Landscape Lighting Design Guide

Landscape Lighting Design Guide

In this guide, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about landscape lighting design guide, from choosing the right fixtures to creating a custom plan for your space. Let’s get started!

1. Why Should I Illuminate My Yard?

A well-illuminated yard is not only pleasing to the eye but also adds an aura of security and value to your home. To get you started thinking about how you can beautify your outdoor space with landscape lighting, here are a few examples of its many uses:

Illuminate hard-to-see areas such as steps and gardens;

Illuminate artistic spaces in your yard suitable for entertaining guests.

landscape lighting amazing backyard

2. What Types of Outdoor Lighting Are Available? A plethora of options exist in outdoor lighting fixtures. Here are some of the more popular choices for illuminating your yard: 

Pathway lights: These are the most commonly used fixtures in landscape lighting. Path lights can be installed on driveways, walkways, and along borders to highlight features like trees and garden beds.

Spotlights: Spotlights are perhaps one of the best ways to highlight artistic elements in your outdoor space like statues or artwork. 

Fence lights: Fence lighting is a great way to create a well-defined border around your yard, especially if you need to delineate space between your and a neighbor’s property. 

Garden fixtures: Electric wall sconces are an excellent option for adding security and light around borders that contain gardens or other out-of-reach areas. 

Solar path lights: Solar path lights use either LED or fluorescent lamps to harness solar energy during the day so they’ll glow at night without requiring electricity. 

3. How Do I Choose the Best Fixtures for My Yard? Once you’ve decided what kinds of lighting you want in your yard, it’s time to choose specific fixtures. Here are a few tips:

Avoid using too many types of fixtures in a single area: Each fixture emits its own type and amount of light that should not be mixed indiscriminately with other types or amounts of light.

Keep entrances visible from a distance: Entrances to your yard should be lit from a far enough distance that they will be visible to your guests as they approach. 

Front Yard and Down Garrage LED Lightings

4. How Do I Plan My Lighting Scheme?

Once you’ve chosen the best lighting options for your yard, it’s time to create a plan. Here are some tips: 

Choose low-voltage fixtures if possible: Low-voltage outdoor lighting fixtures are more versatile than line-voltage fixtures because they can be connected to an existing circuit and then plugged into a remote transformer. 

Use light-colored surfaces: Light-colored surfaces, such as light gray pavers, reflect more ambient light back onto themselves at night, which means you won’t have to use as many lights in order for something like a stone path or garden bed to be well lit.

5. How Do I Connect My Fixtures to an Electrical System? If you’ve decided on low-voltage lighting because it’s easier to install and more versatile, you’ll need to connect it to a dedicated transformer in order for them to work. Here are a few tips:

Always use a dimmable transformer: Dimmable low-voltage transformers allow you to adjust the light intensity of your fixtures from a switch inside your home. 

Always consider safety when choosing where to mount your transformer: You will want to place your transformer in an area with easy access from inside your house but also away from rain or other sources of moisture that can cause short circuits or shocks. 

6. How Do I Care for My Outdoor Lighting Fixtures? Lighting fixtures should be kept clear of debris that could obstruct the light emitted from them or cause damage if they were to fall onto someone or something nearby. 

A few precautionary measures: Be sure to inspect your exterior lighting fixtures periodically for signs of wear and tear, including rusting, flaking paint, and burned-out bulbs. If a fixture looks damaged, don’t attempt to fix it yourself – bring in a professional electrician as soon as possible.

pathway yards landscape lighting