Key Benefits of Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting allows you to enjoy your property while showcasing key features and spaces during the day and night. It serves both aesthetic and practical purposes in your landscape. Below are some of the key benefits of adding outdoor lighting.
Appearance
After you have invested time and money in to your landscape and house, you want to ensure that key features are properly showcased. Discreetly placed lights highlight architectural features, as well as specimen trees and shrubs, statues, and water features. When choosing your light fixtures, discretion is key…you don’t want to see the source of the light around featured areas or create a runway effect around walkways. The goal of professionally installed lighting is to evenly disperse light and eliminate the flood light effect seen in some model homes.
Properly placed lighting can also enhance the mood of your property and provide a more aesthetically pleasing environment, while eliminating the risk of being blinded if you decide to take a stroll after dark.
Safety & Security
Outdoor lighting can protect you and your guests by deterring intruders and preventing falls. Illuminating the outside of your home gives the illusion that your home is occupied, even when you are away. Also, strategically-placed light fixtures can decrease the amount of darkened areas around your house, reducing the number of hiding spots for potential intruders.
You can reduce the likelihood of accidents by placing lights around steps, doorways, grade changes, patios and outdoor living spaces to highlight these areas and decrease falls.
Functionality
One of the primary benefits to illuminating your home and landscaping is being able to fully utilize your property after the sun fades. If you have outdoor living spaces, such as an outdoor kitchen or grill, a pool or a water feature, lighting is essential. To be effectively utilized, these spaces need proper illumination or you severely limit the amount of use you can get from each. By installing discreet lighting, you increase your usable living space and the times you can host guests.
While outdoor lighting is a major component to increasing the appearance, safety and functionality of your property it is important to remember… less is usually more. If you are blinded by trying to walk around your property at night, you have too many lights. Remember: the goal of outdoor lighting is to allow you to enjoy your property during the day and night. A quality lighting job will meet this goal by seamlessly blending into your landscape, discreetly showcasing key features and outdoor spaces and protecting you and your guests.
