Landscape Lighting: 4 Tips to Bring Your Backyard to the Next Level

Last updated on March 18, 2024

For any house, outdoor lighting is an essential fixture that cannot be omitted. First of all, it provides security by illuminating your path at night so you do not trip and discourages potential burglars from invading your home.

But aside from being functional, outdoor lighting also has aesthetic benefits as it highlights the best features of your property.

You need to plan where to use specific outdoor lighting elements. For some, that process might be a little overwhelming since they have little experience in this area. If you know the different types of lighting, you will be able to use them to their full potential.

You should also make a sketch of the landscape, choose the light source, and decide what to illuminate. Do not forget to think about the costs of the whole project. Some types of lighting are more expensive than others — you will pay less for simple rope lights, but pendant lights or a chandelier will cost you much more.

The Different Types of Outdoor Lighting

Before you start shopping for outdoor lighting, it is important that you know what type of them you actually need for your property. The market offers a variety of options – some lights are intense and illuminate a wide area, and others are dimmer and are useful for a certain spot. The three main types are ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting.

Ambient Lighting

This type of lighting is used to light up an area at night. For example, you can use it to brighten your path or even to slightly illuminate the whole backyard. Before choosing this option, you need to determine how much space you want to light up and if you want it to be a soft glow or a brighter light.

Task Lighting

Task lighting is designed to illuminate specific areas and objects such as steps, tables, and gardens. These lights are used for practical reasons and give a spotlight to the place you want to focus on. You can control task lighting by installing motion sensors that turn the lights on when someone or something passes by.

Accent Lighting

Accent lighting is installed near elements that you want to emphasize, such as a water fountain or any other outdoor feature. As the name suggests, this type of lighting will draw attention to the spot you want to emphasize, so while it should be bright, it should not be too bright – otherwise, it will stand out too much and make everything else in the yard look bland.

Decide on the Light Source

The most common type of light source used for outdoor lighting are LED lights. They are energy efficient and have a long lifespan, so it will be a while before you need to replace them. LED lights are available in different colors, sizes, and intensities, depending on your preferences. They also have the ability to change color based on the time of day, which makes them perfect for accent lighting.

Since they are affordable yet durable, LED lights are the most practical – and that makes them an excellent long-term investment. The other option for outdoor lighting is to use halogen bulbs or incandescent bulbs. However, these are both quite expensive and short-lived, so they are not good options if your budget is tight.

Choose What to Illuminate

One of the first things you should decide before designing your outdoor lighting is what to illuminate. Some people simply want to illuminate their whole yard, but others want to focus on certain areas like walkways or decorative elements like fountains and trees.

If you want to illuminate your entire yard, you should consider installing lights on your roof, on the fence, and in the trees. This will give your property a full and uniform glow. You can also place lights along your walkways so you can see where you are going at night. To accentuate a specific feature in your yard, you can install a spotlight and point it toward the object you want to highlight.

Think About Costs

Do not forget that all projects, including installing outdoor lighting, have costs involved. Before you spend money on materials, make sure that you are able to afford them. Also, make sure that you will be able to maintain the lights you install, so they last for a long time and do not put a strain on your wallet later on. While it is tempting to use colored bulbs for decorative lighting, think about whether this will be appealing long-term or just an eyesore in a few months’ time.

The Takeaway

After spending hundreds of dollars making your property look beautiful, it would be a shame if it disappeared in the darkness come nightfall. We have offered you some tips that will help you get your outdoor space ready for spring and design outdoor lighting that will highlight the best features of your house.

If you want to give your property a more beautiful aesthetic, install outdoor lighting. Whether you want to brighten up your yard or highlight certain features, there is a fixture for every purpose.

Once you know the type of light source you need, where to put it, and what to illuminate, you will have an easy time designing your landscape. Just make sure that you follow these tips so that your outdoor lighting matches your preferences while also being efficient and long-lasting.

Recap: