Illuminate your landscape for increased safety, and added security and to showcase your favorite hardscape and softscape features. There are many different styles of landscape lighting from which to choose, some with a built-in LED that requires no bulb replacement and others that are lamp-ready to accommodate a wide range of bulbs, beam widths, and wattages.
As the name implies, focused lighting helps to highlight specific landscape features, creating a more dramatic effect. This is a great way to draw attention to statues, flag poles, water features, unique plants, and other focal points. It also allows you to light up pathways or entryways to your home, ensuring safety and adding curb appeal. Click Here for more information.
Using the correct fixture and beam angle is vital when it comes to focused lighting. If a light is too bright, it can cause glare and blinding. On the other hand, if a light is too low, it can leave shadows or create a flat, uninspiring effect. To avoid this, look for fixtures that have adjustable lumen output, so you can control the amount of light being cast.
For example, you may want to flood a wall or hedge in an entertainment area with light, which would illuminate the entire surface. However, if you have a statue or plant you’d like to highlight, you might only want to light the top half of that item.
In addition to safety and aesthetics, landscape lighting also enhances the overall value of your property. Investing in high-quality lighting systems will provide longevity and reduce future maintenance costs by eliminating the need for frequent bulb changes or repairs. Additionally, intelligent systems allow you to customize schedules and settings to fit your preferences.
Landscape lighting is a complex art that requires the right expertise and eye for design. With the right knowledge and experience, you can transform your outdoor spaces into a mesmerizing nocturnal escape. Contact us today to learn more about the options available and how we can help you create a stunning nighttime atmosphere that will inspire guests and visitors to stay.
Ambient Lighting
Whether it is a fountain, pond or flower garden – or even your favorite tree – highlighting these features with landscape lighting is an easy way to enhance your home’s curb appeal. Adding light to these features also allows you to enjoy your yard after dark and can help create an inviting atmosphere for entertaining.
While there are many landscape lighting techniques to choose from, up-lighting, down-lighting and cross-lighting tend to be the most popular. They can be used individually or in combination to accentuate specific hardscape and softscape features of your property. Up-lighting can create dramatic shadows contrasting with bright lights, while down-lighting can deliver a more “moonlit” effect and is great for showing off non-uniformly shaped feature such as trees. Cross-lighting is a great technique for accentuating different sides of an architectural structure like a fence or a shed and can really draw attention to these structures.
The type of bulb, shape of fixture and the amount of wattage needed to properly illuminate a particular area are all factors in creating a well-lit space. The best way to determine what the right amount of wattage is for an outdoor area is to consult with a lighting specialist familiar with how these types of fixtures work.
Low voltage landscape lighting typically utilizes a transformer to convert line voltage from your household to 12 volts that can safely power the lights in your yard. The next two major components are the lighting fixture and the wires that carry current to each light in your yard. Most lighting fixtures will have a housing that protects the bulb and helps to shape the light beam. The fixture will also have a stake that is used to hold the light in place and a wiring connector that carries current from the transformer to the lighting fixture.
Cross-Lighting
The use of cross-lighting can be a very effective way to highlight a feature of your yard. This technique is similar to silhouetting, but instead of shining the light on the object from one direction (like a single spotlight) you are using two lights that illuminate the subject from opposite directions. This can soften the look of the shadows and give it a more realistic feel. It’s also a great way to emphasize something that is unique in your landscape, such as a statue or water fountain.
Backlighting is another of our favorite landscape lighting techniques. It’s an easy way to make the details of a plant stand out and create a dramatic effect. This is best used on tall plants or trees that have interesting limbs, trunks, or bark. It can also be used to highlight something in the distance such as a waterfall or pool. This type of lighting will also allow the dark colors of the leaves to stand out and can really enhance a tree in the night.
Low-voltage landscape lighting uses a transformer to reduce 120-volt household current to a safer 12 volts. This makes it easier to work on and more cost effective to install. It’s also capable of a full range of visual effects, from ethereal moonlight beamed down through a canopy of trees to subtle glow that washes over a garden wall.
Landscape lighting requires attention to detail in the design process, so it is important to have a knowledgeable and experienced lighting designer on your side. A well-designed lighting system will not only make your property safe and inviting at night, it will help increase your home’s value and improve its energy efficiency.
Up-Lighting
Up-lighting is a landscape lighting technique that illuminates an object or feature from below, often using spotlights. This type of lighting is a great way to highlight taller features such as trees, statues, or garden structures. This method also creates a dramatic effect that can show off the shape of the feature and highlights the contrast between shadow and light.
Up lighting is a popular technique because it allows you to highlight many types of elements and can produce different effects depending on the placement of the light in relation to the feature or structure that you’re up-lighting. It can produce effects such as Silhouetting, Grazing, Washing, or Shadowing depending on the light intensity and positioning of the fixture in relation to the feature.
In most cases, up-lighting is used to highlight a particular tree or architectural element on your property. This technique can highlight the interesting shapes and details of a particular piece, while bringing out colors and textures in the bark or branches. It can also be used to highlight a decorative sculpture or accentuate the shape of a fountain or waterfall.
A common use of up-lighting is to accentuate the silhouette of a large tree at night, thereby making it look even more dramatic. You may also want to up-light a stone feature or wall, which can make it stand out and look beautiful at night. Up-lighting a wall can make it seem like it’s part of the house and add a welcoming feel to the entire space.
When it comes to a complete lighting design, there are a lot of things that need to be considered. Lighting experts can provide you with a variety of options that will satisfy your goals for safety and beauty on your property.
Down-Lighting
Down lighting is the opposite of uplighting, with light fixtures angled downward. This technique is useful for illuminating certain aspects of the landscape while imitating moonlight to add a soft glow to the garden at night. It can be used to highlight a tree’s branches and leaves, or to show off decorative statuary and fountains.
Like uplighting, down-lighting can also work well with path lighting to add safety and guidance through your landscape. This is a good option for areas that are too dark to see the path clearly on an evening walk.
One of the most popular uses for down-lighting in landscape lighting is to illuminate trees that may otherwise be hard to see at night. Using the lower angle of this lighting technique can make the foliage and structure of a tree more visible and create interesting shadows on the ground below. This can be an excellent way to showcase your favorite specimen, and it can even draw attention to the shape of the tree’s trunk and its branches and leaves.
A landscape professional will be able to suggest the best use of down-lighting on your property based on your aesthetic and safety needs. The most successful designs will incorporate both up-lighting and down-lighting as different elements of a larger design strategy.
If you’re interested in bringing out the full beauty of your landscape and making it safer to enjoy after dark, then contact us today for a consultation. Our team of professionals will be happy to provide you with ideas based on years of experience and help you achieve the results that you’re looking for.