A well-planned outdoor lighting system transforms a home’s nighttime appearance, making it safe and inviting for dining, entertaining or simply relaxing. It also improves security by reducing the risk of burglaries or intruders.
A lighting plan begins with creating a map of your property and its key features, such as trees, pathways and other hardscaping, that you want to highlight at night. You can then select a variety of fixtures to fulfill that plan.
Wall sconces and outdoor ceiling-mount fixtures are great for illuminating recessed areas of architecture or hardscaping, like doorways or arched entryways. They eliminate shadows and make walkways and stairways safer to use at night. When used as accent lighting, they shine light downwards to avoid glare and are best when using low-wattage bulbs.
Landscape lighting is a good choice for highlighting plant beds and defining the shape of a yard or garden at night. Using flood lights to illuminate a pool or water feature is another option that adds a sense of ambiance and a focal point for evening gatherings.
Avoid installing outdoor lighting close to combustible materials, such as wood framing and vinyl siding, because the heat generated by the bulb could ignite these materials. It’s also a good idea to leave space between fixtures to prevent them from overlapping and creating unattractive dark spots. When selecting a fixture, consider whether it has a dark sky compliant rating, which helps reduce blue light pollution and its effect on migrating birds and sea turtle egg laying.