Good landscape lighting accentuates the best aspects of your property at night. Landscape lights ensure that passersby can always view all the hard work you’ve put into your landscaping. Well-executed landscape lights will keep people on your property safe and add beauty to your home’s exterior. It also adds curb appeal and can boost your property value.
Don’t waste another day waiting – call Mr. Electric® to schedule your landscape lighting installation.
Types of Landscape Lighting
There is a lot to consider when deciding where to place landscape lighting: walkway layouts, the home’s architecture, access to electricity, not to mention all of your plants and their varying blooming schedules. Whatever fixtures you choose, and wherever you decide to have them installed, we always recommend LED light bulbs. They’re the best outdoor light bulbs for cold weather, and offer unmatched energy efficiency and long life.
Ready to start figuring out where to place landscape lighting around your property? First, check out these landscape lighting ideas – they also might help you discover some bright ideas of your own.
Walkway Lights
Illuminating exterior pathways helps keep people safe and prevents them from accidentally trampling over plants. When it comes to walkway lights, less is usually better. Avoid the temptation to over-light footpaths. Too many lights along a path will make it feel like an airport runway! Instead, space lights several feet apart to create pools of light that guide the eye along the path. Add a little interest by placing walkway lights next to unique plants or other attention-grabbing landscape features.
Post Lights
Want to add a little variety and elevation to your landscape lighting? Post lights are a good option. You may be most familiar with post lights as the single six-foot lampposts randomly placed in front yards. But consider interspersing post lights in your gardens and patio area too. Just stick with lights that are similar in style or made of the same materials. Placing a post light on a corner of a walkway can help anchor the turn and guide people along the path.
Floodlights
If improving home security is part of your landscape lighting strategy, then motion-sensor floodlights will do the job. Have one installed under the eaves in the least-used or darkest areas of the property. This will provide comfort and peace of mind, knowing that a simple floodlight may scare off would-be intruders.
Spotlights
Use spotlights to draw attention to the most dramatic or interesting elements of your landscaping or architecture. A front façade that’s made of interesting material is a great target for a spotlight. Do you have a prized Japanese maple or wisteria that everybody should see and appreciate? Put a spotlight on it. Interesting retaining walls, landscape boulders, and waterfalls are a few other good candidates.
Pond Lights
If you’re lucky enough to have a pond in your yard, we hope it has a light in it. What better way to add a truly unique element to your nighttime landscape? Some pond lights are designed to be submerged in the water. Others are meant to be placed near the pond with the light shining into the water. Either way, choose a low-voltage LED pond light with a built-in timer.
Outdoor String Lights
Do you have a pergola, gazebo, or other architectural structure in your landscape that could use a little more light? A strand or two of outdoor string lights can make all the difference. Drape the lights across the area in a symmetrical pattern and secure them with sturdy fasteners. For safety and reliability, only use string lights that are approved for outdoor use.
Soffit Lighting
Soffit lights are recessed lights that are installed underneath eaves and overhangs, and are a great way to illuminate a house’s exterior. If you want to make sure your house is visible at night, soffit lighting is the way to go. Just check your homeowner’s association rules about exterior illumination before you commit to this level of lighting.
Professional Landscape Lighting Installation
Are you ready to start designing your home’s landscape lighting? Your local Mr. Electric specializes in lighting installations of all kinds. If your current exterior electricity access is a challenge, we can help with that too. Call us or schedule an appointment online to get started.