Landscape Lighting Orlando adds a whole new dimension to your yard after dark. It can help highlight your favorite features, like a fountain or a herringbone walkway.
The first step to selecting the best landscape lighting is determining why you want it. From there, you can narrow down your options and find the power type that best fits your needs.
There are many benefits to landscape lighting, but the most obvious is that it enhances your property. It makes your outdoor space usable at night and increases the visual impact of your home’s exterior. Lighting can highlight features like fountains, ponds, gardens, patios and pergolas. It can also bring out the beauty of trees, shrubs and flowers in your yard. In addition, a well-lit home will look more inviting to guests and may increase your property’s value when it comes time to sell.
When selecting your lighting, it is important to consider the style you want and your budget. There are many different light fixtures available, so finding one that meets both your needs and your price range shouldn’t be difficult. Many light fixtures are also available in a wide variety of finishes, so you can find something that compliments your landscaping and home’s architectural style.
Uplighting – Lights can be positioned underneath the canopy of a tree or other tall structure to create drama with shadows. This technique can also be used to highlight a wall or other vertical surface in an entertainment area. Beam spread or beam angle is another factor to consider, as it determines how much light a fixture casts. Fixtures with a wider beam spread can cover larger areas, but will require more power than those with a narrower beam.
Path lighting – Using a series of lights placed along a path can help make your landscaping easier to navigate at night. Ideally, the lights should be spaced about six to eight feet apart to maintain visibility and create a vivid effect.
Decorative or special purpose lighting – Lights with an integrated LED board are designed to be a permanent fixture in the landscape, similar to a garden light. These types of fixtures are often less expensive than those that take a bulb, but they are more limited in terms of customization options such as brightness (lumens), color temperature and beam spread.
Most landscape lighting uses low voltage systems, which are safer and more affordable to install than line voltage systems. Low voltage systems utilize a transformer to reduce 120-volt household power to a safer 12 volts. As a result, there are a wide range of possibilities for landscape lighting, from the ethereal moonlight beamed down on a tree canopy to a subtle glow that washes over a low garden wall.
Accent Lighting
Accent lighting, also known as highlighting, is used to draw attention to specific areas in your home or landscape that are meant to stand out or create a specific mood. It can be a great way to showcase artwork, sculptures and other decorative elements in your home as well as highlight your favorite plants and trees. This type of lighting can be achieved using sconces, pendants, tube lights and spotlights.
One of the most important aspects of accent lighting is that it should be three times brighter than the ambient/general lighting to provide contrast. It is also important that you have the right fixtures in place to achieve the desired effect. This is where the expertise of an experienced lighting designer comes in handy as the choice of fixture and color of light is vital to achieving the desired effect.
When done correctly, this type of lighting can make an object or feature look three-dimensional. It can also be a great way to highlight structures in your home such as a staircase or a walkway. Adding accent lighting can also help guide people around your property, particularly in the event of a power outage or bad weather.
Outdoor accent lighting is a great way to illuminate a staircase, pathway or driveway and provide safety for your family members. It can also be used to highlight the unique features of your home’s exterior such as a stairway, patio or fountain. This can help you stand out from your neighbors and increase the resale value of your property.
Having good quality accent lighting is crucial for your home’s safety and security. It is best to have the right amount of brightness to avoid glare. You should also choose the right fixtures for your property based on the atmosphere you want to evoke. If you are looking to add accent lighting to your home, contact us at Livingetc to learn more about how we can help.
With the proper lighting, your Austin home can become a place of beauty and ambiance that is sure to impress any visitor. It can also enhance the comfort and enjoyment of your family. Whether it is basking in the soft glow of your garden or taking in the sights and sounds of your water feature, well-designed lighting can turn your backyard into an oasis of peace.
Spotlighting
Landscape lighting is an excellent way to showcase your home’s best features and create drama after dark. It can be used to highlight outdoor living spaces, fountains and water features, ponds, trees, garden accents, and even the architectural details of your home. It’s the perfect solution to bring out the ambiance of your property at night and impress friends, family, and guests with its beauty.
However, just like any type of home improvement project it is important to plan and budget for your landscape lighting before jumping in. Whether you’re looking to add subtle accents or dramatic focal points, there is something out there to fit your needs and your budget. It is also recommended to work with a professional, especially when installing line voltage or high-powered fixtures. In the worst case scenario, you could seriously injure yourself if the wiring is not properly buried and connected or if you end up selecting the wrong bulb for your fixture.
The most common types of lights used in landscape lighting are path and spotlights. Path lighting is great for walkways, but it can also be used to illuminate flowerbeds and other low areas. Spotlights are usually directional, shining downward with a wide aperture (width). They are great for uplighting trees and other points of interest in your yard.
Another popular technique is silhouetting, which involves positioning a light at the base of an object or structure and aiming it towards an adjacent wall to create a shadow effect. This works best on densely packed plants and structures that have a clearer silhouette.
It is also possible to use hardscape lights, which install into or onto structures and wash or graze the walls with light. These are often seen in courtyards, patios, and decks.
Not only does landscape lighting look beautiful, but it can also increase your property value. Studies have shown that well-maintained landscaping is one of the top things home buyers look for when evaluating a property. Investing in landscape lighting is one of the easiest ways to make your home’s exterior stand out from the rest and increase its overall value.
Ring Lighting
Unlike spotlights, which have a beam angle between 40 and 75 degrees, ring lights provide an almost circular glow. This type of landscape lighting is best for highlighting a specific object or area, such as a statue or patio. It’s also well suited to macro photography and flower shots because the circular light eliminates shadows that can spoil an image.
Most landscape lighting systems are low voltage, which means they have a step-down transformer that reduces 120-volt household current to a safe 12 volts. This makes them easier and cheaper to install than line-voltage systems, which require a licensed electrician. However, even low voltage landscape lighting can be dangerous if you don’t understand how to install it properly.
While there are many benefits to installing landscape lighting, it’s important to consider your specific needs and preferences when choosing a style and system. For instance, some people prefer the look of incandescent bulbs while others like the energy efficiency and color options offered by LEDs. In addition, the lighting you choose should be compatible with your home’s existing fixtures and the outdoor environment you want to illuminate.
When designing your lighting, it’s crucial to take into account the size of your yard or garden as well as any other competing light sources, such as streetlights and nearby buildings. A professional can help you determine what type of landscape lighting will work best for your space.
Landscape lighting is a great way to add curb appeal to your home while improving safety and security. However, it’s important to remember that this type of lighting is only effective when used in combination with other light sources, such as natural sunlight and supplemental indoor lighting. It’s also essential to use outdoor lighting sparingly so that it doesn’t create an unwelcoming glare or overpower your home.
If you’re thinking about adding landscape lighting to your home, consider working with a professional who can design a customized system and expertly install it. While this may be an expensive option, it’s one that will provide long-term benefits for your home’s value and aesthetic.