Whether you’re a new homeowner or you’ve decided it’s time to integrate outdoor lighting into your current home, Houston Lightscape’s guide will help you figure everything out.
What exactly do you want to highlight with your new lighting design? Different fixtures can yield different effects, and draw attention to different things. Knowing the difference between some of them will help you make the right choice for your home.
Path Lights
Path lights typically highlight entryways and walkways. Deciding which points of access you want to feature can really change the appearance.
Do you want to highlight your stairs? If so, path lights are perfect for you. Specifically, small fixtures such as step lights make a good option. These can be installed along the bottom of steps, along the sides, and even underneath open stairways.
Exterior Lighting
Exterior lighting is crucial as it shows off the best angles of your home. Deciding if you want a more subtle design or something bolder will reflect in what fixtures you choose.
Wash lights are soft and diffused. They work beautifully for lighting up the exterior of your home and your outdoor walls. It covers a wide amount of space with a tiny fixture, different from the bullet light.
Bullet lights are a more controlled source of light. The beam is narrow, which means it works best for highlighting certain features rather than a large portion of your exterior. These are also very compact which means, like wash lights, the fixture is discreet.
Garden Lighting
Garden Lighting is usually one of the favorites when it comes to light design. There’s so much room for versatility and creativity.
Tree lighting is very popular in the garden. Downlights or well lights work beautifully in the garden. Downlights, as mentioned earlier, are placed in the upper branches of trees and beam downward, highlighting what’s below.
Well lights work opposite, as they are on the ground and beam upward. These are waterproof and are very small, easy to disguise. That means you can place them in your garden to add ambiance without adding bulk.
Perimeter Lighting
This is usually used for fenced in homes and areas. If you want to add light around your property and back yard, this is a good option.
Flood lights are really popular for highlighting fences. They have a wide beam, that covers more space, perfect for a long fence. It’s also a brighter option which means it’s great for security and being able to see all of your property late at night.
Patio Lighting
Patio and deck lighting are great for those who enjoy spending time outdoors and who love entertaining guests.
You can install lights along the posts of your patio or even on the exterior of your wall. A great option is if you have a pool built into your patio.
Pool lighting falls under the category of hardscape lighting. The fixtures can be installed around the outer edge of your pool and inside to light up the water from within.
Figuring out which lighting design elements you want in your landscape doesn’t have to be difficult. With the help of professionals like Houston Lightscapes, you can work together to get a yard you love coming home to at night.
There is so much room for creativity and personalization. You can make your landscape into whatever you want with the right fixtures and placements. This guide is just a jumping off point for a greater vision.