Installing outdoor lighting can add greatly to the look of your home exterior. Perfect for improving the aesthetic feel of your garden, in addition to boosting the security of your property, outdoor lighting is becoming increasingly popular. Here are some tips for getting it just right.
Plan Ahead
It may seem obvious but planning what you want to achieve with your new outdoor lighting is of great importance. You may just want to install lighting as an extra security measure or alternatively wish to improve the look of your garden. Draw a diagram of the outside of your home and mark any areas you would like to highlight with your new lighting. You may have some particular trees or bushes which would benefit from the focus of outdoor lights or you may want to concentrate your efforts on lighting your patio area.
Types Of Outdoor Lights
The reason you want to install exterior lighting will determine the type of lights you buy. For security or simply highlighting larger outdoor areas, such as patios, flood lights are ideal. You may think that flood lighting would be a bit strong or harsh in your garden but this type of light is now available in a range of colours and shades to suit most situations. Most of the lights available today are now also environmentally friendly and much more economic than they used to be.
Spotlights which slot into the ground are perfect for subtly highlighting flowerbeds, trees and bushes. Using various colours can really make a garden look pretty spectacular when the sun goes down. You could even use spotlights along a pathway to highlight the path for your guests at a garden party.
Outdoor lanterns and candle lights add a delightfully quaint and traditional flavour to your garden. Although the actual light emitted from these is probably not as strong as those previously mentioned, this should not be a concern as lanterns and candle lighting are simply used for decorative purposes.
Landscape lighting and Fairy lighting is now no longer just for Christmas. A string of subtle fairy lights arranged inside a gazebo or an arbour can look particularly beautiful. Soft blue is a very popular colour and will add a subtle and comforting ambience to your garden and other outdoor areas.
Be Subtle
Resist the temptation to go overboard with your exterior lights, even when it comes to flood lighting. Subtlety is definitely the order of the day when it comes to exterior illumination. Too many lights in your garden which simply clash with one another will add nothing to the look of the outside of your home and will just make it look garish. Flood lighting can be dominating if not installed in the correct position, so think carefully about where you would like it before fitting.
Consider The Cost
It is always a good idea to consider the on-going cost of exterior lighting before installing. Decide how often you are likely to have your outdoor lights turned on and how you are going to control them. For security purposes, flood lights are usually best if controlled by a sensor which detects movement. For decorative lighting, you may wish to control their operation manually or another option is to have them set to come on and off with a timer. For the ultimate in economy and friendliness to the environment, solar lighting is the answer.
Whether installing for security or decorative purposes, the addition of outdoor lighting can make a huge difference to the exterior of your home.