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Landscape Lighting Placement and Outdoor Light Pollution Management

Sep 1st 2019

Lighting is an important aspect of landscaping. Proper lighting makes it safe and easy to move around your home. You can place lighting fixtures virtually anywhere you want but you need to be aware of the spots where good lighting is mandatory and not optional.

Paths – well lit paths make walking on them more secure. They also provide a warm and welcoming feeling to guests. High illumination isn’t really necessary as long as the path itself is properly illuminated. You may also use downlights to prevent glare.

Entries – all your entry doors should be well lit. You can either have one light overhead or one light on each side to make opening the door easier, especially when you need to insert your key. Well lit doors also deter intruders from trying to pick their locks.

Driveway – you just need to support the illumination from your car’s own headlights/taillights so low-voltage landscape lighting will do just fine.

Steps – shine light on the risers or treads to keep people using them safe.

Decks/Patios – use task lighting for work or study areas. Also have adequate illumination for your seating areas and railings.

Gazebos/Pergolas/Trellises – use accent lighting to further highlight their most spectacular features.

Architectural Features – you can use accent lighting to emphasize special details on various parts of your home and yard. If you want to highlight a wall, you can make use of grazing or wall washing. You can accomplish this by aiming a beam of light on the wall from a few feet away. The light will also bounce to nearby plants further enhancing the appearance of the wall. If you want to the outdoor wall lighting to be energy efficient while also helping improve the security of your home, awaterproof LED wall lighting fixture is your best bet.

As with most things, moderation is also vital to successful landscape lighting. Do not go overboard. Too much light and/or poorly installed lighting can lead to unwanted light or light pollution.

Aim Carefully – make sure the lights are positioned in a way that is not disruptive.

Shield Bulbs – use fixtures with reflectors to ensure the light is concentrated exactly where you want it to.

Minimize Power Consumption – LED lights are incredibly more energy efficient compared to other lighting sources. Use low-wattage bulbs on areas that do not require much illumination.

Separate Switches – use a separate switch for each light. Adding timers and motion sensors can also help with power management.