Outdoor lighting is one of the most effective ways to make your home and landscape feel welcoming after dark. Whether it’s illuminating a dining area for family gatherings or highlighting the beautiful form of a backyard tree, there are countless options to choose from.
Start by identifying what features of your yard are most interesting. Perhaps it’s a fountain or a stately tree that needs highlighting, or maybe you have an eye-catching stone wall that takes on a different character when illuminated. Once you know what you’re looking to highlight, play with the lights to see what effects they have on the space. A spotlight is a great choice to highlight a focal point, while a dimmer fixture can help create a more ambient and dramatic effect.
Another important consideration is safety. Steps, pathways and entry doors need to be properly lit for safety. You can also use lighting to accent water features, creating a magical feeling after dark. For example, underwater LEDs can illuminate the beauty of a pool or water feature, and floodlights can be angled to silhouette trees to create a nighttime wonderland.
If you want your yard to have a cohesive and coordinated look, consider using similar light fixtures throughout the landscape. Coordinating sconces and pendants, as well as lanterns and string lights can be an easy way to achieve this, and you may even find that some items repeat in multiple forms (such as the coordinating pendant and sconces on the patio of this Spanish Colonial by Alexander Design). Finally, be sure to maintain your lighting fixtures regularly. Regular trimming of plants and bushes surrounding the fixtures can prevent them from being obscured and reducing their effectiveness. It can also reduce fire hazards by preventing the buildup of flammable materials.