out in a row, but rather position them well.
Do not place fixtures in close proximity to each other that would cause excessive brightness. Meanwhile, massive openings can create light gaps between lighting.
If there are steps and changes in level, think about placing lighting that highlights each step and change. Functions of good placement include the ability to guide people through space without causing glare.
Create Comfortable Patio Lighting
Comfort is as important as visibility; usually, a patio is used for dining, entertaining, and relaxing. It is possible to have too much brightness at one spot, but this could lead to a negative ambiance.
Rather, try combining various sorts of lighting. General light can be supplied by wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted fixtures, or by recessed, pendant, or accent lighting, and this can be used where necessary.
Dimmers are beneficial, too, when available. They can be adjustable in brightness for dinner, for conversation, and for quiet activities at night on the patio.
Right Placement of Garden Lights
The best use of garden lighting is to highlight certain points, rather than lighting the whole garden at once. Install accent lighting to highlight trees, beds, sculptures, water features, or interesting architectural elements.
The direction of light is also important. Lights facing upwards can be used to highlight the shape of a tree, and side lighting can be used to show texture within the tree trunks, walls, or foliage. Too much garden lighting can diminish the contrast and flatten the space rather than adding depth and dimension.
Use Durable and Efficient Fixtures
Outdoor fixtures are exposed to the harsh weather elements like rain, humidity, temperature changes, dirt, and more. LED fixtures are popular outdoor applications since they typically use less energy than conventional light technologies and can truly offer long operating life. But the quality of the fixture or installation still has an impact.
When it comes to outdoor lighting solutions, consider more than the lights themselves. Verify its purpose, protection against weather elements, light distribution, maintenance needs, and compatibility with your control system.