The Best Colors for Outdoor Lighting During Fall/Winter Months

As the days get shorter and the evenings get darker sooner, your outdoor lighting becomes even more important. You don’t have to go into hibernation and wait for spring. Instead, use your outdoor lighting in the fall and winter months to create the environment you want for entertaining friends and family while enjoying your outdoor living areas all year round. 

Choosing the best colors for outdoor lighting in the fall and winter seasons can make all the difference. Of course, when we talk about “colors” in outdoor lighting, we’re actually talking about the color temperatures of white light. Unless, of course, you’re talking about Haven Lighting, which we’ll discuss later. 

What Are Color Temperatures?

Basically, color temperature is how “warm” (yellowish) or “cool” (white or blueish) light appears. Measured on the Kelvin scale, most residential outdoor lighting is between 2000k (warm) and 4000k (cool). Although there is no wrong or right when it comes to which colors to use, your choices do make a difference in the atmosphere you create and the effect you achieve. 

Where to Use Warm Lighting

Many homeowners like the cozy and inviting feel of warm lighting, which tends toward yellow or even slightly orange or reddish, for outdoor living spaces such as near a fire pit, on a deck or patio, or in outdoor dining areas. These shades are more muted and easier on the eyes, so you can relax and engage in conversation while still being able to see where you’re going. 

Warm lighting is also a good choice for entryways to invite your guests into your home. Using warm lighting on architectural features will highlight them beautifully. Cooler lighting, on the other hand, might create sharp shadows that could give a cold or slightly eerie feel.

Where to Use Cool Lighting

Cooler light (from 3000k to 4000k) is closer to natural light, so it’s often a good choice for highlighting landscaping features of plants and trees. Many plants look more natural in cooler light since it accentuates greens and blues, and you can really showcase interesting textures and shapes.

Moonlighting, which is usually around 4000k, can be especially beautiful in your trees. Lights are placed up high in your trees or even under the eaves of your house to shine down over a broad area, mimicking silvery moonlight.

If you use uplights in your landscaping you may have to adjust them a bit in the fall and winter. As trees and plants lose their leaves, tilt the lighting away from the bare branches and more toward the trunk of the tree. Otherwise, your yard might look a little spookier than you intended. 

Get ALL the Color Options With Haven Lighting!

Don’t let the drab colors of winter get you down. Add color and fun to your outdoor lighting with Haven Lighting. This cloud-based lighting system lets you customize and switch between lighting schemes at the touch of a button. You can choose from 20 vibrant colors that are perfect for every holiday, game day, and special occasion. Or, choose from eight different color temperatures of white to create your perfect lighting design.

Add colored lights to your pool or water features to make them the focus when your landscape colors have faded. Or, if you have evergreens or year-round flowers or perennials, you can use blue or green lights to really enhance their colors.

Let the Experts Get Your Home Ready for Fall

Houston Lightscapes is a family-owned business that specializes in custom, outdoor lighting displays that help transform the homes and properties of our clients. We will work with you every step of the way from design to installation to maintenance. Call us today at (713) 461-3600 to set up your free consultation.