When the sun goes down, a well-designed lighting system can transform your outdoor space into a warm, inviting and relaxing spot to unwind after a long day. The best part is that it doesn’t require a professional electrician or contractors to make your yard glow with beauty at night.
There are a variety of outdoor light options that can meet almost any budget and taste, from lights that hang like pendants above seating areas to those that sit on the ground. There are also solar, battery and electric options, as well as a wide range of lighting controls to choose from.
Recessed fixtures refer to those that lay flush with your ceilings or walls — like floodlights that are commonly installed over a garage door or by a front entryway, for example. Wall sconces are another option, and there are many designs to suit your style, including open-bottom sconces that leave the bottom of the bulb housing exposed. These can add a touch of elegance to a front porch or dining area, but they’re also great for lightening stairways, pathways, patios, decks and covered porches.
If you want to save energy, consider LED lighting — which uses less power than incandescent bulbs and often comes in warmer colors that look more natural than blueish or white ones. You can also find lights with motion sensors that turn on automatically when the system detects movement.
For a truly unique landscape lighting solution, consider bringing in the natural elements to illuminate your outdoor space. From candles in mason jars to lanterns that sit on the ground, there are many easy-to-rearrange and affordable ways to bring the outdoors in. Just be sure to practice basic home safety with any type of light source.