There are many important factors to consider when thinking about installing garden lighting. The exterior of your home is an extension of the interior of your home.
Your style and personality should shine through in all aspects of your landscaping and this includes how you light it. If your home is not properly lit, no one will be able to see it the way it should.
Your landscape lighting is also an important security consideration for your home. Many studies have shown that houses with good exterior lighting are less likely to experience break-ins. It can also be a security feature for your guests. The last thing you want is for your neighbor to come visit and break his ankle tripping over something he couldn’t see.
For the best, most natural lighting, look at the light patterns around your home. Go outside at various times of the day and see where the light is. See what natural light highlights and what it shadows, this is what you will ideally try to recreate.
Using a subtle light that tries to recreate sunlight will create the best look and won’t look overdone. Also consider which areas of your garden you would like to highlight. Maybe you have a fantastic garden or a stunning pond, these are things you’ll want to put on display. For these things, a more direct light source is better.
What you will probably end up doing is using a combination of light sources to achieve a fantastic result. Moonlighting is a very popular technique. It is basically placing a light on a tree branch and letting the light filter naturally, it creates a very dramatic effect.
Uplighting is also popular and is the exact opposite of moonlight. It is placing a light on the ground and letting it shine onto an object. Shadowing is the process of putting light behind an object and works well for statues or sculptures. The combination of these effects and others will make your home truly unique. Now that you have some ideas, you can start installing your landscape lighting.
When considering landscape lighting, be sure to consider LED lights. LED-based lighting options are not only cost effective, they are also safer to use with less heat and more customizable than other types of lighting options. You will also save money!