Outdoor Landscape Lighting Tips
Sue Traeder • March 16, 2021
Tips for Adding Decorative and Useful Outdoor Lights to Your Landscaping
Landscape lighting should be an integral part of any home landscape. Not only does it provide security and safety, it spotlights your landscaping features and complements your home.
Common uses include emphasizing landscape formations, shedding light on walkway areas and adding home security.
Walk around your yard with a flashlight to visualize how lighting would look in your yard. Determine where lights should be placed and how many you would need. You can light up walkways by placing lights close to each other so that the illumination from each overlaps. Accent lighting near walls or underneath trees can create great highlighting effects. Placing lights in front of trees and other features can create dramatic shadows on fences and walls. To add interest, think about mixing up spacing and patterns.
Remember that less is more. Don't add so many lights that they end up competing with each other.
Be careful not to choose lighting locations that will get in the way of lawnmowers or foot traffic. Make sure your lighting won't beam directly into your home or, your neighbor's.
Try to plan your light installation when you're landscaping your yard. When it comes to planning, it's much easier to do both tasks at the same time.
Once you have some ideas, draw a plan. Using a scale of 1/8" for every foot, include the location of your home's exterior outlets, trees, shrubbery, walkways, fountains, deck or patio, as well as any areas you want to light for safety. Don't worry if you're not an artist — even a rough sketch will do the trick.
Once you've determined how many light fixtures you need, choose which kind you want. You may prefer unobtrusive outdoor fixtures, or you might have something more decorative in mind.
Stop by Martens True Value store in Reedsburg for inspiration and to shop for solar and LED outdoor lighting products.
Tier lighting and path lights are good for illuminating walkways. Lantern lights can also be hung along walkways, and can complement porches, patio areas, flower and mulch beds.
Well lights and floodlights are great for accent lighting. When possible, use lights with rotating heads. These are very versatile and allow you to create a variety of effects.
Motion detectors can be useful in your landscape lighting. Use lights with built-in motion detectors or install independent detectors. Aim motion-detecting lights at your gate, front porch or along walkways which will turn on when someone approaches.
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