Audrey Hepburn once said, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”
Whether you have a huge yard, a patio garden, or anything in between, no doubt you get a lot of enjoyment from it. But what about after the sun goes down? Is it time to retreat into the house?
Not at all! With the right landscape lighting, your yard or garden can become an oasis of tranquility 24 hours a day.
Keep reading for our best landscape lighting tips for your home.
Table of Contents
Where Should I Use Landscape Lighting?
Ideally, landscape lighting strikes the perfect balance between safety and aesthetics. You need enough lighting to keep everyone safe after dark, but not so much light that it detracts from your relaxation or entertaining efforts.
Path lighting is essential for safety, and it also contributes to an intimate, romantic atmosphere. Deck and patio lighting illuminates steps and ramps and allows ample opportunity for outdoor entertaining after dark.
Other types of landscape lighting, such as garden lights, hardscape lighting, and pond lighting, are purely decorative. They add an extra layer of warmth and charm that isn’t visible during the day. It also boosts your home’s curb appeal and highlights the natural beauty of your yard.
Need help visualizing these elements? You can study galleries on sites like Imperial Landscaping & Masonry, Inc for more inspiration.
What Are My Landscape Lighting Options?
Now that you know where to place your lights, let’s talk about the types of lights you can use.
Some common landscape lighting options include:
- Path lights (small, dim lights on or near the sides of the path)
- Post lights (taller, larger path lights to gently illuminate)
- Deck lights (installed directly on the deck or hardscaping)
- Well lights (installed below ground to illuminate features from below)
- Post cap lights (add a soft glow to entertaining areas)
- Spotlights or floodlights (illuminate key features like statues, fountains, or trees)
The types and size of your lights will depend on how large your yard is and which features you want to highlight.
What Are Some Landscape Lighting Design Ideas?
Finally, let’s consider how you can use your lights to create beautiful design elements. Here are some popular ideas to consider:
- Accenting (focus a narrow spotlight from a hidden position)
- Highlighting (place floodlights or spotlights at the foot of a feature)
- Downlighting (attach lights to a trellis or hardscape to mimic natural overhead light)
- Silhouetting (place a floodlight or well light behind a tree, shrub, or feature)
- Moonlighting (angle spotlights downward from high tree branches)
- Shadowing (use lights to create a shadow on a wall or hardscape)
It’s easy to get carried away with lighting ideas, but remember that less is more. The idea is to create subtle accent lighting, not pretend it’s daytime.
Looking for Landscape Lighting Near Me?
As you can see, the sky’s the limit when it comes to beautiful landscape lighting ideas.
If you’re ready to get started, contact a landscape lighting company in your area. They’ll work with you to transform your yard into a perfectly lit oasis!
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