6 Things You Need To Know For Stylish Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting is an integral element of any home. When you install the proper exterior lighting, you illuminate your surroundings as well as create a welcoming ambiance for your home.

Then again, some may feel that focusing on one’s outdoor lighting design isn’t a significant concern when dealing with home improvement tasks. However, it doesn’t only have an aesthetic purpose but also affects your property’s security and enhances the curb appeal of your residence at night.

Below are some factors you’ll need to keep in mind when designing your outdoor lighting.

1, Learn Your Present Setup

If you’re in the process of designing your outdoor lighting scheme, the initial step you must consider is to take a look at your present setup. Determine if you already have lighting fixtures in place or the appropriate connections or outlets needed.

Today you’ll find most residential homes with outdoor lighting situated on both sides of the property. If upon checking you discover that you don’t have those, you can request an electrician to install the necessary outlets for you to install the same fixtures.

2, Take Note Of Measurements

Once you’ve inspected your current setup, the next aspect you should look into is the size of the area where you want to install your outdoor lighting. Examine the site and take note of its measurements so you can avoid accidentally buying light fixtures too enormous for the space.

Moreover, it’s essential to assess the amount of lighting the area requires. One quick way to check is to multiply the site square footage by 1.5 to determine the approximate total watts you need.

3, Select An Area To Highlight

When designing your outdoor lighting, consider selecting an area to highlight since illuminating everything can be overwhelming and prevent you from accentuating the best elements of your home.

Do you want to showcase a particular tree, a charming fountain, a winding pathway, or your backyard space? Choose a feature you want to emphasize and see if it’s possible to install a combination of the primary fixtures for higher quality lighting.

To help you settle this matter, look outside from the inside of your house. By observing your yard while standing in your dining or living area, you’ll get a better view of the entire space. This will allow you to determine which area to highlight, what fixture to use, and where to position the lighting.

4, Choose Soft Light To Create Ambiance

Are you planning to host gatherings or dinner parties in your yard? Remember: when trying to set an inviting mood, it’s best to use soft or subtle outdoor lights for backyards. Friends or relatives will not appreciate having a spotlight on them while they’re intending to relax or savor their meal.

You can use full lights while you’re prepping and cooking the food, but you should opt for outdoor lanterns, dim lights, or pendants when it’s time for dinner and drinks.

5, Be Mindful Of Security

Outdoor lighting can not only set the mood in your home but also contribute to the security on your property. With that said, see to it every entry point in your residence is well lit.

If you have a garage, you can place a wall lantern on either side of your garage door or install a light fixture above it. Additionally, if there are dark areas outside your home, you can position spotlights or wall lanterns near windows, garages, and doors.

Aside from the garage, areas such as patios, decks, stairways, driveways, and walkways should be properly illuminated. You can install pathway lights for walkways so household members and guests will feel safe walking up to the front door at night.

6, Opt For LED Lights

Lastly, consider using LED lights or any other energy-efficient lighting options like fluorescent plant light and solar-powered light fixtures. When LED lights were initially introduced, people avoided them because they were too bright. However, they’ve been adjusted thanks to technology, so what you’ll find on the market today are subtler versions of the original design.

In addition to that, LED lights are now popular because they consume minimal energy compared to incandescent or halogen bulbs. The fixture is maintenance-free, so it’s suitable for active people since they won’t need to replace bulbs often.

Takeaway

In the long run, studying the fundamentals of and researching more about outdoor lighting will help you build your own scenic and well-lit outdoor area. However, don’t forget that when working with outdoor lighting or any other kind of electric fixture, your safety should be top priority. Thus, if the task is too complex for you, it’s better to enlist the service of an installation company or a professional technician.