A well-lit landscape adds a touch of class and style to any home. It can also make your outdoor living space more accessible at night. Click here for more info.
Before you start thinking about lighting design, decide what it is you want to accomplish. Are you looking to create a romantic mood or a more casual, inviting atmosphere?
Choosing the Right Fixtures
Choosing the right fixtures is critical to creating a good landscape lighting design. Fixtures come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, so make sure to choose the ones that match your space perfectly.
You also need to consider the location of the fixtures and where the light will shine. For example, if your patio is attached to your home, wall lights are best for this application because they brighten up the space without shining light directly into your eyes.
For areas that need to be well-lit, floodlights are ideal. These fixtures can provide general illumination, while spotlights are better for highlighting specific features in your yard.
There are many strategies to highlight a feature in your yard, such as illuminating the shape and color of a plant or statue. Shadowing techniques are also helpful, as they can help you draw attention to the area in your garden that you want to highlight.
Creating a Theme
Every landscape is unique, and a lighting design must be tailored to its surroundings. One of the first steps in a successful lighting plan is to create a theme that will tie together the many components.
A good lighting scheme will help to draw the eye, improve safety and increase the overall value of a property. It will also highlight the best of your property’s features.
Using a combination of soft and hardscape lighting to illuminate your exterior space will make it a showpiece. It will make your home the talk of the town when it comes to evening parties and family gatherings.
A good lighting plan includes fixtures of all sizes and shapes. It should be able to light up everything from small ponds and flower gardens to decks and patios to trees and gazebos. The most important part of any lighting plan is to understand where you want to light up the space and what kind of lights will accomplish your goals.
Creating a Mood
A well-designed lighting plan can make any backyard a dreamy place to be at night. That said, landscape lighting design is not an easy task.
A good lighting design will use a variety of fixture types to highlight different elements, creating a cohesive look that draws your eye and makes your yard feel like one big living space. The most common fixture types are spotlights, floodlights, uplights, and downlights.
Uplighting a tree will make it appear larger and more impressive, while downlights will create an ambient mood that makes your backyard feel inviting and comfortable.
Decorative area lights are unique fixtures that are a favorite among homeowners for both daytime and evening illumination of gardens, architecture, and trees. When lit, these fixtures act as visual “sculptures” that project compelling patterns of light and shadows.
Adding Safety
One of the most important aspects of landscape lighting design is safety. A well-designed lighting system can make it much easier for people to safely navigate your property at night.
In addition, it also helps deter trespassers and burglars from making an appearance on your property. In some cases, this can mean a significant difference in preventing theft or break-ins.
Depending on your style, there are several techniques that can be used to add safety to your landscape lighting design.
Uplighting is a great way to highlight architectural features, trees, and other garden structures. Uplighting involves placing a light source upwards into a tree or other structure to create dramatic shadows and strong effects that are perfect for accentuating your yard’s architecture.
Another technique to consider is silhouette lighting, which consists of placing a light behind a feature to produce a black silhouette that emphasizes the shape, texture, and color of the object or plant. This technique is best suited for areas that have varied surface textures or plants with a defined growth habit. Browse the next article.