Do’s and Don’ts of Landscape Lighting

Installing landscape lighting is a great way to show off your home’s best features and boost its curb appeal. Landscape lighting provides often-needed illumination for your outdoor areas, allowing you to safely enjoy your landscape after sunset.  The nighttime ambiance gives your landscape new enjoyment.

When poorly designed the wrong lighting setup can be an eyesore, create ”light noise” and do more harm than good. Ask your local landscaper near you to check out your Lighting Design.

To help you design your landscape lighting system, we have compiled a list of some dos and don’ts of landscape lighting. Take a look.

DOs

Use a Variety of Fixtures

Using different fixtures is an effective way to add visual interest and dimension to your design. When choosing fixtures for a particular area of your property, consider aesthetics as well as their intended purpose. Incorporate floodlights, path lights, and accent lights into your landscape design.

Within each category, you can use different styles and sizes of light fixtures for a classy and sophisticated look. Remember to light your front yard as it is one of the first things people will notice about your property.

As you wish your landscape lighting to last, choose professional-grade fixtures and install them to the manufacturer’s specifications.

Create Layers of Light

Use a combination of downlighting, uplighting, and backlighting. You can downlight by placing lights in trees in your landscape to create a “moonlight” effect. Uplighting can be used to highlight architectural and structural design elements.

Uplighting is a lighting technique in which lights are placed at the base of trees or any other objects to make them shine upwards. Downlighting is usually used to create a relaxing ambiance. As the name suggests, backlighting involves placing lights behind objects. This lighting technique is used to highlight water features and specimen plants.

Come Up With a Plan

Before you buy lights, come up with a plan. Decide which areas of your backyard you want to highlight and why. Define your goals. Do you want to accentuate the entryway? Or add character and charm to your outdoor area while improving safety and security? If you do not know where to start, contact a professional in landscape lighting near you.

Once you have visualized where and how you want to position the lights, map out their positions. Make a rough sketch or take photos of your property to help with the planning process.

DON’Ts

Place Lights Too Close to Each Other

Placing lights too close to each other can make your outdoor area look cluttered and disorganized. Before you install lights, take measurements and mark the areas where they will go. This way you can ensure that lights are spaced out evenly for a more natural look.

Light Pathways and Staircases the Same way

Lighting a staircase the same way as a pathway can cause a lot of shadows. To illuminate staircases the right way, install recessed lights underneath each step. For paths specifically designed fixtures hide the source of the fixture and illuminate it. Avoid placing lights in a straight line. Instead, install lights in a staggered manner to create visual interest.

Avoid Light Noise

Light pollution is becoming a problem throughout the civilized world and in the US, Dark Sky initiatives are becoming more prevalent.  Consider this when deciding how many fixtures to install.

Gardenworks is a renowned landscaping company serving Sonoma County. Our timeless landscape designs make homeowners go wow. To make an appointment, call (707) 857-2050.