Add beauty and function to your home with carefully designed outdoor lighting. Whether throwing a party or relaxing on your porch, you can enjoy your yard at night with the right fixtures.
There are many styles to choose from. Some are smart and can be controlled via an app or voice assistant.
Energy Efficiency
Lighting is a great way to highlight a landscape’s best features without overwhelming it. When planning a lighting plan, walk around the yard and pinpoint where to focus your attention. Then, select the right light fixture for the job.
Energy efficiency is one of the most important things to consider when choosing an outdoor lighting system. Look for lights that carry the energy star label. LED bulbs cost more upfront but last longer and consume less energy than halogen bulbs.
Also, look for motion sensors that help conserve energy by turning on lights only in short bursts. They can also help improve home security. And remember timers that allow you to set your outdoor lights to turn on and off at certain times throughout the day.
Curb Appeal
Whether you plan to put your home on the market or not, it’s always nice to impress neighbors and guests with a stylish curb appeal. Lighting is an easy way to impact, particularly after dark, significantly.
For example, a simple switch to oil-bronze or brushed nickel finishes on outdoor door fixtures and porch lights can add a new look.
Safety
Outdoor lighting Florida is excellent for illuminating walkways, driveways, and other hardscape areas to see where you’re going at night. This can help mitigate trip and fall accidents often due to poorly lit spaces.
Bright lights can create glare that can affect your vision. Choosing the correct light bulb can make your space safer by eliminating glare.
Safety is a big reason why many people choose to install landscape lighting. Intruders and criminals avoid well-lit spaces, so lighting your entryways significantly deter crime. Motion sensors and security lights can also be a good safety measure as they turn on when they sense movement. Photocontrol or photosensors are another option for managing your lights, allowing them to turn on at dusk and off with the setting sun.
Security
Security in outdoor lighting is a critical element of any landscape plan. It discourages criminal activity, minimizes hiding spots, and increases your sense of safety.
To avoid trips and falls on your property after dark, a walkway or path lighting can help you and your guests find their way. This type of lighting also illuminates potential hazards like patches of ice or uneven sidewalks.
Adding motion detection lights to areas you don’t want to be lit all night (like a garage door entrance) is another excellent security option. These lights turn on when someone approaches and can be controlled by a mobile app. They’re ideal for highlighting entryways, walkways, and other features without creating light pollution for neighbors.
Maintenance
Changing malfunctioning light bulbs regularly keeps lighting fixtures in good working order and saves energy. It also helps to keep your landscape looking its best.
Keep fixtures free of overgrowth. This may mean trimming plants growing up around them or cutting back shrubs and trees blocking the light source from illuminating the intended areas of your outdoor living space at nighttime.
Keep lights on only when they are needed. Leaving them on all the time wastes energy and costs money. Having dusk to dawn lights or security lights that come on when motion is detected can help reduce the lighting you need during this cold weather season. Additionally, it can protect your home from burglars and intruders.
