Can You Have Too Much Landscape Lighting?

One of the best investments you can make in your home is adding landscape lighting. But is there such a thing as too much outdoor lighting? As with most things, the answer is “yes,” you can have too much of a good thing, including landscape lighting. 

When you’re thinking about the places on your property that need landscape lighting, make sure to avoid the following practical and aesthetic problems that result from over-lighting.

Light Pollution

Light pollution occurs when man-made changes increase outdoor light levels in nature and create a glare or skyglow. Not only can light pollution disturb your neighbors, but it can also interfere with bird migration and the behavior of nocturnal wildlife.

To reduce light pollution, make sure that your outdoor lights are positioned to direct the light exactly where you want it to go, or you can also choose to install shields that help prevent light spillage. Using timers, motion sensors, or solar lights can also help ensure that you only have light when you need it.

Visual Clutter

Adding too many lights can result in a chaotic environment, where your eye doesn’t know where to go first. To truly highlight different elements of your home or property (e.g., a beautiful tree, your front door, a textured wall, etc.), use light sparingly to create contrast that leads the eye directly to the feature you want to showcase. Too much light in the same space or on the same feature eliminates contrast and depth, making everything look flat.

Higher Energy Costs

Even if you choose LED fixtures, which use less energy and last longer than traditional lights, an excess of lights will make your lighting system inefficient, waste electricity, and lead to higher energy costs. In addition, you will end up with higher maintenance costs since you will have more fixtures and bulbs to repair and replace.

Safety Issues

Although landscape lighting is an essential component of keeping your property safe, especially along pathways or near steps or changes in elevation, if your lighting in these areas is too bright or too concentrated in one spot, you may actually end up creating glare and reducing visibility. Too much light can create hot spots in some places and blind spots in others, which will make it difficult to avoid tripping hazards. 

Reduced Ambiance

One of the many benefits of landscape lighting is creating an inviting atmosphere for your visitors. Great landscape lighting can help set a relaxing mood and bring warmth to your outdoor gatherings. Too much light, on the other hand, can make your property feel more like an airport runway or stadium.

Need Help Finding the Right Balance?

The lighting professionals at Houston Lightscapes have over 30 years of experience helping home and business owners transform their properties with outdoor lighting systems designed specifically for their needs. We follow industry best practices, thoughtfully balancing function and design, using layered lighting techniques, high quality fixtures, and LED bulbs.

Call us today to set up a free consultation where we will walk your property with you, getting a sense of your style, vision, and needs before we present you with your individualized design. We’ll help you find just the right balance for beautiful landscape lighting that highlights what you love most.