Decorative Outdoor Lighting
As many of us have undoubtedly found out, looking for a house in a darkened street is no fun. But if outdoor lighting suitably illuminates that house, the search can be a walk in the park. And decorative outdoor lighting has the added benefit of making your house look good. So whether you wish to make your house easy to find, or want to find the kids’ toys strewn on the patio, decorative outdoor lighting is a wise choice. So here are three reasons why we think decorative outdoor lighting is a good idea:
- Low voltage decorative outdoor lighting systems are inexpensive to maintain, easy to install yourself, shock-free, safe and movable. What’s more, it is available in a wide variety of styles
- Decorative outdoor lighting not only beautifies your home, but also makes it a safer place after dark
- To make it easier for guests and emergency vehicles to locate your house, it makes sense to light your house numbers, either using your porch light, or directing a small spotlight up from the ground
Before you set out to buy your decorative outdoor lighting fixtures, remember:
- Outdoor wiring must always be grounded and must also be rated as “water-resistant-U.L. approved for outdoor use”
- Fixtures rated for interior use should NEVER be used outdoors
- For pool and fountain lights, use only fixtures that are especially intended for use in these areas
How to Fix Your Lighting Plan
- Carefully examine your yard to determine exactly which areas you want to accent with decorative outdoor lighting. Concentrate on a focal point from where to start your lighting plan, like a large tree, the main entrance, a graveled walk or landscaped flower beds
- Light potentially hazardous areas like dark corners and crazy steps that can trip up unsuspecting visitors!
- Sketch out a rough plan of your yard including landscaping and walks. Then put in the areas where you wish to install decorative outdoor lighting fixtures. Of course, you may still find that some areas require special attention once your lighting is installed, and you may need to rearrange a few fixtures
- Once you have begun designing your decorative outdoor lighting system, consider where you want the switches to be. For instance, indoor switches allow you to turn lights on or off from inside, so that may be a more convenient option. Also, photocells or a programmable control system attached to the outdoor lighting system can automatically turn outdoor lights on or off.
How to Choose the Right Decorative Outdoor Lighting Fixtures
To begin with, you have to decide what kind of outdoor lighting effect you are aiming for. As mentioned earlier, safety and aesthetics both come into the picture. For added beautification, you may choose to use various color schemes. Next, you have to figure out whether you want down lighting, up lighting, cross lighting, shadowing, silhouetting, accent lighting, or spread lighting. Once you do that, it’s time to install to your decorative outdoor lighting fixtures. Here’s how:
- Lay the cable. You can cover the cable with decorative stones or hide it under a convenient bush. If you want to take more trouble, make a cut in the surface of your yard or lawn, pry up the sod, lay the cable and tamp the sod back in
- The actual placing of the decorative outdoor lighting fixtures depends on where you want them
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