Tips for the Perfect Outdoor Lighting Plan

Outdoor lighting is as important to the level of safety of your Sewickley, PA landscape as it to the ambiance. That said, that doesn’t mean it can’t look incredible. In this article we’ll take a look at some of the ways to make the most of the practical and visual benefits of landscape lighting.

Know the difference between warm & cool lighting

Color has long been acknowledged in playing a role in mood and emotion, so it follows that the color of lighting does the same. Most lighting used in landscape is what is called warm lighting, meaning that it has a yellow or reddish tinge. Warm lighting is soothing and gentle on the eyes. It creates a relaxed mood and social environment. Cool lighting on the other hand has a more energetic effect. This is lighting with a bluish or greenish tinge and you can find it anywhere from nightclubs to the fluorescent lights in your office. Cool lighting works well in swimming areas and spaces with a modern, edgy feel, while warm lighting remains the popular choice for most functional landscape lighting.

Light for different views

Many homeowners use landscape lighting to add curb appeal, but what is easy to forget is that your lighting should also be appealing from within the home, as well as from different points within the landscape itself. Lighting with only one perspective in mind results in a flat, two dimensional landscape. Instead, depth can be created taking into account the views from each window as well as from key high traffic areas such as walkways and patios.

Reduce light pollution

Light pollution occurs because of the use of uncontrolled and poorly thought out light sources. This results in disruptive light levels entering the home through windows, causing glare for drivers and pedestrians and on a greater scale, lighting up the sky, causing the stars to lose visibility. This can all be avoided by using carefully directed and focused lighting, opting for low level light sources and by capping lamps so that their beams face downward.

Use layers

Using multiple layers of lighting is a great way to create depth and reduce glare and light pollution as described above. These layers come in the form of multiple sources of low level lighting that fall into the primary categories of spotlighting, walkway lighting and decorative lighting such as lanterns. These layers work together to create a lighting profile that is varied and interesting while remaining comfortable.

Special effects

Of course, lighting is also about fun. Some interesting and unique effects can be achieved by getting creative. Downlighting through the leaves of a tree, for example, can create some interesting shadows and mimic the effect of moonlight. The same principle can be applied to intentionally create silhouettes in highlighting lawn sculpture or the shapes of plants. Swimming pool areas provide a whole host of mediums and effect to play with including various colors of swimming pool lights, as well as reflecting light off the surface of the water.

Related: Creating a Winter Wonderland Using Outdoor Lighting