If you want to get creative with exterior lighting at home, many outdoor lighting options can create an ambiance and atmosphere while providing practical uses. From subtle decorative additions to lighted pathways, various methods can be used when it comes to brightening outside spaces. In this blog post, we’ll discuss some exciting ways you can use lights around your property to enhance the aesthetics and bring some added functionality into play. Read on to learn more about creative lighting tips for your outdoor spaces.
Creative Ways You Can Use Landscape Lights
Feature lighting
Feature lighting highlights focal points in landscaping, such as trees, shrubs, flowerbeds, walkways, patio areas, and decks. It can create a mood, provide soft lighting levels for entertainment, or add interest. Feature lighting is usually accomplished using downlighting and up-lighting techniques where the light source is placed above or below the focal point of interest.
Task Lighting
Task lighting can range from floodlights illuminating a driveway to wall lanterns highlighting a pathway. The purpose of this lighting is to provide enough light for activities such as outdoor entertaining, yard work, or security purposes.
Security Lighting
Security lighting prevents intrusion by illuminating dark areas that may be potential targets. It can also deter would-be criminals from entering the property in the first place. Security lighting is usually combined with other types of lighting and is designed to respond to motion.
Types of Creative Landscape Lighting Fixtures
When choosing creative lighting for your outdoor area, it is essential to understand the different types of lights and their applications. Landscape lights should be selected based on the area you want to illuminate, desired effects, and energy efficiency. Careful consideration must be given to the placement of lights to ensure an attractive and harmonious display that won’t result in light pollution and energy waste.
Various lighting types are available, including path lights, post lights, spotlights, floodlights, deck lights, up-lighting, and downlighting. Lighting fixtures can be powered through electricity or solar power, depending on the type of fixture used.
Path Lights
Path lights can be used to light walkways or driveways for safety purposes and to create an inviting atmosphere. It is essential to choose a path light that is bright enough to provide adequate lighting but not so bright as to be blinding or unpleasant.
Post Lights
Post lights generally provide additional lighting in areas such as decks and patios or highlight particular features. Post lights come in various styles, from traditional lanterns to modern, energy-efficient LED designs.
Spotlights
Spotlights are a great way to highlight certain features of your landscape, such as trees, shrubs, flowerbeds, or water features. Spotlights can create dramatic lighting effects by highlighting interesting architectural elements of a home or garden.
Floodlights
Floodlights are typically used to provide bright light over broader areas such as driveways, patios, or gardens. Floodlights can also be combined with other types of lighting, like task lighting, to provide additional illumination.
Deck Lights
Deck lights are great for providing ambient lighting on outdoor decks or patios. They come in various styles and can be used to achieve different looks, from subtle accents to dramatic focal points. One popular choice for decks is LED strip lighting, which provides a soft glow and can be used to highlight an area or add ambiance.
Up-Lighting
Up-lighting is a great way to create dramatic effects in landscaping by highlighting specific features of your landscape, such as trees, shrubs, or sculptures. Uplighting can direct the viewer’s eye toward a particular feature or add some pizzazz to the overall landscape.
Downlighting
You can pair uplighting and downlighting for a dramatic effect or use them both to create soft, ambient lighting. Downlighting is the opposite of up-lighting and is usually used to provide gentle illumination for pathways, patio areas, decks, and other low-light areas. Downlights can also be combined with another light fixture to give a layered effect.
These are just a few tips to help you get started with landscape lighting design. As always, consult with an experienced landscape lighting professional like Blingle for more detailed advice and guidance on the best approach for your needs. Lighting can be a great addition to any outdoor area, so don’t hesitate to try it. With the proper lighting, you can transform your outdoor space into something extraordinary.
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