Outdoor lighting is a simple home improvement project that enhances the look of your yard at night. Choose fixtures that suit your style and the features of your yard to create a well-lit landscape.
Avoid glaring light by angling fixtures away from seating areas like patios and pergolas. This also prevents the light from casting a shadow on the wall or ceiling. Outdoor Lighting Colorado Springs can help you choose the perfect lighting option for your home.
Warm Tones
When you’re considering your landscape lighting options, it’s important to consider the color temperature. Different tones work better with some landscapes than others, and the way that a light tint affects your outdoor space can have an impact on its mood, as well as how inviting it is to guests.
Color temperature is measured in Kelvins, with lower numbers representing warmer, yellower tones and higher numbers indicating cooler hues. The right color temperature can add warmth to an area, helping to create a cozy, intimate setting that’s perfect for a romantic evening, or it can be used to highlight the cool blues and greens of your landscaping and foliage.
For example, a warm white light (2700K) is the ideal choice for lighting up your outdoor living spaces. This can help create a cozy and welcoming ambiance that’s perfect for relaxing with friends and family, while also offering plenty of visibility so you can enjoy the beauty of your outdoor space. This is the perfect lighting option for highlighting walkways, entranceways, and other architectural features in your outdoor space.
Alternatively, a natural or warm daylight white light (3000K) is a great choice for illuminating the trees and other shrubs in your landscape. This will help accentuate the greens and blues of your plants, giving them a more lush, healthy look. In addition, this tone is the perfect option for lighting up water features and fountains, as it helps to illuminate the natural color of the water without overpowering its appearance.
Depending on your personal preferences, you may prefer a warm or natural color light for your landscaping or you may find that a cooler white is more effective at drawing attention to certain parts of your property, such as an area where a security system has been installed. If you’re concerned about your privacy, a cooler white light that mimics moonlight is often a good choice because it can help prevent intruders from being able to see your home.
Soft Lights
A common tool in filming, a scrim is a large sheet of fabric that serves as a filter between the light and the subject. It softens the harsh shadows that would otherwise be cast on it and helps to create a natural, beautiful glow. It’s not always possible to use a real scrim outdoors, but with the right outdoor lighting, you can achieve similar effects. This type of lighting is a great choice for highlighting decorative garden elements, patios, seating areas, and gazebos.
Often used as low-light accents for plants, tree trunks, and other architectural features, landscape lights can create an intimate atmosphere with their warm glow. Choosing the right color temperature is key to creating this effect. Lower Kelvin numbers are warmer and appear yellow, while higher temperatures produce a more blueish glow that’s ideal for highlighting architectural elements and plant material in your yard.
If you’re looking for a subtle glow that highlights the texture of your backyard, consider using low-voltage, LED step lights. These flush-mounted lights are completely weatherproof and available in a variety of colors, finishes, and designs to complement your home’s style. They’re also energy-efficient and come with dusk-to-dawn sensors to keep your lights on after sunset and turn them off when daylight comes.
For a more dramatic effect, use uplighting to illuminate walls and other vertical surfaces. Then, add some downlighting to highlight interesting textures, like stonework, in your backyard. These lights can also be a great safety feature for steps, pathways, and other entryways around your property.
Another option is to use lights with a translucent rather than a clear glass covering, which will help to diffuse the light and reduce glare. These lights can be placed near entryways, garden structures, gazebos, and even in your driveway.
If you’re aiming to create a romantic, soothing, and inviting vibe in your backyard, try out 2500K-3000K LEDs for your landscape lighting. These warm temperatures will create a calming atmosphere and help guests feel welcome in your backyard. The warm glow of these bulbs is also perfect for illuminating fireplaces and spas in your outdoor living area.
Dramatic Lights
If you want your outdoor lighting to be dramatic, choose fixtures with frosted glass or opal glass. They are available in a variety of color temperatures and brightnesses to suit your taste. Alternatively, you can also opt for fixtures with diffusers that softly filter the light. These lights create a more diffused look than bright bulbs, which makes them perfect for outdoor areas that don’t require as much visibility.
Another way to make your outdoor space more dramatic is to incorporate eye-catching fire features into your design. Fire bowls and gas torches are popular options that add a unique touch to your backyard. In addition to their aesthetic appeal, these features can also help you set a relaxing ambiance that’s ideal for entertaining guests after dark.
When it comes to outdoor lighting, layered looks are in style. However, it’s important not to overdo the number of fixtures so your yard doesn’t appear cluttered. A professional lighting designer will know where to place your fixtures so that they look balanced and well-designed.
Outdoor lighting is often used to illuminate walkways, stairs, and driveways. But it can also be used to highlight the front door, landscaping, or architectural elements of your home. These lights are also great for illuminating tripping hazards, like steps or pool edges. To ensure that your lighting is effective, it’s important to choose a system that includes motion detection capabilities.
You can add a dramatic touch to your patio design by installing string lights or by adding landscape moonlighting. These lights create a warm, cozy atmosphere that’s ideal for entertaining guests or relaxing after a long day. They are a great choice for patios that feature an outdoor kitchen, fireplace, or other attractive architectural features.
If you’re looking to upgrade your commercial property, an experienced outdoor lighting company can help you achieve the right look with a custom lighting system. Whether you’re trying to draw attention to a particular area, increase safety, or simply boost curb appeal, the right lighting can transform your space into an inviting and engaging destination for both your employees and your clients.
Personalized Lights
A well-lit home exterior can add to your curb appeal but it can also enhance safety, security, and ambiance. Outdoor lighting can help you create an energy-efficient and eco-friendly lighting design that delivers on all counts.
For example, a lantern-style fixture by the back door or spotlights hanging under your eaves are great for creating a warm and welcoming ambiance. But they may be too bright for your entertaining or dining space, so a combination of lights is ideal for providing the right amount of light for each area.
Wall sconces can be a nice touch, too. These are a low-voltage form of accent and safety lighting that works well for illuminating small recessed areas where shadows tend to lurk. They’re also a good choice for accenting vertical features like fencing, pergolas, and privacy screens. They can be mounted on the interior of a covered patio, above stairways, and around sunken seating areas.
Another great option for adding a little ambiance is color-changing lights. These are available as bulbs or fixtures and can be controlled by a smartphone app or remote. They’re a fun way to illuminate your garden or pool with a variety of colors for holidays and special occasions. They’re also available in LED or low-voltage options, making them a sustainable lighting solution that can save you money on electricity bills.
The most common lighting problems are those related to faulty connections, bad connectors, and exposed wires. These are easy to fix, but they can be dangerous if not dealt with promptly. For instance, if your sockets are corroded because the wires are exposed to water, the resulting corrosion can result in the loss of the connection. This can also cause the light to stop working altogether or, in the worst case, lead to an electrical fire.
A lighting design expert can help you resolve these issues or prevent them from occurring in the first place. Proper installation is the key to getting the most out of your outdoor lighting. Contact the experts today to learn more about how we can help.