Light Up Your Landscape With Outdoor Lighting
Whether you’re looking to brighten a walkway with landscape lighting, liven up a patio area with outdoor table lamps or help keep your family safe with flood and security lights, outdoor lighting adds elegance and functionality to any home or space.
You can also cut costs and maximize efficiency with eco-friendly options, such as solar lighting, LED landscape lighting and low voltage lighting. Not sure what type best fits your needs? Look below for detailed descriptions of each lighting type and their uses.
Types of Landscape Lighting
Path Lighting: Path lights are the most common type of landscape light and are great for adding ambiance to a walking path or stairway. Because these are typically used to accent, it’s recommended that you use low voltage lights. Outdoor LED spotlights and other high-wattage bulbs can be too harsh.
Deck Lighting: This type of lighting is a simple way to increase safety when walking on the deck or deck stairs at night. A variety of lights can be used as deck lighting, including outdoor hanging lights, LED rope lights or even patio string lights. Although if you want lighting on the deck itself, there are plenty of options for that, too. You can try post cap lights, railing/stair lighting systems or even tiki torches for a truly unique look.
Security Lighting: Broad-beamed, high-intensity security lighting is a great way to add an extra layer of protection to your home. LED spotlights and LED floodlights are both commonly used for security, and typically any type of motion-sensor light is a great option. Outdoor lamp posts are also ideal for outdoor security, providing visibility wherever and whenever you need it most.
Garden Lighting: To illuminate your plants and greenery, garden lights are a great option. Both LED garden lights and low voltage garden lights are perfect for flowerbeds, the bases of trees or highlighting your landscape’s best features.
Choose Solar Lighting
Many of the light types mentioned above also have solar options. These include solar post caps for your deck and solar garden lights for your plants and flowers. There are many types of outdoor solar lighting. But why choose solar?
Benefits of Outdoor Solar Lighting
No Outlets Required: It’s one of the most obvious benefits of solar-powered lights: no power outlet is needed. Instead, these lights have small solar panels that harness the power of the sun for energy. One bright, sunny day can provide enough energy to power lights for upwards of 10 hours.
Cost-Effective: Not only are solar-powered lights typically cheaper than electric lights, but they’re also relatively inexpensive to install. After installation is where the real benefits kick in, as these lights won’t add to your monthly energy bill.
Eco-Friendly: In addition to their affordability, solar lights are also a perfect way to reduce your carbon footprint. Since these lights run on stored energy collected from the sun throughout the day, you can power your lights without consuming any additional energy.
Safety: Generally, outdoor solar lights are safer than outdoor electric lights simply due to a lack of long electrical cables. Long cables on electrical lights can be a tripping hazard when used in outdoor areas and can be an additional hazard during rain or snow.
Easy Installation and Maintenance: While it does require effort, solar lighting installation is easier and less time-consuming than both electrical lighting installation and low voltage lighting installation. Plus, replacing bulbs is quick and simple with easy-to-handle connectors.
Helpful Safety Suggestions for Working With Electricity:
- Turn OFF electricity at the main fuse box (or the circuit breaker box) that controls the power to the fixture or the room you’re working on.
- Use a voltage meter to test the wires to ensure the power is OFF.
- Place the wall switch in the OFF position.
- All electrical connections must comply with local codes. Check with local authorities to see if a permit is required.
- If in doubt, consult a licensed electrician.